Anyone have any ideas will the MAC have the over-the-air TV package in '08 like we did in '07?

My understanding is that the TV deal was for two years so unless the ratings bombed I'm hopeful.

As I suggested in another thread, once we see the MAC conference schedule we'll have some clues if that package still exists.

I believe the MAC would 'front load' a lot of key conference games for the TV package.

emu steve Wrote:Anyone have any ideas will the MAC have the over-the-air TV package in '08 like we did in '07?

My understanding is that the TV deal was for two years so unless the ratings bombed I'm hopeful.

As I suggested in another thread, once we see the MAC conference schedule we'll have some clues if that package still exists.

I believe the MAC would 'front load' a lot of key conference games for the TV package.

I hope we get real tv coverage this year. Not some BS local crap that everyone thinks is so great. You want to play with the big dogs, you play nationally. You want the MAC to be, well, average, by all means stay with the local package.

RobertN Wrote:

emu steve Wrote:Anyone have any ideas will the MAC have the over-the-air TV package in '08 like we did in '07?

My understanding is that the TV deal was for two years so unless the ratings bombed I'm hopeful.

As I suggested in another thread, once we see the MAC conference schedule we'll have some clues if that package still exists.

I believe the MAC would 'front load' a lot of key conference games for the TV package.

I hope we get real tv coverage this year. Not some BS local crap that everyone thinks is so great. You want to play with the big dogs, you play nationally. You want the MAC to be, well, average, by all means stay with the local package.

Last year I was impressed with the number of markets we got televised. And because it was mostly on free (non-cable) tv that reached more homes.
Didn't think it was BS at all.
But I wished better matchups got covered.

Owen,

The MAC has the opportunity to put their marque games in this scheduling window as well as the ESPN "window" in November.

I believe last year's schedule had been set before the TV package came to be.

As I suggested, if we see some really good games in late Sept/early Oct that could be a clue.

The free TV package is now even more important now that Comcast Local has left the building.

From what I've heard NIU will have some mid week conference games on ESPN/2. Plus Saturday games will be broadcast on either Comcast Chicago or WPWR CH 50. I'd rather Comcast didn't broadcast any of our games, it would make it easier for me to drop lame cable for Satellite plus WPWR is an over the air station which reaches those who don't have cable or satellite!

On top of that, being that the B10 schedules MAC programs more than anyother conference; MAC teams get national exposure on another conference's network, works for me. [/align]

WMU/CMU to play this year on a Saturday.

When? 64K question. Will it be on TV? (ESPN?).

http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/stora...6796.shtml

onlinepole Wrote:From what I've heard NIU will have some mid week conference games on ESPN/2. Plus Saturday games will be broadcast on either Comcast Chicago or WPWR CH 50. I'd rather Comcast didn't broadcast any of our games, it would make it easier for me to drop lame cable for Satellite plus WPWR is an over the air station which reaches those who don't have cable or satellite!

On top of that, being that the B10 schedules MAC programs more than anyother conference; MAC teams get national exposure on another conference's network, works for me. [/align]

Those CSN games are on satellite. You have no excuse to have cable at that point.

mattsarz Wrote:

onlinepole Wrote:From what I've heard NIU will have some mid week conference games on ESPN/2. Plus Saturday games will be broadcast on either Comcast Chicago or WPWR CH 50. I'd rather Comcast didn't broadcast any of our games, it would make it easier for me to drop lame cable for Satellite plus WPWR is an over the air station which reaches those who don't have cable or satellite!

On top of that, being that the B10 schedules MAC programs more than anyother conference; MAC teams get national exposure on another conference's network, works for me. [/align]

Those CSN games are on satellite. You have no excuse to have cable at that point.

Yeah, I get Comcast games (on DirecTV) and I can't find Illinois on a map.

It should be stated that with Comcast NIU games are available on satellite unto the ends of the earth.

The regional package did have a few good games. Miami-UC was a good early-season rivalry game, and the KSU-Akron game was on. However, I believe the MAC wanted to assure that everybody was on that schedule at least once. That is not something you can assure with the ESPN contract.

