(12-21-2012 08:55 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  According to ESPN you may not have to choose.

Cincy and UConn say....

Quote:At this point, both schools have to stay in the Big East, but sources at Cincinnati and UConn are under the impression, even if it's not known to be true yet, that the Big Ten will raid the ACC for two more schools -- North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

FYI, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin, in a radio interview, mentioned that he thinks UNC can basically name their suitor and that the B1G has interest in GT because of the Atlanta market. Either he was told that info by a source or he was simply speculating like the rest of us. I have a feeling it is the latter and in order to make it sound serious they just added "sources say."

(12-21-2012 10:24 PM)miko33 Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 08:55 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  According to ESPN you may not have to choose.

Cincy and UConn say....

Quote:At this point, both schools have to stay in the Big East, but sources at Cincinnati and UConn are under the impression, even if it's not known to be true yet, that the Big Ten will raid the ACC for two more schools -- North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

Sure. This doesn't look like recycled news or anything... If a midwestern FB conference can rip apart a good conference that resides in the east then so be it. If the B1G does this, it will have a long term chilling effect on the popularity of CFB. If the land of the rust belt and corn becomes a CFB consuming leviathan, then I think those of us easterners will find other leisure activities to occupy our time. I think we'll be OK regardless - even if it means spending more time with family or actually DOING something on a Saturday instead of vegging out watching rust belt football...

Your trolling antics do not work on me. Pittsburgh IS the rust belt. Yeah, how is that STEEL industry going for ya? All that manufacturing? Yeah, oh and the Big Ten Universities are not representative of the manufacturing industry in the north. That is clownish southern rhetoric...or in this case rhetoric of a troll.

These schools do not pick their company based upon the health of the manufacturing industries in their respective areas. The Big Ten Universities are some of the most respected Universities in the country and THAT is what constitutes the Leviathan that you attempt to downplay.

I really do not know what you are talking about as far as finding something else to do besides watching college football. It is pretty obvious that not a lot of Pitt fans do that already. The same goes for the rest of the ACC. If anything the ACC schools could use some help in that regard. Perhaps some of them wouldn't mind being shown every week locally on the Big Ten Network to get their local folks more interested on a week to week basis.

Either way, nice troll attempt. I made a light hearted posting in a joking manner because I thought the statement in that ESPN piece was silly. A two team combo of just GT and UNC isn't all that much to get worked up over in terms of serious possibilities.

(12-21-2012 11:14 PM)Bearcat_Bounce Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 08:55 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  According to ESPN you may not have to choose.

Cincy and UConn say....

Quote:At this point, both schools have to stay in the Big East, but sources at Cincinnati and UConn are under the impression, even if it's not known to be true yet, that the Big Ten will raid the ACC for two more schools -- North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

FYI, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin, in a radio interview, mentioned that he thinks UNC can basically name their suitor and that the B1G has interest in GT because of the Atlanta market. Either he was told that info by a source or he was simply speculating like the rest of us. I have a feeling it is the latter and in order to make it sound serious they just added "sources say."

Sounds reasonable to me. Certainly more reasonable than actual sources saying that GT and UNC are the next move.

(12-21-2012 11:53 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 10:24 PM)miko33 Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 08:55 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  According to ESPN you may not have to choose.

Cincy and UConn say....

Quote:At this point, both schools have to stay in the Big East, but sources at Cincinnati and UConn are under the impression, even if it's not known to be true yet, that the Big Ten will raid the ACC for two more schools -- North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

Sure. This doesn't look like recycled news or anything... If a midwestern FB conference can rip apart a good conference that resides in the east then so be it. If the B1G does this, it will have a long term chilling effect on the popularity of CFB. If the land of the rust belt and corn becomes a CFB consuming leviathan, then I think those of us easterners will find other leisure activities to occupy our time. I think we'll be OK regardless - even if it means spending more time with family or actually DOING something on a Saturday instead of vegging out watching rust belt football...

Your trolling antics do not work on me. Pittsburgh IS the rust belt. Yeah, how is that STEEL industry going for ya? All that manufacturing? Yeah, oh and the Big Ten Universities are not representative of the manufacturing industry in the north. That is clownish southern rhetoric...or in this case rhetoric of a troll.

