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Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
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Wedge Offline
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Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
Interesting speculation...

12-19-2017 09:06 PM
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MWC Tex Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-19-2017 09:06 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Interesting speculation...


I have no doubt they'll reject ESPN. Stadium is going to be a big player for us not only for streaming but also for TV. Must be some good info about the games the MW streamed besides having bettter game times.
I do think they'll have a another network in play perhaps NBC or Fox unless in the next 2 years Stadium has some big growth.

The MW has never shyed away from doing something different and risk taking.
(This post was last modified: 12-19-2017 09:31 PM by MWC Tex.)
12-19-2017 09:12 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
The WAC network failed so miserably that 8 of them left to form the MWC (or was it the Mountain West network failed so badly they lost BYU and TCU-would have lost Utah anyway).

Too early to stream. They will be forgotten. They've had a bad couple of years where the AAC has significantly outpaced them and they are basically even with MAC and CUSA. They have big advantages over those schools, but that will be lost if nobody sees them.
(This post was last modified: 12-19-2017 10:29 PM by bullet.)
12-19-2017 09:35 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
They don't need to accept an ESPN offer, but they need Fox or CBS if they refuse them.
12-19-2017 09:36 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
It will be interesting to see how the MAC does over the next 10 years, having sold their soul to ESPN for T & W night TV appearances.

Does the visibility help them? Or do the T & W night games kill their programs since fans don't show up anymore?
12-19-2017 09:38 PM
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Attackcoog Offline
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Post: #6
RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-19-2017 09:06 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Interesting speculation...


Its not really speculation. Thompson has basically said they are looking at doing that if they dont get a sizable raise from ESPN. Essentially, their schools have studied the issue and believe they are better off catering to the fans in the stadium (kick off times that maximize attendance and in stadium income) than catering to a TV deal that provides minimal income.
12-19-2017 09:59 PM
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Post: #7
RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
As far as stream quality goes. Stadium is head and shoulders better than watch espn.
12-19-2017 10:13 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
There was an article about the MWC meeting that the MWC are working on a deal with ESPN right now. ESPN did buy the Fox sports regional for the West Coast. ESPN does need a regional out there. Since PAC 12 already have their Network? I do think ESPN might give the MWC a Network with BYU in the deal and UTEP. Gonzaga could be there for all sports but football to make it an even 14 schools for basketball. This could actually move Boise State into the west when UTEP and BYU joins.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/15/mo...owl-games/

It is all speculations right now what will happen. But, there is word that the bowl oversight committee will do some over haul on who gets in a bowl in the future. PAC 12 at times failed to get their allotment of teams in them.
12-20-2017 06:46 AM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
I seem to remember the WAC (or was it the PCC) being the only late night games on years ago, and they were highlighted. I don’t remember if it was a certain day of the week or what. Maybe like Friday night hoops, but it was awesome and they got exposure. I feel like the MWC is definitely lacking.
12-20-2017 09:43 AM
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MWC Tex Offline
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-20-2017 06:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  There was an article about the MWC meeting that the MWC are working on a deal with ESPN right now. ESPN did buy the Fox sports regional for the West Coast. ESPN does need a regional out there. Since PAC 12 already have their Network? I do think ESPN might give the MWC a Network with BYU in the deal and UTEP. Gonzaga could be there for all sports but football to make it an even 14 schools for basketball. This could actually move Boise State into the west when UTEP and BYU joins.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/15/mo...owl-games/

It is all speculations right now what will happen. But, there is word that the bowl oversight committee will do some over haul on who gets in a bowl in the future. PAC 12 at times failed to get their allotment of teams in them.

That's not talking about the Conference TV deal but the bowls that ESPN owns and the MW bowls associated with that. The MW isn't working on a TV deal with ESPN.
Also, the RSN's that ESPN received doesn't do much for the MW as the AT&T/Root RSN's are in the majority of the MW footprint.

However, from the article, the deputy commissioner did state there will be a tweak to the bowls system where the number of bowls a conference can be tied to will be related to the 4 year average of the number of bowl eligible teams.
12-20-2017 10:13 AM
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Post: #11
RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-20-2017 10:13 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  
(12-20-2017 06:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  There was an article about the MWC meeting that the MWC are working on a deal with ESPN right now. ESPN did buy the Fox sports regional for the West Coast. ESPN does need a regional out there. Since PAC 12 already have their Network? I do think ESPN might give the MWC a Network with BYU in the deal and UTEP. Gonzaga could be there for all sports but football to make it an even 14 schools for basketball. This could actually move Boise State into the west when UTEP and BYU joins.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/15/mo...owl-games/

It is all speculations right now what will happen. But, there is word that the bowl oversight committee will do some over haul on who gets in a bowl in the future. PAC 12 at times failed to get their allotment of teams in them.

