Interesting post.One thing that a lot of network, and streaming service, executives are aware of is the story of CBS and the NFL.
CBS was absolute king of the hill on ratings for their weeknight shows. It was something like 9 of the top 10 shows were on CBS. Then, in a cost cutting measure, they decided to bow out of bidding on NFL rights on a contract cycle.
That fall, their ratings tanked. Not just for Sunday, but every single weeknight show as well just fell through the floor. Same shows, same actors/writers, but the audience just disappeared.
It turns out that using the NFL broadcasts to pump up their weeknight shows was a critical piece of the puzzle. They bid hard to get back in the game when the SNF rights came up. In fact, if they could sell each games advertising for $10MM, they were bidding like $12MM. Why? Because they could get >$2MM in advertising on their other shows with the ratings boost from pumping them up during the football broadcast.
Now, college football isn't NFL football. But... football is probably the sport most well adapted for TV and commercials.
Do you think Netflix, or Amazon, or AppleTV, etc would find it valuable to have a platform on which to advertise and push viewers to their own shows? If the metric is subscribers to other shows and services, the football broadcasts can actually operate at a net loss.
Someone’s response:
Not if it doesn't reach the conclusions he wants to be realITB would have already posted it if it referenced Apple.
This is the argument for why streaming services should be going after live sports, not why it would be good for the Pac 10. I have no doubt those companies find live sports valuable and that it would be good for them. I'm just not sure nationwide CFB viewing habits have reached the point where it's equally valuable for the Pac 10 beyond just the money.One thing that a lot of network, and streaming service, executives are aware of is the story of CBS and the NFL.
CBS was absolute king of the hill on ratings for their weeknight shows. It was something like 9 of the top 10 shows were on CBS. Then, in a cost cutting measure, they decided to bow out of bidding on NFL rights on a contract cycle.
That fall, their ratings tanked. Not just for Sunday, but every single weeknight show as well just fell through the floor. Same shows, same actors/writers, but the audience just disappeared.
It turns out that using the NFL broadcasts to pump up their weeknight shows was a critical piece of the puzzle. They bid hard to get back in the game when the SNF rights came up. In fact, if they could sell each games advertising for $10MM, they were bidding like $12MM. Why? Because they could get >$2MM in advertising on their other shows with the ratings boost from pumping them up during the football broadcast.
Now, college football isn't NFL football. But... football is probably the sport most well adapted for TV and commercials.
Do you think Netflix, or Amazon, or AppleTV, etc would find it valuable to have a platform on which to advertise and push viewers to their own shows? If the metric is subscribers to other shows and services, the football broadcasts can actually operate at a net loss.
It's a question without a known answer, that's for sure.This is the argument for why streaming services should be going after live sports, not why it would be good for the Pac 10. I have no doubt those companies find live sports valuable and that it would be good for them. I'm just not sure nationwide CFB viewing habits have reached the point where it's equally valuable for the Pac 10 beyond just the money.
Spot on.It's a question without a known answer, that's for sure.
From the Pac's perspective, do you take a deal worth less money that potentially "reaches" more viewers, or do you take deal worth more money and a partner that's going to work hard to bring more viewers to you in order to maximize their own investment?
I don't know what the "right" answer is, or even if there is a right answer. But there are a few things I know that can and should shape the thinking:
1. You will get some number of viewers regardless of your delivery mechanism. That number comprises two groups: a. dedicated fans of your schools and b. serious college football fans. The number in "b." is going to fluctuate based on how good your teams are. If you have multiple teams in the top 15, you're going to get some amount of eyeballs almost no matter what the platform.
2. The legacy networks are NOT going to give you very many of their "prime" slots, regardless of how much of a discount you're willing to offer them. The prime slots are going to those leagues into which the networks have made their largest investments: the B1G and SEC. You're getting the second tier slots with them, period.
3. You have an additional asset that is part of the contract: the Pac12 network. You have the equipment, studios, and more importantly, the knowledge and the people necessary to produce live sports content. This has minimal value to the legacy networks. It potentially has a lot of value to the new media partners.
That last piece is actually what I think will drive the ultimate deal more than anything. The P12 madea betan investment in building out their own network with their own production capabilities. At this point, those are sunk costs and should not drive the decision, but even hardened VC investment professionals struggle with thinking in those terms; the "CEO group" of the P12 will want to get a return on that investment.
And here's the thing: they may actually get a reasonable return on it.
We'll see.
There's nothing onboard until a school submits an application to join.