These schools do not pick their company based upon the health of the manufacturing industries in their respective areas. The Big Ten Universities are some of the most respected Universities in the country and THAT is what constitutes the Leviathan that you attempt to downplay.

I really do not know what you are talking about as far as finding something else to do besides watching college football. It is pretty obvious that not a lot of Pitt fans do that already. The same goes for the rest of the ACC. If anything the ACC schools could use some help in that regard. Perhaps some of them wouldn't mind being shown every week locally on the Big Ten Network to get their local folks more interested on a week to week basis.

Either way, nice troll attempt. I made a light hearted posting in a joking manner because I thought the statement in that ESPN piece was silly. A two team combo of just GT and UNC isn't all that much to get worked up over in terms of serious possibilities.

Like I said in my previous statement, the longer realignment goes on the less popular CFB will be in the long term. Besides, when is the last time you were in Pittsburgh? Do you not know that the steel industry has left Pittsburgh decades ago and the economy of the city has moved on since? Pittsburgh is a city that is in the east, and yes it does have a lot going for it. There are a lot of other things to do besides watch CFB. And if a B1G fan wants to talk attendance smack about the ACC, why don't you continue on with your critique and blast your sister conference aka the PAC? Their attendance sucks ass too. That conference actually looks an awful lot like the ACC, doesn't it? But you won't go THERE... We can't make disparaging comments about our "sister" conference since we have SOOOOOO much in common with them...

Your statement in this thread was trolling. I don't mind if you troll the ACC boards with stupid statements, but don't get your panties in a wad if/when someone responds to your silliness...
On top of that, show me in your statement where one can infer that your statement was lighthearted or made in jest.

Never Uconn in million years.

(12-22-2012 05:49 AM)miko33 Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 11:53 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 10:24 PM)miko33 Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 08:55 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  According to ESPN you may not have to choose.

Cincy and UConn say....

Quote:At this point, both schools have to stay in the Big East, but sources at Cincinnati and UConn are under the impression, even if it's not known to be true yet, that the Big Ten will raid the ACC for two more schools -- North Carolina and Georgia Tech.

Sure. This doesn't look like recycled news or anything... If a midwestern FB conference can rip apart a good conference that resides in the east then so be it. If the B1G does this, it will have a long term chilling effect on the popularity of CFB. If the land of the rust belt and corn becomes a CFB consuming leviathan, then I think those of us easterners will find other leisure activities to occupy our time. I think we'll be OK regardless - even if it means spending more time with family or actually DOING something on a Saturday instead of vegging out watching rust belt football...

Your trolling antics do not work on me. Pittsburgh IS the rust belt. Yeah, how is that STEEL industry going for ya? All that manufacturing? Yeah, oh and the Big Ten Universities are not representative of the manufacturing industry in the north. That is clownish southern rhetoric...or in this case rhetoric of a troll.

These schools do not pick their company based upon the health of the manufacturing industries in their respective areas. The Big Ten Universities are some of the most respected Universities in the country and THAT is what constitutes the Leviathan that you attempt to downplay.

I really do not know what you are talking about as far as finding something else to do besides watching college football. It is pretty obvious that not a lot of Pitt fans do that already. The same goes for the rest of the ACC. If anything the ACC schools could use some help in that regard. Perhaps some of them wouldn't mind being shown every week locally on the Big Ten Network to get their local folks more interested on a week to week basis.

Either way, nice troll attempt. I made a light hearted posting in a joking manner because I thought the statement in that ESPN piece was silly. A two team combo of just GT and UNC isn't all that much to get worked up over in terms of serious possibilities.

Like I said in my previous statement, the longer realignment goes on the less popular CFB will be in the long term. Besides, when is the last time you were in Pittsburgh? Do you not know that the steel industry has left Pittsburgh decades ago and the economy of the city has moved on since? Pittsburgh is a city that is in the east, and yes it does have a lot going for it. There are a lot of other things to do besides watch CFB. And if a B1G fan wants to talk attendance smack about the ACC, why don't you continue on with your critique and blast your sister conference aka the PAC? Their attendance sucks ass too. That conference actually looks an awful lot like the ACC, doesn't it? But you won't go THERE... We can't make disparaging comments about our "sister" conference since we have SOOOOOO much in common with them...

