(08-10-2018 01:09 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote: (08-10-2018 12:08 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote: (08-10-2018 11:58 AM)green Wrote: Quote:It wasn’t that long ago that skeptics doubted whether an ACC Network would ever get off the ground, given ESPN’s cost cutting and the shifting media landscape away from cable.
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Jour...story.aspx
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Good point, Green!
2012 - "the ACC won't be included among the power conferences"
2013 - "the ACC won't stay together"
2014 - "the ACC won't get a team into the playoffs"
2015 - "the ACC won't win a CFP championship"
2016 - "the ACC will never get an ACC Network"
2017 - "the ACC Network won't make any money"
2018 - "the ACC Network won't make enough money"
2019 - ???
Save the straw men from Hartford, CT for other people. I had no doubt in an eventual ACC television network.
Straw men? It isn't a "straw man" argument if people were actually making that claim (and you KNOW they were, even if you weren't one of them).
Quote:I have quite a healthy and reasonable amount of doubt on the ACC's ability to convert population in footprint into TV dollars to an extent necessary to close the money gap to at least something that can be managed. It's not some overdrive jazz hands to say the league could plausibly collapse if 8 figure shortfalls continue. That's something even David Teel agrees with. It's simply not sustainable. Period. Being behind the PAC-12 in revenue is particularly egregious given how they've so publicly strugged to make ANYTHING off their TV network and given that their fanbase is easily the least passionate and least involved. Stanford can't sell out a home football game when they're Top 5. And they have to fly all over creation. The Pac-12 footprint spans 2,000 miles and 2 timezones. And they STILL make more money off TV with just as few people watching on TV as there are watching in the stands in Palo Alto. Not good. Not sustainable.
IF the ACC remains 8 figures behind, I would agree that the ability to compete for championships - even compete for TV viewers - is unsustainable in that scenario.
You know why the ACC is behind the Pac-12, but in case you forgot, go back and check that 2010 TV contract.
OTOH, anyone who steps back and takes an honest look has to admit that the ACC has made huge strides - both in terms of quality of product and in terms of revenue.
The fact that the SEC and B1G - both of whom got a 4+ year head start on their networks - are way out in front should surprise NO ONE. I'm old and out of shape, but give me a big enough headstart and I'm confident I could win the Olympic marathon gold medal... how much more the 2 biggest brands in college football!
I'm not saying "all is well" while the Titanic sinks. I'm not guaranteeing success either. But what I am doing is calling out those who've been
guaranteeing failure for the last 6 years -- only to be disproved time and time again!