Because that is what your are getting on Comcast Sports Chicago today!

Everyone can have fun with explanations of MAC contract, ESPN, WatchESPN. But when your product is available one and a 1/2 times on local TV through the month of October, yes, you have a problem promoting your product.

I use 1/2 since CBS sports is a higher tier sports network on Comcast. Most have no idea what it even is, other than another station they don't watch.

When I see this in addition to other MAC teams on CSN and even Graceland on a game package instead of NIU, I don't wonder why we fail to capitalize in Chicago area and either haven't or need to, depending how you look at it, "take that next step" as a recent video suggests.

CBS sports is going to double the amount of MAC football games shown next year so that will be nice...but yes I agree the MAC has done very little to help NIU get the non-ESPN second tier games actually on TV.

(10-24-2015 10:46 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  CBS sports is going to double the amount of MAC football games shown next year so that will be nice...but yes I agree the MAC has done very little to help NIU get the non-ESPN second tier games actually on TV.

I am not really sure the MAC can do anything because ESPN owns the rights to everything. The only real chance to get on Comcast Sports Network these days is if ESPN licenses the game to American Sports Network which broadcasts on CSN. Ohio and Western Michigan were on CSN last week as an ASN broadcast.

That's a Top 25 FCS matchup between in-state and conference rivals. I won't complain about that making TV. Good for them.

Yeah, if we can't be on it then good for them. I'm also glad we're bringing WIU to DeKalb next year. Seems like good timing.

Who is blaming them?

ISU signed on for 4 games on CSN.

Yeah, but we are tied to ESPN and ESPN3, WatchESPN or whatever.

Oh, wait. ISU/WIU was also on WatchESPN/ESPN3!

But NIU CAN'T be on CSN? What am I missing?

(10-24-2015 09:52 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Who is blaming them?

ISU signed on for 4 games on CSN.

Yeah, but we are tied to ESPN and ESPN3, WatchESPN or whatever.

Oh, wait. ISU/WIU was also on WatchESPN/ESPN3!

But NIU CAN'T be on CSN? What am I missing?

Think what you want but the blame game is now over! A contract is now in place, hot off the press, for sub licensing by any regional sports network that wants to show NIU games . All they have to do is get that done through BCSN out of Toledo which now owns and and is handling all of the ESPN sub-licensing rights as an intermediary. Its better this way because as a regional cable station and sports network they understand their peer networks better and can handle all of the logistics of getting it set up. A couple sports networks have already signed on including American sports network. They want to sub-license, trust me, so its all a matter of a regional sports network coming forward that wants to show NIU games and getting the ESPN sub-license signed. Do you guys think there is enough interest for a regional station to do that?

(10-25-2015 06:58 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(10-24-2015 09:52 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Who is blaming them?

ISU signed on for 4 games on CSN.

Yeah, but we are tied to ESPN and ESPN3, WatchESPN or whatever.

Oh, wait. ISU/WIU was also on WatchESPN/ESPN3!

But NIU CAN'T be on CSN? What am I missing?

Think what you want but the blame game is now over! A contract is now in place, hot off the press, for sub licensing by any regional sports network that wants to show NIU games . All they have to do is get that done through BCSN out of Toledo which now owns and and is handling all of the ESPN sub-licensing rights as an intermediary. Its better this way because as a regional cable station and sports network they understand their peer networks better and can handle all of the logistics of getting it set up. A couple sports networks have already signed on including American sports network. They want to sub-license, trust me, so its all a matter of a regional sports network coming forward that wants to show NIU games and getting the ESPN sub-license signed. Do you guys think there is enough interest for a regional station to do that?

I think OH has more sub-networks, which I think you are saying. Chicago is CSN and that's it. Perhaps that is one reason. I just can't figure out how ISU goes to CSN (Comcast Sports Chicago) and NIU to nowhere. To me it seems there should be a way. They show a MAC game of the week on CSN, they used to show MAC games locally (game of week maybe?) and other regional football games from ACC, SEC. I am guessing these games are produced locally, picked up by the ESPN for the internet. Just seems crazy. I mean I am NIU, I would figure out a way. Are more people watching Law and Order or Martin re-runs of MeTV and channel 50? I guess more people watch Catholic league football in Chicago than NIU football. And that really may have some truth.

(10-26-2015 09:45 AM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(10-25-2015 06:58 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  

(10-24-2015 09:52 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Who is blaming them?

ISU signed on for 4 games on CSN.

Yeah, but we are tied to ESPN and ESPN3, WatchESPN or whatever.

Oh, wait. ISU/WIU was also on WatchESPN/ESPN3!

But NIU CAN'T be on CSN? What am I missing?

Think what you want but the blame game is now over! A contract is now in place, hot off the press, for sub licensing by any regional sports network that wants to show NIU games . All they have to do is get that done through BCSN out of Toledo which now owns and and is handling all of the ESPN sub-licensing rights as an intermediary. Its better this way because as a regional cable station and sports network they understand their peer networks better and can handle all of the logistics of getting it set up. A couple sports networks have already signed on including American sports network. They want to sub-license, trust me, so its all a matter of a regional sports network coming forward that wants to show NIU games and getting the ESPN sub-license signed. Do you guys think there is enough interest for a regional station to do that?

I think OH has more sub-networks, which I think you are saying. Chicago is CSN and that's it. Perhaps that is one reason. I just can't figure out how ISU goes to CSN (Comcast Sports Chicago) and NIU to nowhere. To me it seems there should be a way. They show a MAC game of the week on CSN, they used to show MAC games locally (game of week maybe?) and other regional football games from ACC, SEC. I am guessing these games are produced locally, picked up by the ESPN for the internet. Just seems crazy. I mean I am NIU, I would figure out a way. Are more people watching Law and Order or Martin re-runs of MeTV and channel 50? I guess more people watch Catholic league football in Chicago than NIU football. And that really may have some truth.

ESPN owns the MAC. ISP owns NIU. No one seems to want to pay to get the games on CSN, and they seem to be happy with NIU being relegated to a computer screen near you on ESPN3.com. I feel the days of our games being on CSN Chicago with Kappy behind the mic are over.

ISU is a hot program and school right now, their support is close to equal of NIU.. plus playing another state school, made it an easy choice..

(10-26-2015 11:07 AM)TheNealT Wrote:  ISU is a hot program and school right now, their support is close to equal of NIU.. plus playing another state school, made it an easy choice..

O......K.......?

(10-26-2015 11:09 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(10-26-2015 11:07 AM)TheNealT Wrote:  ISU is a hot program and school right now, their support is close to equal of NIU.. plus playing another state school, made it an easy choice..

O......K.......?

What were the 3 MAC Saturday games that CBS Sports televised this year? Does the NIU/UNLV count as one or was that included as part of CBS Sports' MWC deal?

(10-26-2015 12:58 PM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  What were the 3 MAC Saturday games that CBS Sports televised this year? Does the NIU/UNLV count as one or was that included as part of CBS Sports' MWC deal?

Yes our game vs UNLV counted towards the 3 MAC games.

Saturday, November 7th
Akron at UMass 11:00 am CBSSN

I could not find the 3rd game.

Next year I think the MAC is supposed to have 7 Saturday games on CBSSN. I will tell you right now that our home game vs SD St will be one of those games...if its not on ESPNU which I think is doubtful.

I would not be surprised if our games at Wyoming and USF are also on CBSSN.