I'm not a normal CFB viewer. If I'm not going to a Buffs game, my Saturday is watching Gameday from the time it comes on, taking a break to go out to pick up a monster breakfast sandwich (usually a Kong at Deli Zone), then watch games from the opening kickoff at 10am through whatever the late game is. In recent years, I've usually drank too much over the Buffs and would fall asleep before the last P12 After Dark (or Hawaii home game) finished. I generally plan my primary games and check in on others during commercials, but also follow scores to flip around to whatever game is close and getting deep into 2H. I also switch channels to avoid those horrible halftime shows, even during Buffs games for which I stick during commercials.one of the many disconnects for me in this Homeric epic is how people watch and who they watch.
For me in cfb I watch our Buffs and I watch some of our conference opponents. Back in the day I would also tune in to games around the country that impacted us.
I don’t sit down to appointment watch any sec games or big games or anyone else. I watch bits and pieces. Honestly I wonder how many pac or big games any sec fan watches unless it impacts their team.
Maybe a lot of it is time zones? On the west coast I watch a lot of pac football because it is on in our prime time. On the east coast the opposite is probably true and why the pac gets undervalued.
I dunno man.
ABC/ESPN: SEC, ACC, B12It's a question without a known answer, that's for sure.
From the Pac's perspective, do you take a deal worth less money that potentially "reaches" more viewers, or do you take deal worth more money and a partner that's going to work hard to bring more viewers to you in order to maximize their own investment?
I don't know what the "right" answer is, or even if there is a right answer. But there are a few things I know that can and should shape the thinking:
1. You will get some number of viewers regardless of your delivery mechanism. That number comprises two groups: a. dedicated fans of your schools and b. serious college football fans. The number in "b." is going to fluctuate based on how good your teams are. If you have multiple teams in the top 15, you're going to get some amount of eyeballs almost no matter what the platform.
2. The legacy networks are NOT going to give you very many of their "prime" slots, regardless of how much of a discount you're willing to offer them. The prime slots are going to those leagues into which the networks have made their largest investments: the B1G and SEC. You're getting the second tier slots with them, period.
3. You have an additional asset that is part of the contract: the Pac12 network. You have the equipment, studios, and more importantly, the knowledge and the people necessary to produce live sports content. This has minimal value to the legacy networks. It potentially has a lot of value to the new media partners.
That last piece is actually what I think will drive the ultimate deal more than anything. The P12 madea betan investment in building out their own network with their own production capabilities. At this point, those are sunk costs and should not drive the decision, but even hardened VC investment professionals struggle with thinking in those terms; the "CEO group" of the P12 will want to get a return on that investment.
And here's the thing: they may actually get a reasonable return on it.
We'll see.
Time zones play a big role.one of the many disconnects for me in this Homeric epic is how people watch and who they watch.
For me in cfb I watch our Buffs and I watch some of our conference opponents. Back in the day I would also tune in to games around the country that impacted us.
I don’t sit down to appointment watch any sec games or big games or anyone else. I watch bits and pieces. Honestly I wonder how many pac or big games any sec fan watches unless it impacts their team.
Maybe a lot of it is time zones? On the west coast I watch a lot of pac football because it is on in our prime time. On the east coast the opposite is probably true and why the pac gets undervalued.
I dunno man.
The CW is waitingABC/ESPN: SEC, ACC, B12
Fox: B1G, B12
NBC: ND, B1G
CBS: B1G
On the time slots, this might be too extreme for people but I think the P12 should say to ESPN and Pac-12 After Dark, a product that is a terrible deal for the conference and provides no exposure at all.
P12 should prioritize money (obviously) but what about an an OTA network that is ours? I don’t think the P12 has had that in forever.
Assuming the money is there, I would rather have a DTC / Apple TV option that simulcasts key games on CBS and CW during primetime viewing Sat afternoon vs being ESPNs 3rd or 4th option.
I doubt they go this route but the conference needs to break the cycle that their games can’t be broadcast during prime afternoon viewing hours on Sat.
We comin’The CW is waiting
I'm pretty sure CW would be regional.ABC/ESPN: SEC, ACC, B12
Fox: B1G, B12
NBC: ND, B1G
CBS: B1G
On the time slots, this might be too extreme for people but I think the P12 should say to ESPN and Pac-12 After Dark, a product that is a terrible deal for the conference and provides no exposure at all.
P12 should prioritize money (obviously) but what about an an OTA network that is ours? I don’t think the P12 has had that in forever.
Assuming the money is there, I would rather have a DTC / Apple TV option that simulcasts key games on CBS and CW during primetime viewing Sat afternoon vs being ESPNs 3rd or 4th option.
I doubt they go this route but the conference needs to break the cycle that their games can’t be broadcast during prime afternoon viewing hours on Sat.
one of the many disconnects for me in this Homeric epic is how people watch and who they watch.
For me in cfb I watch our Buffs and I watch some of our conference opponents. Back in the day I would also tune in to games around the country that impacted us.