That's not talking about the Conference TV deal but the bowls that ESPN owns and the MW bowls associated with that. The MW isn't working on a TV deal with ESPN.
Also, the RSN's that ESPN received doesn't do much for the MW as the AT&T/Root RSN's are in the majority of the MW footprint.

However, from the article, the deputy commissioner did state there will be a tweak to the bowls system where the number of bowls a conference can be tied to will be related to the 4 year average of the number of bowl eligible teams.

That’s the way they used to do it.
12-20-2017 10:54 AM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-20-2017 10:13 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  
(12-20-2017 06:46 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  There was an article about the MWC meeting that the MWC are working on a deal with ESPN right now. ESPN did buy the Fox sports regional for the West Coast. ESPN does need a regional out there. Since PAC 12 already have their Network? I do think ESPN might give the MWC a Network with BYU in the deal and UTEP. Gonzaga could be there for all sports but football to make it an even 14 schools for basketball. This could actually move Boise State into the west when UTEP and BYU joins.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/15/mo...owl-games/

It is all speculations right now what will happen. But, there is word that the bowl oversight committee will do some over haul on who gets in a bowl in the future. PAC 12 at times failed to get their allotment of teams in them.

That's not talking about the Conference TV deal but the bowls that ESPN owns and the MW bowls associated with that. The MW isn't working on a TV deal with ESPN.
Also, the RSN's that ESPN received doesn't do much for the MW as the AT&T/Root RSN's are in the majority of the MW footprint.

However, from the article, the deputy commissioner did state there will be a tweak to the bowls system where the number of bowls a conference can be tied to will be related to the 4 year average of the number of bowl eligible teams.


If they could get BYU. UTEP and Gonzaga in for all sports? Maybe they can get UTSA? North Dakota State? Eastern Washington? Portland State? Montana? Northern Arizona as the 16th team? They could spread the footprint a bit. Boise State is the crown jewel in the MWC right now. ESPN does not have any conferences completely in their control on the west coast. PAC 12 already have their own network. MWC could be their west coast network. Gonzaga is having a wandering eye. If I were MWC? I grab them to be the 12th team for basketball.
12-20-2017 11:19 AM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
Honestly don't see why the MWC, SBC, and CUSA don't all do this. Is a few hundred thousand dollars seriously worth your freedom? If you are having a great season and ESPN decides to offer to pick up a game go for it. But all of the Thursday and super late at night games?
12-20-2017 11:44 AM
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MWC Tex Offline
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Post: #14
RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-20-2017 11:44 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  Honestly don't see why the MWC, SBC, and CUSA don't all do this. Is a few hundred thousand dollars seriously worth your freedom? If you are having a great season and ESPN decides to offer to pick up a game go for it. But all of the Thursday and super late at night games?

Well the MW will take the lead on it, however, Sunbelt is all ready pretty much all in with ESPN. CUSA may be on the verge on being on ESPN if they don't want to be on Stadium. However, CUSA would be smart to stick with Stadium and have them more of a bigger partner than they are now.
12-20-2017 01:12 PM
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MWC Tex Offline
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
https://23455-presscdn-pagely.netdna-ssl....30.17.pdf

With Dallas now added to the Stadium's OTA list. Here is my conspiracy MW expansion.

Stadium gets denied by CUSA and then makes a great offer to the MW but needs to add UTEP, N. Texas, UTSA and Rice. All of the Texas schools have an OTA station for fans to watch on TV.
12-20-2017 01:28 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
http://www.themw.com/news/2017/12/19/mw-...hamps.aspx

Keeping the momentum of digital broadcasts...The MW partnered with FloSports to stream the MW Swimming, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships. FloSports is a subscription site and they are on Roku as well as other devices.

Didn't know FloSports also streams Big 10 and Big 12 also.
12-20-2017 01:39 PM
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Post: #17
RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
Sun Belt in my opinion is in the sweet spot of weeknight games.

I don't recall anyone ever playing more than 3 weeknight games in a season and a few schools will do weeknight on their own. Seems like any time Georgia State opens at home for the year they go Thursday. Arkansas State has experimented with Thursday night (with no TV other than online) a few times when a home game fell on the opening day of deer or duck season.

A-State has never had more than two weeknight games at home and I'd favor a hard cap of no more than 3 home weeknight games in any rolling two year period.
12-20-2017 02:31 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
MWC has been pretty big on the Saturday emphasis.

Remember they ditched ESPN for CSTV (now CBSSN) to avoid weeknights.

