Conceptually I think it is a pretty good idea. Unfortunately I think there would be too many roadblocks put up by various individuals and Institutions so that this wouldn't happen. IF the MAC could help bring in more money for Big Ten Institutions it would be one thing but that would only be theory until tested with live broadcasting and then it would be too late to pull out if the theory didn't hold water.

I like it but unfortunately things don't happen in ideal manner.

I think it's a great idea. Any extra money for both sides would be beneficial, even if it's only a couple million a year total.

If the MAC publicly proposed this as a way to help lower institutional subsidies to their athletic departments, OSU and Michigan would have to be "for" it because it would help their state's economies.

OSU and Michigan would to the extent it didn't hurt the conference bottom line. I think it would actually help as more live programing would help FOX get more out of cable companies, but the amount of extra they can get from the cable companies by including those games probably isn't going to be enough for the 14 Big Ten teams to want to go through the effort and limit their own exposure and for the MAC to want to complicate their relationship with ESPN.

the venn diagram of MAC alumni and B1G fans has a sizable overlap, adding more programming for the "I went to that school but I ride a B1G bandwagon" crowd might not add a ton of new viewers but could be a way to increase viewership frequency from existing customers.

this would work best as a supplemental package for both conferences, not a large, primary deal.

Is this MAC Big10 stuff just a discussion or has this actually been talked about at the highest levels of the Big 10?

What I think is going to happen is ESPiN is going to work something out with the MAC that ultimatley prevents them from partnering in any way shape or form with the BTN in terms of anything of significance. In fact at some point I would not be surprised to see occasional MAC/AAC/Sun Belt games show up on SEC ESPN network....both FB and BB. I actually expect something along these lines to eventually play out. Also, I would not be surprised if ESPNU is eventually rolled into the SECN and they become as one...I can certainly see that happening withn 5 years especially if the ACC does some type of network or quasi network thing with the ACC.


I absolutley believe that long term SEC ESPiN Network is going to be a true NATIONAL network. The scope of this undertaking is going to be much larger than what some might think, a goal of 75 million plus homes aint no joke and just being associated with the ESPiN brand is what takes this thing to an entirely different level. The digital part is going to be just like ESPN Watch and is going to have a role on the main ESPN site. If your over 35/45 (as I am) you probably don't get or understand the true impotance of this part of the deal but it is a major part of the deal and the SEC ESPiN Network.


Doe anyone know what kind of footprint the BTN has in terms of streaming on computers, phones, tablets, Xbox, and all the other digital stuff. What kind of contracts and with who? Are they affiliated with anything resembling a National Brand like ESPiN that distributes this digital content? Does Fox distribute digital content to on a grand scale to all BTN subscribers? Does Fox Sports main site have a dedicated page for BTN streaming and have deals in place with distributers of the BTN channel and to also carry the BTN digitally as part of the carriage? I have no idea, just asking if the BTN has anything even sloe to resembling ESPiN watch for their content.

The BTN exists not just as a revenue vehicle for the Big Ten schools, but as an advertising vehicle for the Big Ten schools. Flip past BTN on any given evening, and you see either a game with two Big Ten school logos or a discussion of Big Ten sports.

Think about it that way, and BTN is more likely to show a rerun of a 4-8 Purdue vs 5-7 Minnesota football game than Kent State vs Northern Illinois for the MAC title.

(05-06-2013 07:32 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  I think it's a great idea. Any extra money for both sides would be beneficial, even if it's only a couple million a year total.

If the MAC publicly proposed this as a way to help lower institutional subsidies to their athletic departments, OSU and Michigan would have to be "for" it because it would help their state's economies.

Remember when UC asked its alum and former athlete Urban Meyer to make a pitch to the ACC......

Those schools don't give a rat's arse about helping out anyone's economy but their own. Even if the MAC got a deal with the BTN they likely will not get much revenue out of the deal.

(05-07-2013 01:40 AM)perimeterpost Wrote:  his would work best as a supplemental package for both conferences, not a large, primary deal.

I agree...

(05-07-2013 12:01 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  The BTN exists not just as a revenue vehicle for the Big Ten schools, but as an advertising vehicle for the Big Ten schools. Flip past BTN on any given evening, and you see either a game with two Big Ten school logos or a discussion of Big Ten sports.

Think about it that way, and BTN is more likely to show a rerun of a 4-8 Purdue vs 5-7 Minnesota football game than Kent State vs Northern Illinois for the MAC title.

I noticed that when I looked at a Big 10 website on a Sunday during football season. Articles about the teams that won were prominently displayed on the home page. No mention about the games where the Big 10 team lost.....