Your statement in this thread was trolling. I don't mind if you troll the ACC boards with stupid statements, but don't get your panties in a wad if/when someone responds to your silliness...
On top of that, show me in your statement where one can infer that your statement was lighthearted or made in jest.

Ok, first off, no I did not do enough to show that my post was lighthearted, my bad on that.

Secondly, I do not mind if you troll me but as you say you are doing so in response to me I will respond in kind to you Miko we both know that about each other.

Thirdly, I find it funny that you think Pittsburgh is an anomale in the North as if no other cities and states have moved on as well. Only Pittsburgh is doing alright in the North! That is not the case. Northern states are still growing, economies are recovering and other industries are growing.

Now as far as me not being willing to comment about the PAC? Of course I would comment about their attendance. It sucks too, that is why they are not as big of a player in the Big Picture as the Big Ten is. The Big Ten and SEC run the show, period. They have the numbers that networks want. I didn't start off the culture attacks though, you did. I simply responded and that is why I only commented about the ACC and didn't make an unnecessary comment about the PAC. Why would I have? Sure, you can then equate the ACC to the PAC but then I will respond that the PAC isn't surrounded by wolves.

The PAC and Big Ten work closely together because it is in their best interests to do so. If they were "sister" conferences as you put it, they would have agreed to the scheduling alliance. The PAC didn't. The PAC and B1G are close but let's not get it twisted, they are not sister conferences.

Both UConn and Cincinnati have their strengths and weaknesses. I think UConn is stronger in basketball whereas Cincinnati has been better in football. Uconn is higher in the US News academic rankings. I think the best decision at this point is to wait and see what happens. Neither of them will increase the amount of revenue for the ACC so things could probably be re-visited if the ACC were to lose another school or two.

(12-21-2012 05:16 PM)Vewb1 Wrote:  Is someone here kidding? Cincinnati or UConn? Really??? The only choice is CINCINNATI. For a number of reasons. First, Bearcats have been the best football team in the league over the last five years with two BCS bowl appearances and four of five years league titles or a share of league titles. In addition, Cincinnati has won more Big East football games and over football games in the past five years than any recent Big East team. If we are picking schools for the football power, Cincinnati is the best the league. Secondly, location. Cincinnati is well located in the fact that not only are we close to current members of UL and Pitt, but also provide access into Ohio for recruiting. When teams such as UNC, FSU, Georgia Tech, and many others arrive to play Cincinnati, they get a recruiting boost in a state that produced nearly 100 division one recruits in the past year. The city and state are in the heart of BIG country. Secondly, basketball upswing. The Bearcats are on the upswing in basketball with a young coach that has made two straight NCAA appearences and a sweet 16 appearence last year while playing for the Big East tourney crown in 2011. Currently the team is #11 coming off a big win against Xavier, Cincinnati will be in the top 10 next week. UConn on the other hand has recently lost legendary coach Calhoun and are just starting to see postive strides with a new unproven head coach. This team is liable to go in any direction. It's unknown. Third, Cincinnati was recently ranked as the 22nd overall public research instituion based on patent revenues and overall national federal funding that exceeds all instiutions within the Big East as it stood over the last three years with the exception I believe of only Pitt. Cincinnati is described in Forbes magazine as a "research heavyweight". Fourth, campus beauty. For an urban campus, Cincinnati has made vast improvements now being called by many national publications as a beautiful campus with Forbes describing the campus as one of the most beautiful in the nation. Take note of the list in the link below. Cincinnati is a level 2 school with only Pitt in the old Big East as higher. USF suprisingly is in the second level too. UL and UConn are in level 5, UK in level 3.


http://mup.asu.edu/research2011.pdf

Clearly you're a Cincy homer but I have to agree. Of the 2, Cincy is by far the best choice. If the ACC can offer a ND type agreement though (say ND never joins full membership) then I think we can land Texas in 12 years.