When you rely on people to do more than drive across town to watch you play, you can't subject them to too many weeknight games.
12-20-2017 02:53 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-20-2017 02:53 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  MWC has been pretty big on the Saturday emphasis.

Remember they ditched ESPN for CSTV (now CBSSN) to avoid weeknights.

When you rely on people to do more than drive across town to watch you play, you can't subject them to too many weeknight games.

Or late-night games, even on Saturday. More than half of the MWC teams are in the situation of expecting a large percentage of their season-ticket holders to travel from at least 90 minutes away. CBSSN sets some MWC games to kick off at 8:30 pm local time. That means a game that ends around midnight, and getting home around 2 am (or later if your drive is even longer). If you're a season ticket holder, how much of that are you going to put up with before you don't renew your season tickets? If the athletic department is counting on a lot of fans to drive in from a long way away and purchase individual tickets for big games, how many ticket sales do they lose when the game kicks off at 8:30 pm, which was the game time for Colorado State's home game vs. Boise in November?

And having CBSSN do this to you, when they pay very little for the TV rights and their TV audiences are so low that they don't even subscribe to the Nielsen rating service, that's just pouring salt in the wound.
12-20-2017 03:40 PM
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RE: Will the Mountain West ditch ESPN and go all-digital for sports broadcasts?
(12-20-2017 03:40 PM)Wedge Wrote:  
(12-20-2017 02:53 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  MWC has been pretty big on the Saturday emphasis.

Remember they ditched ESPN for CSTV (now CBSSN) to avoid weeknights.

When you rely on people to do more than drive across town to watch you play, you can't subject them to too many weeknight games.

Or late-night games, even on Saturday. More than half of the MWC teams are in the situation of expecting a large percentage of their season-ticket holders to travel from at least 90 minutes away. CBSSN sets some MWC games to kick off at 8:30 pm local time. That means a game that ends around midnight, and getting home around 2 am (or later if your drive is even longer). If you're a season ticket holder, how much of that are you going to put up with before you don't renew your season tickets? If the athletic department is counting on a lot of fans to drive in from a long way away and purchase individual tickets for big games, how many ticket sales do they lose when the game kicks off at 8:30 pm, which was the game time for Colorado State's home game vs. Boise in November?

And having CBSSN do this to you, when they pay very little for the TV rights and their TV audiences are so low that they don't even subscribe to the Nielsen rating service, that's just pouring salt in the wound.

I think the MW did the math on eroding "in stadium" revenue and dont see much upside at the current ESPN/CBS-Sports payout--esepcially with the MW Digital Network starting to be profitable. I dont think Stadium will be a big part of the MW picture. Remember, to the best of my knowledge Stadium pays nothing (or close to nothing) for TV rights. I dont think Stadium's current model can be profitable if they are paying much for content.

I think the MW is going end up being the anti-AAC in the next negotiatiin round. The AAC will play anywhere and anytime to get a better deal. Their solid ratings and flexibility will make them a popular dance partner in the next TV negotiations.

The MW is going to do just the opposite of the AAC and will end up with a sort of hybrid deal. They are going to take back control on their start times by having the vast majority of their games on the subscription MW Network. I think they believe they cant keep abusing thier ticket buying fans and need to rebuild that base to get the "in stadium" revenue back to where it needs to be. Thus, they will increase value by significantly reducing the supply of MW games available and by severely limiting the number of late night windows they will play.


The MW will offer a 2-game a week premium package with one game at a good agreeable kick time for MW schools and one game in a late window. Those late window games will be distributed equally among MW teams (one each) so--there will only be 12 late start games sold for the entire season. No single team will have to deal with more than one late window game per year (I thnk ESPN buys this package). If the networks balk or wont pay what the MW wants, the MW will just go all digital. Once that premium plan is sold--a smaller plan with games only at kick times agreeable to MW schools will be offered. Thats probably snapped up by CBS-Sports and probably doesnt bring a lot--but its found money if you were willing to go all digital anyway and it increases exposure.

I think the MW could come out ahead monetarily doing something like that. The question is--do they lose too much on the exposure front by having so many games only on digital platforms? If they do, one adjustment that could tweak the exposure level upward would be to make the MWDN a non-subscription service (like it is now) and let Stadium mirror the games on their OTA-Syndicated Network. If they do this, they could add a MWDN commerical to every televised game to drive more viewership to the new digital network.

I could see this working out for the MW if they are smart and the MWDN has the capacity to competently stream all the games it would need to televise.
(This post was last modified: 12-20-2017 06:14 PM by Attackcoog.)
12-20-2017 04:05 PM
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