I don’t sit down to appointment watch any sec games or big games or anyone else. I watch bits and pieces. Honestly I wonder how many pac or big games any sec fan watches unless it impacts their team.
On the west coast I watch a lot of pac football because it is on in our prime time.
I dunno man.
You know what the easiest way to do that is? Start putting teams in the ****ing playoff. This league hasn't done that since Washington in 2016. When you cannibalize yourself year after year because you're more competitive.....you stop appealing to fans outside of your part of the country and the casual fans, and you become late night filler for both ESPN and FOX.ABC/ESPN: SEC, ACC, B12
Fox: B1G, B12
NBC: ND, B1G
CBS: B1G
On the time slots, this might be too extreme for people but I think the P12 should say to ESPN and Pac-12 After Dark, a product that is a terrible deal for the conference and provides no exposure at all.
P12 should prioritize money (obviously) but what about an an OTA network that is ours? I don’t think the P12 has had that in forever.
Assuming the money is there, I would rather have a DTC / Apple TV option that simulcasts key games on CBS and CW during primetime viewing Sat afternoon vs being ESPNs 3rd or 4th option.
I doubt they go this route but the conference needs to break the cycle that their games can’t be broadcast during prime afternoon viewing hours on Sat.
What if you have a week like November 4 this year?Spot on.
I'd add that if it's a streaming deal with maybe ESPN and an airwaves network each buying rights to a Pac-12 feature game in a time slot each week with the rest through a streaming service, the conference isn't giving up much (if anything) on exposure.
That's about all you see of ACC games unless you go into ESPN sub-channels or app streaming.
Arizona State at 14 Utah | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
California at 15 Oregon | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
17 Oregon State at Colorado | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
Stanford at Washington State | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
UCLA at Arizona | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
12 Washington at 4 USC | Time TBA | TV TBA | Buy Tickets |
I don't give a damn about the rest of the conference. I will watch CU. I'll pay attention to AFA, and watch them if they're on and I'm home-its a different brand of football that is really interesting to me. If I can, I'll watch Oklahoma-number of friends of mine are OU alums....so I follow so I know what the **** they're talking about when they talk college football-at least pre-Prime.one of the many disconnects for me in this Homeric epic is how people watch and who they watch.
For me in cfb I watch our Buffs and I watch some of our conference opponents. Back in the day I would also tune in to games around the country that impacted us.
I don’t sit down to appointment watch any sec games or big games or anyone else. I watch bits and pieces. Honestly I wonder how many pac or big games any sec fan watches unless it impacts their team.
Maybe a lot of it is time zones? On the west coast I watch a lot of pac football because it is on in our prime time. On the east coast the opposite is probably true and why the pac gets undervalued.
I dunno man.
"If it's all about lining your pockets with money, then the decisions are really easy and you've got to do what you've got to do and don't look back. You can say, 'Well, we were 4-and-8, but we made a lot of money.' At the end of the day, if that's what it's about, then congratulations."
Dykes turned playfully sarcastic as he continued the thought Wednesday at Big 12 media days.
"The rivalry between UCLA and Rutgers, I think it's a natural rivalry," he said of future Big Ten partners separated by 2,700 miles. "I'm anxious to see how that plays out. Is that stuff good for college football?
Sonny Dykes on conference jumpers: You can say, 'We were 4-8, but made a lot of money.' Congratulations
TCU coach takes to task realignment when a move 'makes no sense'www.lubbockonline.com
Missouri has gone 47-51 since, winning eight games only once. Texas A&M is 42-31 since joining. Nebraska is 40-43 (26-34 in conference) since joining the B1G.
"If it's all about lining your pockets with money, then the decisions are really easy and you've got to do what you've got to do and don't look back. You can say, 'Well, we were 4-and-8, but we made a lot of money.' At the end of the day, if that's what it's about, then congratulations."
Dykes turned playfully sarcastic as he continued the thought Wednesday at Big 12 media days.
"The rivalry between UCLA and Rutgers, I think it's a natural rivalry," he said of future Big Ten partners separated by 2,700 miles. "I'm anxious to see how that plays out. Is that stuff good for college football?
Sonny Dykes on conference jumpers: You can say, 'We were 4-8, but made a lot of money.' Congratulations
TCU coach takes to task realignment when a move 'makes no sense'www.lubbockonline.com
Missouri has gone 47-51 since, winning eight games only once. Texas A&M is 42-31 since joining. Nebraska is 40-43 (26-34 in conference) since joining the B1G.
Sounds like someone is succeeding in family therapy! Kudos to you!!!I also find time to interact with my family. Usually by yelling at them if they changed seats (or rooms!) and it coincided with a negative change to the Buffs fortunes. I'm much less obsessed than I used to be.
