(02-21-2020 08:34 AM)MUsince96 Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 03:40 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(02-18-2020 01:54 PM)Yosef84 Wrote:  

(02-17-2020 02:31 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(02-17-2020 08:05 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  No one here really knows the inside outs of the contract. The only info we have is what M. A. told us, and if true more games are guaranteed being on the networks than before. Basically ESPN 3 stuff got moved to ESPN+ and we more than Tripled our $$$. The vast majority of tier 3 stuff, was not purchased before, and was not on anything other than the AAC Stream from AAC web site. Now it will be on +.

IMO, the biggest thing is going to be access. For instance, right now you can open the ESPN app on your Apple TV/Roku/ whatever, and it just lists all the games that are on. I really can't tell which games are on ESPN/ESPN2 vs ESPN3 most of the time.

If the interface will be exactly the same, with our + games coming up on the list, and whether you can watch them just depends on your subscription level, then I don't think much will change.

If, however, there is some special ESPN+ app, or even an ESPN+ section of the app (rather than just seeing ALL baseball/basketball games on), then that will stink.

You probably aren't going to like it then because, although ESPN+ is included with the regular ESPN app, there is a separate section to view the ESPN+ programming. The subscription is separate from the rest of the App which is accesses using your ESPN subscriber credentials (Cable/Satellite/Streaming).

I don't hate ESPN+ but the quality of the productions varies widely because the hosting facility is responsible for the production. Some schools do much better than others. I'm sure the AAC programs will do a better job than some of the stuff I'm watched so I doubt that is a problem for the most part.

On the "up" side, it provides much broader coverage of sports that I've never had the chance to watch much (at least since I was actually in school...a LONG time ago). I now get to see almost all basketball games (men and women), baseball, softball, etc. I wish I could say I take full advantage but I don't have time to watch all the stuff that's available. That's a good problem to have!

See that sucks. I'd like it much better if everything was on the same menu. Like, for instance, you see ACC games but it says something like "your subscription doesn't support this content" when you click on it. Same thing for Longhorn network games, games that are OTA in your area, etc.

The ESPN app on my phone and my Firestick has ESPN+ content on the menu with games and shows on ESPN/2/3/U/News. If you want to filter out the linear ESPN channels you can go to the ESPN+ section.

Also if you pick 'Favorites' on your ESPN.com profile, games featuring those teams will show up first on the menu page of the ESPN app. Whether they be on ESPN linear channels or ESPN+.

For example, I have Marshall Football and Marshall Basketball as my favorites so they're always the first game listed on the ESPN app menu.

That's more like it!

(02-16-2020 10:51 AM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  

(02-16-2020 10:18 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(02-16-2020 08:32 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  ESPN+ is simply tier 3 AAC stuff. Not a big deal. Most of it isn't even aired now. The fact it can easily be watched is more important then the money. We still have all the better stuff on ABC/ESPN platforms just like now.

Incorrect...as they stated approx 40%-50% of all AAC MENS Hoop Games will be on ESPN+...when 85% of current conf games are show on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNews, etc....

From the Sports Business Daily's cover of this new contract:
"Football and men’s basketball are mostly on today at ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, but the majority of basketball games and about half of the football games will go to ESPN+. Other live sports including baseball, softball and soccer also will air on ESPN+."

ESPN+ will also never published "watch" rates of future AAC Games...as it will be a HUGE drop off from even so-so TV ratings. (ESPN will only push "subscriber" numbers...and most of them are from "families" that purchased ESPN+ and probably have ZERO interest in AAC Sports.

Its sad that some thought this ESPN+ deal was just for volleyball, softball or baseball games....NO...this will impact the EXPOSURE of mostly Men's Basketball and much of football too.

From the press conference with Aresco and ESPN Executive VP BUrke Magnus:

Q: Mike, the press release noted that there were going to be 40 football games on various ESPN television platforms, which is an increase. I was curious if you happened to know what the current numbers are.
MIKE ARESCO: Yes, the current is 26.

and later...

Q: This is for either of you guys. You mentioned the increase from 26 to 40 in football games on the three main networks. Will there be an increase in men’s basketball, as well?
MIKE ARESCO: There is an increase in terms of the priority networks, yes. There is. It basically doubles in terms of the minimums.
Q: Do you have any idea what the minimums were?
MIKE ARESCO: They were around 32, and now we’ll go to 65. So there’s a significant increase there. ...

https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-relea...ghts-call/


So, both Football and MBB INCREASE on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 (the "three main networks" in the MBB question. the 40 football also includes ESPNU)

From 2013-2016, we averaged 26 games on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU. That climbed to 31 in 2017, 36 in 2018 and 40 in 2019, well above the old contract minimum.

Note, ESPN lost 14-20 Big 10 games to Fox in 2017, which may have precipitated the increase. Likewise, the ACC network kicked off in 2019, potentially opening up more room. More recently, ESPN lost its MWC content but gained SEC content.

Meanwhile, our new contract minimum is now 40 games.

Also note that we averaged 17 games on premium channels (non ESPNU) from 2013-2018, and that number jumped to 26 windows in 2019.

The new contract calls for a minimum of 20 games on premium channels.

ESPN and the American announced their deal in March of 2019 to begin in the 2020 football season, but it appears ESPN chose to abide by the new contract minimums for football a year early in 2019. I wonder if they paid a sweetener in 2019 as well...