(12-25-2012 02:02 AM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(12-21-2012 05:16 PM)Vewb1 Wrote:  Is someone here kidding? Cincinnati or UConn? Really??? The only choice is CINCINNATI. For a number of reasons. First, Bearcats have been the best football team in the league over the last five years with two BCS bowl appearances and four of five years league titles or a share of league titles. In addition, Cincinnati has won more Big East football games and over football games in the past five years than any recent Big East team. If we are picking schools for the football power, Cincinnati is the best the league. Secondly, location. Cincinnati is well located in the fact that not only are we close to current members of UL and Pitt, but also provide access into Ohio for recruiting. When teams such as UNC, FSU, Georgia Tech, and many others arrive to play Cincinnati, they get a recruiting boost in a state that produced nearly 100 division one recruits in the past year. The city and state are in the heart of BIG country. Secondly, basketball upswing. The Bearcats are on the upswing in basketball with a young coach that has made two straight NCAA appearences and a sweet 16 appearence last year while playing for the Big East tourney crown in 2011. Currently the team is #11 coming off a big win against Xavier, Cincinnati will be in the top 10 next week. UConn on the other hand has recently lost legendary coach Calhoun and are just starting to see postive strides with a new unproven head coach. This team is liable to go in any direction. It's unknown. Third, Cincinnati was recently ranked as the 22nd overall public research instituion based on patent revenues and overall national federal funding that exceeds all instiutions within the Big East as it stood over the last three years with the exception I believe of only Pitt. Cincinnati is described in Forbes magazine as a "research heavyweight". Fourth, campus beauty. For an urban campus, Cincinnati has made vast improvements now being called by many national publications as a beautiful campus with Forbes describing the campus as one of the most beautiful in the nation. Take note of the list in the link below. Cincinnati is a level 2 school with only Pitt in the old Big East as higher. USF suprisingly is in the second level too. UL and UConn are in level 5, UK in level 3.


http://mup.asu.edu/research2011.pdf

Clearly you're a Cincy homer but I have to agree. Of the 2, Cincy is by far the best choice. If the ACC can offer a ND type agreement though (say ND never joins full membership) then I think we can land Texas in 12 years.

Wow, that would be quite the accomplishment. Considering Texas calls the shots in the Big XII, I do not think they would bow down to other schools calling the shots. I think it wants the power. They already have the highest revenues of any school in the nation so they are not really hurting for money.

(12-21-2012 05:16 PM)Vewb1 Wrote:  Is someone here kidding? Cincinnati or UConn? Really??? The only choice is CINCINNATI. For a number of reasons. First, ... blah, blah, blah.... In addition, ... blah, blah, blah....Secondly, ... blah, blah, blah..... Third, ... blah, blah, blah..... Fourth, ... blah, blah, blah....
Bottom line: Skyline Chilli

don't undersell.

The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Well, We are glad for Them!

(12-26-2012 09:53 PM)baggerbob Wrote:  The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Its too early to tell. Remember that the B1G's end game is different from the other conferences. They have the B1G TV network and the projections I have seen based on the cable subscribers they think they can get in Philly, New York City and Baltimore/DC could be quite profitable for them. Of course if they cannot capture these markets at least from a cable TV perspective, then the B1G will probably be back for more ACC schools.

(12-27-2012 02:05 AM)tj_2009 Wrote:  

(12-26-2012 09:53 PM)baggerbob Wrote:  The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Its too early to tell. Remember that the B1G's end game is different from the other conferences. They have the B1G TV network and the projections I have seen based on the cable subscribers they think they can get in Philly, New York City and Baltimore/DC could be quite profitable for them. Of course if they cannot capture these markets at least from a cable TV perspective, then the B1G will probably be back for more ACC schools.

It was not a mistake, but neither is it part of some master plan.

Surely we can see by now that money is not the only factor in these decisions and that universities do not always try to maximize athletic department revenues (believe it or not, that is NOT the most important thing for them... I know, right!) Fans tend to undervalue personal relationships and overvalue TV money.

I happen to believe that the Big Ten, Maryland, and Rutgers have all had eyes for each other ever since Penn State joined the B1G and this was more like the marriage of a long-time sweethearts rather than the work of a home-wrecker. Furthermore, the only home that's been wrecked is the Big East, as the ACC actually got STRONGER, IMO.

