(04-19-2022 08:03 PM)Transic_nyc Wrote:  If I'm the Big Ten I would want CBS as part of the mix, Comcast to buy BTN and maybe the 4-letter to have part of the Olympic sports. Fox getting all of Tier 1 is way too conservative and hamper the conference unnecessarily. Big Noon would be a great platform for the likes of Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin and probably even a Big Ten that gets good to be flexed in during the latter part of the season. However, the likes of Ohio State, Michigan and whoever is in position to win the conference at the latter end of the season should go to the 2:30 p.m. ET timeslot. The only Big Noon slot that makes sense for Ohio State is the Big Game and OOC against the likes of USC, Oregon or Washington. BTW, this is how the 4-letter does it with the SEC: they don't put the marquee names on the early afternoon timeslot but use it as a means to promote that conference all day long. It's that narrative construction that I've been trying to tell people about.

The real issue I have with BTN is that Fox Corporation is undercapitalized for the need to transition to a more contemporary distribution system. Do any of the FAANG platforms want a distribution deal with BTN without an ownership stake?

Finally, the idea that the 4-letter needs the Big Ten now is a bold-faced lie.

Need maybe overstates the case. But right now, ESPN has a finger in every major college football pie. Having zero Big Ten games in their lineup would be awkward, just as having NO relationship between the Big Ten and ESPN would be awkward for the Big 10.

Not having one of the two big-dog conferences on ESPN is a different deal than not having the PAC or the new Big 12. So I expect 10-20 Big Ten games on ESPN/ABC. ESPN will pay a reasonable price, the B1G will offer up a reasonable selection of games.