(05-07-2013 12:38 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 12:01 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  The BTN exists not just as a revenue vehicle for the Big Ten schools, but as an advertising vehicle for the Big Ten schools. Flip past BTN on any given evening, and you see either a game with two Big Ten school logos or a discussion of Big Ten sports.

Think about it that way, and BTN is more likely to show a rerun of a 4-8 Purdue vs 5-7 Minnesota football game than Kent State vs Northern Illinois for the MAC title.

I noticed that when I looked at a Big 10 website on a Sunday during football season. Articles about the teams that won were prominently displayed on the home page. No mention about the games where the Big 10 team lost.....

I am not 100% sure if I have ever seen a game were the B10 team lost to an OOC opponent on the BTN. If they put Florida's 41-14 drubbing of Ohio State on the BTN there would be hell to pay.

(05-07-2013 12:01 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  The BTN exists not just as a revenue vehicle for the Big Ten schools, but as an advertising vehicle for the Big Ten schools. Flip past BTN on any given evening, and you see either a game with two Big Ten school logos or a discussion of Big Ten sports.

Think about it that way, and BTN is more likely to show a rerun of a 4-8 Purdue vs 5-7 Minnesota football game than Kent State vs Northern Illinois for the MAC title.

Yes, exactly. The network is not just about money, it's also about promoting the Big Ten brand. How does a MAC game help promote the Big Ten brand?

(05-07-2013 12:46 PM)moo Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 12:01 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  The BTN exists not just as a revenue vehicle for the Big Ten schools, but as an advertising vehicle for the Big Ten schools. Flip past BTN on any given evening, and you see either a game with two Big Ten school logos or a discussion of Big Ten sports.

Think about it that way, and BTN is more likely to show a rerun of a 4-8 Purdue vs 5-7 Minnesota football game than Kent State vs Northern Illinois for the MAC title.

Yes, exactly. The network is not just about money, it's also about promoting the Big Ten brand. How does a MAC game help promote the Big Ten brand?

So what better way to lure more fans over than hook them with their MAC team and then advertise for them to come back Saturday to watch the Big Ten game in the same state. Otherwise who are they advertising too? existing Big Ten fans that are already going there to watch? However this is reason enough for me to not have the MAC do this. As somebody else said though, ESPN will own the MAC contract and wouldn't allow it. They would probably show a game or two on off nights of the SEC Channel and ACC channel that they partially own.

(05-07-2013 12:49 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 12:46 PM)moo Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 12:01 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  The BTN exists not just as a revenue vehicle for the Big Ten schools, but as an advertising vehicle for the Big Ten schools. Flip past BTN on any given evening, and you see either a game with two Big Ten school logos or a discussion of Big Ten sports.

Think about it that way, and BTN is more likely to show a rerun of a 4-8 Purdue vs 5-7 Minnesota football game than Kent State vs Northern Illinois for the MAC title.

Yes, exactly. The network is not just about money, it's also about promoting the Big Ten brand. How does a MAC game help promote the Big Ten brand?

So what better way to lure more fans over than hook them with their MAC team and then advertise for them to come back Saturday to watch the Big Ten game in the same state. Otherwise who are they advertising too? existing Big Ten fans that are already going there to watch? However this is reason enough for me to not have the MAC do this. As somebody else said though, ESPN will own the MAC contract and wouldn't allow it. They would probably show a game or two on off nights of the SEC Channel and ACC channel that they partially own.

96% of MAC alums are already fans of B10 schools and are probably watching the network already. If they were going to do what has been proposed they would be better served with a fan base in a different geographical location (ie. the Sunbelt/C-USA) who might now be inclined to turn their station.

The only way this would happen would be to have more money in the hands of the B1G schools. I think, however, that you'd have a lot of uncomfortable politicians if Ohio State is making money off of the other schools in the state and not even playing them head to head. I don't see any chance of this happening, although I do think it would be a win/win for everyone involved. Miami of Ohio isn't about to take a recruit from a Big 10 school because they play a couple of MAC games on the BTN.

The only way I see it working is in terms of a scheduling agreement with BTN providing carriage guarantees for the Big Ten hosted contests. If it is a contest between a MAC school and a Big Ten school, that is one thing. If it were a MAC conference contest, that raises the issues that have been detailed above.

As far as what there could be in it for the Big Ten to have a scheduling agreement ... I'm not quite sure about that.

If you are going to televise outside your brand, I say go ahead and buy the rights to Mr. Ed re-runs. Start capturing young minds that will grow with you through their lifetime.