Frankly, I was shocked at how many affiliates with no solid connections to MAC football picked up the games.

That was most likely an aberration of the first year of the B10 Network. The B10 schools are taking too much flak on this, and it would be surprising if they didn't work out their deals and be back on free TV and basic cable this season.

axeme Wrote:That was most likely an aberration of the first year of the B10 Network. The B10 schools are taking too much flak on this, and it would be surprising if they didn't work out their deals and be back on free TV and basic cable this season.

Basic cable is a possibility if it is the Big Ten Network. Fox is paying them $2.8 billion over 25 years just for the Big Ten Network. See note 11 of NewsCorp's SEC filing. No chance they abandon this thing.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1...7/d10q.htm

mattsarz Wrote:

axeme Wrote:That was most likely an aberration of the first year of the B10 Network. The B10 schools are taking too much flak on this, and it would be surprising if they didn't work out their deals and be back on free TV and basic cable this season.

Basic cable is a possibility if it is the Big Ten Network. Fox is paying them $2.8 billion over 25 years just for the Big Ten Network. See note 11 of NewsCorp's SEC filing. No chance they abandon this thing.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1...7/d10q.htm

Of course, they will keep it going and even succeed with it, eventually. But I'd bet this year they will make it much more accessible and not make their base go to local bars to see their games. Last year (and hoops season) was a PR fiasco.

axeme Wrote:

mattsarz Wrote:

axeme Wrote:That was most likely an aberration of the first year of the B10 Network. The B10 schools are taking too much flak on this, and it would be surprising if they didn't work out their deals and be back on free TV and basic cable this season.

Basic cable is a possibility if it is the Big Ten Network. Fox is paying them $2.8 billion over 25 years just for the Big Ten Network. See note 11 of NewsCorp's SEC filing. No chance they abandon this thing.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1...7/d10q.htm

Of course, they will keep it going and even succeed with it, eventually. But I'd bet this year they will make it much more accessible and not make their base go to local bars to see their games. Last year (and hoops season) was a PR fiasco.

Don't count on free TV, supposedly they are making some progress with Comcast. And now that NewsCorp is no longer a stakeholder in DirecTV, it might be easier to get a deal done (NewsCorp officially transferred their stake in DirecTV to Liberty Media late last week).

And look at the MWC. Two years (and some CBS intervention) got their regional network on DirecTV. NewsCorp and the Big Ten now have proof that their model can work.

I agree with Mattsarz.

BTW, the BT made their bed (they're sleeping in or with the BTN) and now they married to it for better or worse.

BT HOME games are the property of ESPN/ABC/BTN.

ONLY IF all three refuse a home game could it be on the over-the-air station.

Do you think BTN would 'refuse' a UofM or MSU home game?

Not likely!!

BTN has 'rights' to games and with 3 channel slots (218, 219 and 220 on DirecTV) isn't going to pass up a Saturday afternoon game.

What give YOUR product to someone else???

Fat chance!

mattsarz Wrote:And look at the MWC. Two years (and some CBS intervention) got their regional network on DirecTV. NewsCorp and the Big Ten now have proof that their model can work.

I would assume that you are talking about this upcoming season. I live here in the middle of MWC country and it was unavailable to most everybody.

There have been TV commercials all throughout this last season urging people to call their cable providers (for most, Comcast) to DEMAND that they carry "The Mountain" which is the MWC network. I have Dish network and it wasn't available on there, either.

yes they are finally selling these networks.. but ratings will tell how long or if they will last. If u show a game and no one watches ..was it really played?

BTW, I consider the BTN a mini-disaster for the BT.

I don't know how they are doing financially, but they lost a lot of viewership when some big games didn't make it to the masses.

UofM/MSU was normally an ESPN game and this year it got moved to BTN and not many saw it in Michigan (because of the Comcast dispute).

I also think this Comcast will take a hit on this. If I lived in MI no way would I subscribe to Comcast.