I'm posing the question of support in part because of this thought-provoker in the Big East forum:
http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=440094
If expanding market share for a conference network was the main goal for conference realignment (which it seems it is), could UAB get on basic cable in B'ham? H'ville? M'gomery? Mobile?
I'm afraid that's what it would take if UAB is going to move up in the near future.
(06-18-2010 11:08 PM)GreenMississippi Wrote: [ -> ]I'm posing the question of support in part because of this thought-provoker in the Big East forum: http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=440094
If expanding market share for a conference network was the main goal for conference realignment (which it seems it is), could UAB get on basic cable in B'ham? H'ville? M'gomery? Mobile?
I'm afraid that's what it would take if UAB is going to move up in the near future.
If UAB could get on basic cable in "B'ham, H'ville, M'gomery, [and] Mobile", then we would definitely see our fan base grow and also help ourselves when it comes to in-state recruiting.
It'd be amazing for the university.
I know that's stating the obvious, but it's awesome to think about.
Depends on how powerful the SEC brand really is.
Gene built UAB football around the premise that there are a couple hundred thousand football fans in this state who can't get into the stadium at UAT or Auburn on Saturday. I think we've pretty well proven that Birmingham is not a generic "football" town, but instead a town for bammer football, to a lesser extent wargle football, and finally SEC football. I fear viewership would follow the same pattern.
And on Basic Cable? MLB.TV can't get a basic slot; a college sports network's going to be awfully boring in June or at 9 a.m. Mondays. Even SoapNet is getting axed - and how can you possibly lose money on their model?
(06-18-2010 11:57 PM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ]Depends on how powerful the SEC brand really is.
Gene built UAB football around the premise that there are a couple hundred thousand football fans in this state who can't get into the stadium at UAT or Auburn on Saturday. I think we've pretty well proven that Birmingham is not a generic "football" town, but instead a town for bammer football, to a lesser extent wargle football, and finally SEC football. I fear viewership would follow the same pattern.
And on Basic Cable? MLB.TV can't get a basic slot; a college sports network's going to be awfully boring in June or at 9 a.m. Mondays. Even SoapNet is getting axed - and how can you possibly lose money on their model?
How many decades did it take Alabama and Auburn to consistently fill their stadiums? UAB football is still young, and the fan base has to be nurtured.
How many more people would show up if the venue was not Legion Field? Right or wrong, the perception is one of a crime ridden and unsafe area. I don't know about cable, but I still believe that Gene was correct. It's just going to take longer than expected.
To answer your question, it would be highly doubtful.
"How many decades did it take Alabama and Auburn to consistently fill their stadiums? UAB football is still young, and the fan base has to be nurtured."
That's all true, but Brother Green's question implies that it be done right now.
Now, if it somehow could be done, a CUSA cable network would have a very large footprint, given the home market sizes of most members.
Step #1-Get a C-USA network deal for local basic cable
Step #2- Get that network to show UAB enough to do us some good.