(12-27-2012 07:24 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 02:05 AM)tj_2009 Wrote:  

(12-26-2012 09:53 PM)baggerbob Wrote:  The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Its too early to tell. Remember that the B1G's end game is different from the other conferences. They have the B1G TV network and the projections I have seen based on the cable subscribers they think they can get in Philly, New York City and Baltimore/DC could be quite profitable for them. Of course if they cannot capture these markets at least from a cable TV perspective, then the B1G will probably be back for more ACC schools.

It was not a mistake, but neither is it part of some master plan.

Surely we can see by now that money is not the only factor in these decisions and that universities do not always try to maximize athletic department revenues (believe it or not, that is NOT the most important thing for them... I know, right!) Fans tend to undervalue personal relationships and overvalue TV money.

I happen to believe that the Big Ten, Maryland, and Rutgers have all had eyes for each other ever since Penn State joined the B1G and this was more like the marriage of a long-time sweethearts rather than the work of a home-wrecker. Furthermore, the only home that's been wrecked is the Big East, as the ACC actually got STRONGER, IMO.

I have a hard time believing that #1 and #2 on PSU's wish list were RU and UMD.

(12-27-2012 07:24 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 02:05 AM)tj_2009 Wrote:  

(12-26-2012 09:53 PM)baggerbob Wrote:  The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Its too early to tell. Remember that the B1G's end game is different from the other conferences. They have the B1G TV network and the projections I have seen based on the cable subscribers they think they can get in Philly, New York City and Baltimore/DC could be quite profitable for them. Of course if they cannot capture these markets at least from a cable TV perspective, then the B1G will probably be back for more ACC schools.

It was not a mistake, but neither is it part of some master plan.

Surely we can see by now that money is not the only factor in these decisions and that universities do not always try to maximize athletic department revenues (believe it or not, that is NOT the most important thing for them... I know, right!) Fans tend to undervalue personal relationships and overvalue TV money.

I happen to believe that the Big Ten, Maryland, and Rutgers have all had eyes for each other ever since Penn State joined the B1G and this was more like the marriage of a long-time sweethearts rather than the work of a home-wrecker. Furthermore, the only home that's been wrecked is the Big East, as the ACC actually got STRONGER, IMO.

I think everything was considered but the I think money was the deciding factor. Remember they could have had Maryland or Rutgers anytime they wanted.
I actually think the Big Ten has business minded leadership who are more business savvy than the other conferences. Jim Delaney (B1G commissioner) is the driving force behind the B1G TV network and I do not think he will stop at 14 schools. He has a goal to increase revenue and one of the ways he thinks he can get it is by being on basic cable in New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington DC.

Am I the only one who thinks a-la-carte cable subscriptions are inevitable? If this does happen, what will that do to the BTN? I personally don't know anybody (beyond a neighbor who just moved out) who would subscribe to it if they had a choice to lower their cable bill without it.

Once that happens, its impact in these two new mega markets (NYC and DC/Balto) will be minimal.

I know the a-la-carte option has been taken off the table in the past, but with increasing options for viewing, I don't see how people can be denied this option indefinitely. Why am I being forced to pay extra $$ for a dozen channels (I've never quite understood why there are so many BTN channels) devoted to games and sports that I'm not interested in, played by teams that I don't follow?

Future B1G invitees need to think about this. But more importantly, conferences thinking about imitating the BTN need to think even harder about it. The day will eventually come when cable companies can't force everybody they serve to pay for a Penn State/Iowa wrestling match they'll never watch.

(12-27-2012 11:22 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 07:24 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 02:05 AM)tj_2009 Wrote:  

(12-26-2012 09:53 PM)baggerbob Wrote:  The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Its too early to tell. Remember that the B1G's end game is different from the other conferences. They have the B1G TV network and the projections I have seen based on the cable subscribers they think they can get in Philly, New York City and Baltimore/DC could be quite profitable for them. Of course if they cannot capture these markets at least from a cable TV perspective, then the B1G will probably be back for more ACC schools.

It was not a mistake, but neither is it part of some master plan.

Surely we can see by now that money is not the only factor in these decisions and that universities do not always try to maximize athletic department revenues (believe it or not, that is NOT the most important thing for them... I know, right!) Fans tend to undervalue personal relationships and overvalue TV money.

