(02-11-2019 12:22 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(02-11-2019 12:15 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(02-11-2019 11:45 AM)usffan Wrote:  

(02-11-2019 11:30 AM)YNot Wrote:  What are the chances that ESPN encourages the AAC to add Boise and San Diego State again? ESPN would seem to have all the inventory it needs for the 10pm ET kickoff timeslot on ESPN and ESPN2 with the PAC 12, BYU, Boise and SDSU.

All indications are that the AAC will see an improvement to its current media deal. No such indications for the MWC.

Complicating that further will be the sweetheart deal Boise negotiated to stay in the MWC instead of joining the Big East. You have to wonder if the MWC will be willing to do that again when their deal expires in 2020.

USFFan

I would not rule out ESPN getting involved in re-shaping the AAC as a prelude to a better TV deal. The point about Boise is well taken; BYU has their own deal with ESPN. But in each case if the worldwide leader sees a way to increase revenue through such conference re-engineering it may find a way.

I wouldn't rule it out either, but I think it is very unlikely, because I doubt ESPN wants to do anything to increase the value of the AAC - they would prefer to pay the AAC as little as possible.

And I would bet the money the AAC would have to offer Boise would be a lot more than the MWC could, not just marginally more, because you are asking Boise to play teams from far away that their fan base has little interest in. Even Texas schools like Houston and SMU are far, far outside of Boise's fan base interest, to say nothing of Florida and east coast schools.

Remember, in 2012, it took not only about $10m a year, but also the prospect of being in a Power league, to lure Boise to the Big East. And this time, the Power league thing would be off the table.

Yup---like YNot says---It really only makes sense if adding a couple of MW teams to the AAC covers the ESPN need for late night windows and is cheaper than buying the MW rights.