I mean, it’ll “span” FOUR time zones.I guess B1G doesn't count until the LA schools join
Now do every other conference.A quick look at the Big 12 membership and the conference culture:
Baylor- the home of Art Briles, a basketball murder coverup, Kim Mulkey and her public support of Briles & lack of it for Griner - basically all built on the Ken Starr blueprint for a university
BYU- they are what they are, a place that donated and drove the challenge in California against marriage equality (working with Ken Starr while he was at Pepperdine), has codified restrictions on professorial academic freedom and has a student code of conduct so draconian that they suspended a hoops player from the Dance for having sex with his girlfriend
Cincinnati- the first home of Bob Huggins where he had a 0.0% graduation rate and then the place that hired Tommy Tuberville
Houston- Art Briles cut his teeth here and now have Dana Holgerson who even West Virginia thought drank too much, and also hired Kelvin Sampson for MBB who had previously been nailed for recruiting violations at Oklahoma, was run out of the basketball coaches association for rules violations and was so dirty that Indiana officials had to apologize for hiring at the time they canned him
Iowa State-
Kansas- stuck by a coach implicated as a cheater by the FBI because they'll do anything for their MBB program (and they got their first natty since Larry Brown was there breaking rules), but otherwise they're fine
Kansas State- home of the largest inferiority complex in college athletics, desperately hired Huggins from Cincy and looked the other way because beating KU would be all that mattered, in football was willing to become a JUCO finishing school to no longer suck
Oklahoma State- home of all time greats like Dexter Manley who was able to pass his classes despite being illiterate, a FB coach in Mike Gundy who is a known racist, and a hoops program that hasn't done much before or since Eddie Sutton fled the scandal he created at Kentucky to go there and become the model for its peers by getting nailed for a DUI at 70 years old
TCU-
Texas Tech- couldn't win even when they had Mahomes at QB, has a culture defined by hiring Bobby Knight and Tommy Tuberville, even going so far as to consider Art Briles
UCF- happy to hire O'Leary after Notre Dame canceled him for falsifying his resume, one of the worst academic cheating scandals (punishment was that hundreds of students had to take an ethics class, not suspension or expulsion), now a cheating controversy over loaded bats in baseball, love them some Scott Frost
West Virginia- when they're not burning couches and abusing Oxy, they are committed to providing a safe place for drunk coaches like Huggins and Holgerson to be themselves as long as they win enough
It's basically a conference with the same m.o. as the old SWAC with some old time religion thrown into the mix which has seen every university with the chops to leave rushing out the door.
I'm not a normal CFB viewer. If I'm not going to a Buffs game, my Saturday is watching Gameday from the time it comes on, taking a break to go out to pick up a monster breakfast sandwich (usually a Kong at Deli Zone), then watch games from the opening kickoff at 10am through whatever the late game is. In recent years, I've usually drank too much over the Buffs and would fall asleep before the last P12 After Dark (or Hawaii home game) finished. I generally plan my primary games and check in on others during commercials, but also follow scores to flip around to whatever game is close and getting deep into 2H. I also switch channels to avoid those horrible halftime shows, even during Buffs games for which I stick during commercials.
I also find time to interact with my family. Usually by yelling at them if they changed seats (or rooms!) and it coincided with a negative change to the Buffs fortunes. I'm much less obsessed than I used to be.
I’ll watch Akron v Ball State on a Wednesday. And I actually refer to watch it on Hulu live rather than a specific app. The commercials give it more depth. I can’t stand the “commercial” breaks on the ESPN app.If I watch games other than CU it’s mostly PAC-12 games. Occasionally a Big 10 game. Never a B12 and very rarely ACC or SEC.
Now do CU]
Missouri has gone 47-51 since, winning eight games only once. Texas A&M is 42-31 since joining. Nebraska is 40-43 (26-34 in conference) since joining the B1G.
"If it's all about lining your pockets with money, then the decisions are really easy and you've got to do what you've got to do and don't look back. You can say, 'Well, we were 4-and-8, but we made a lot of money.' At the end of the day, if that's what it's about, then congratulations."
Dykes turned playfully sarcastic as he continued the thought Wednesday at Big 12 media days.
"The rivalry between UCLA and Rutgers, I think it's a natural rivalry," he said of future Big Ten partners separated by 2,700 miles. "I'm anxious to see how that plays out. Is that stuff good for college football?
Sonny Dykes on conference jumpers: You can say, 'We were 4-8, but made a lot of money.' Congratulations
TCU coach takes to task realignment when a move 'makes no sense'www.lubbockonline.com
Missouri has gone 47-51 since, winning eight games only once. Texas A&M is 42-31 since joining. Nebraska is 40-43 (26-34 in conference) since joining the B1G.