I happen to believe that the Big Ten, Maryland, and Rutgers have all had eyes for each other ever since Penn State joined the B1G and this was more like the marriage of a long-time sweethearts rather than the work of a home-wrecker. Furthermore, the only home that's been wrecked is the Big East, as the ACC actually got STRONGER, IMO.

I have a hard time believing that #1 and #2 on PSU's wish list were RU and UMD.

Trust me... it sure wasn't Pitt.

(12-28-2012 02:43 PM)7fielder Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 11:22 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 07:24 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(12-27-2012 02:05 AM)tj_2009 Wrote:  

(12-26-2012 09:53 PM)baggerbob Wrote:  The Big 10 made a big mistake in picking Rutgers and Maryland, 2 schools who are irrelevant in their TV areas. No one in NYC wants to watch boring football and basketball, which is what the Big 10 plays. Neither of the 2 teams plays either football or basketball in a wide open style, which is what sells on TV.

Its too early to tell. Remember that the B1G's end game is different from the other conferences. They have the B1G TV network and the projections I have seen based on the cable subscribers they think they can get in Philly, New York City and Baltimore/DC could be quite profitable for them. Of course if they cannot capture these markets at least from a cable TV perspective, then the B1G will probably be back for more ACC schools.

It was not a mistake, but neither is it part of some master plan.

Surely we can see by now that money is not the only factor in these decisions and that universities do not always try to maximize athletic department revenues (believe it or not, that is NOT the most important thing for them... I know, right!) Fans tend to undervalue personal relationships and overvalue TV money.

I happen to believe that the Big Ten, Maryland, and Rutgers have all had eyes for each other ever since Penn State joined the B1G and this was more like the marriage of a long-time sweethearts rather than the work of a home-wrecker. Furthermore, the only home that's been wrecked is the Big East, as the ACC actually got STRONGER, IMO.

I have a hard time believing that #1 and #2 on PSU's wish list were RU and UMD.

Trust me... it sure wasn't Pitt.

I don't know. There was a PennLive article RIGHT before the UMD and the RU add that said that SU and Pitt would be the best adds for PSU and it got mostly favorable comments. I think that Joe Pa's reign of terror is ending. We are already playing Pitt again and I think that most PSU fans would like to play (and beat Pitt). I know that on a personal level, I would like to see PSU, Pitt, and SU play each other and I would like to see the PSU v. Pitt rivalry renewed. But, I am not really a PSU fan and I only HATE Pitt when Pitt plays Syracuse. Other than that I actuall kind of like Pitt, so I am an outlier amongst Penn Staters.

(12-28-2012 01:46 PM)Cardinals Wrote:  Am I the only one who thinks a-la-carte cable subscriptions are inevitable? If this does happen, what will that do to the BTN? I personally don't know anybody (beyond a neighbor who just moved out) who would subscribe to it if they had a choice to lower their cable bill without it.

Once that happens, its impact in these two new mega markets (NYC and DC/Balto) will be minimal.

I know the a-la-carte option has been taken off the table in the past, but with increasing options for viewing, I don't see how people can be denied this option indefinitely. Why am I being forced to pay extra $$ for a dozen channels (I've never quite understood why there are so many BTN channels) devoted to games and sports that I'm not interested in, played by teams that I don't follow?

Future B1G invitees need to think about this. But more importantly, conferences thinking about imitating the BTN need to think even harder about it. The day will eventually come when cable companies can't force everybody they serve to pay for a Penn State/Iowa wrestling match they'll never watch.

With Major Institutions continuing to invest and move in the direction opposing a-la-carte, it is going to become more and more difficult for politicians to not step in and "regulate". There will be significant opposition to a-la-carte and as long as conferences hold the rights to the broadcasting of their games, they are going to fight to keep it possible for them to keep doing what they are doing. They have considerable power in this fight too.

A-la-carte is the ideal but quite often ideals fall to the wayside.

Take a look at the Presidential Election. If the Vote was truly an expression of our individual freedoms and our Voice then we wouldn't be limited to two realistic choices that could possibly be President but MEDIA and the Parties which are the major decision making powers like it that way and so that is how it is. The whole process is highly controlled. The same goes for how Media will be presented to the population. Control is the key because a controlled situation is predictable. A-la-carte leads to a very uncontrolled situation. That is a very big uphill battle, bigger than most citizens realize I think.