(06-08-2018 12:03 AM)Attackcoog Wrote: (06-07-2018 07:00 PM)TU4ever Wrote: Again, just following what the indicators are.
ESPN was outbid or chose to pass on extra Navy inventory this year. So they could have added that content to ESPN+ and it would probably have allowed navy to play the games at the time they want.
Several schools have already upgraded streaming production indicating the schools are at least prepping to take third tier and streaming rights back.
It won't happen until this tv contract is up either way because of the current contract and value of product.
Im not seeing what your seeing. If you listened to the Aresco and read the reports---signing with CBS-Sports was Navys call. It was about guaranteeing Saturday start times and exposure. While ESPN+ would give them the flexibility on start times---no way Navy was trading national linear TV for a fledgling start-up streaming subscription service. If the AAC ends up with content on ESPN+ (which I think they will), it wont be first or second tier content. It will be the same kind of stuff we have on ESPN3 right now--plus some additional non-revenue content like baseball, softball, women's basketball, soccer, etc. Navy didnt want their flagship sport on ESPN+...which is completely understandable. ESPN would have had to offer a ridiculous amount of money for Navy to make that move---and even then it probably would have been counterproductive for Navy since the academy sports programs are really more about recruiting for the armed services than they are about making money.
The navy inventory was offered to ESPN, originally so it could be rolled in to our current package. ESPN passed or was outbid by CBS sports. Either leads to the conclusion that are rights are more valuable to CBS sports then to ESPN. Navy's inventory was part of the AAC package beginning this year. The conference decides what happens to it's inventory not Navy. Separately Navy signed a CBS sports deal for some Olympic sports that don't fall under the AAC. Perhaps both deals being released at once led to your confusion?
Had ESPN+ wanted they could have bid higher, either high enough to make game time changes possible or enough and the time slot. They did not. ESPN has a set price in mind it is willing to pay for the product. CBS sports has repeatedly shown they value our inventory more.
Navy had some say in the deal as all schools do about their individual needs but that was a conference decision and the money will be shared out as such.
ESPN3 is not going away. It will be the digital carrier for ESPN family of sports television. ESPN+ is an add on package with exclusive content you can only get by having ESPN package already and paying the extra amount for the ESPN+ package. Often when you enter a night club you pay a cover to enter the door. If you want in the VIP section a table fee is charged. ESPN+ is the VIP table in the example.
CBS or NBC need online content as well as ESPN and likely will want streaming right as a sweetner. More so the online services want it too. The indication is ESPN is not currently ready to pay market value for AAC product. Since multiple bidders tend to drive the cost up it is unlikely that ESPN will be willing to pay and someone else will be picking up our rights. Add in the fact that they have already signed CUSA and the Belt content to ESPN+ it appears that they do not have an immediate need for more inventory. Not that they wouldn't accquire it, just that it is not vital. NBC appears to be running low on live content and has previously shown interest. CBS already buys our inventory at a mark up. Aresco has repeatedly emphasized that we are looking at streaming providers.
The advantage of extending with ESPN is fast closing:
The added bump already from the AAC Navy inventory going to CBS sports probably encourages the open market as we have a baseline for open market value.
Aresco has become neutral at best in his interviews and comments on ESPN. Meanwhile he is walking around constantly dropping hints that big money is in the future. This would indicate along with CBS currently purchasing our inventory through ESPN and snatching up the Navy property that ESPN is not considered a strong possibility anymore.
When you add in things like the value of third tier rights for UConn, the Florida schools, etc in regional markets it seems unlikely that ESPN moves on our content. ESPN can move other conferences to the weeknight games and would need to have 3rd choice of games or better to make the return from AAC games noticably different then CUSA or Sunbelt's 1st choices which they have control of already.
The schools having updated their streaming capabilities also means the schools or the AAC can keep complete control of their digital content if they want.
Again you will not be seeing any content on ESPN+ for the current contract and it is appearing doubtful you will in the future as ESPN appears not to be a player in the next media contracts.