The Pac-12 Is Increasingly A Have-Not

[hokiehead]

That’s because it’s never been an issue for 4/5 power 5 conferences. Time zones matter because it means more eye balls watching the games. Many Pac 12 games don’t start until 10pm ET and that’s a problem.

I understand that since most of the US population lives in the ETZ, that during those viewing hours is when most people will have availability to watch games.
I do not understand how adding a team in the CTZ fixes this in any way for the current Pac 12 schools.

 

[onealcd]

I understand that since most of the US population lives in the ETZ, that during those viewing hours is when most people will have availability to watch games.
I do not understand how adding a team in the CTZ fixes this in any way for the current Pac 12 schools.

You extend that playing window by another hour. You can have games in Texas start at 9am on the west coast.

 

[hokiehead]

You extend that playing window by another hour. You can have games in Texas start at 9am on the west coast.

there's nothing stopping the Pac 12 from scheduling games at those times now, except:
(1) lack of desire to compete with SEC & B1G fans for the same viewing times
(2) pissing and moaning from fans over the idea of early games (didn't we just hash that one out last year?)

neither of those factors change if the Pac adds a CTZ school.

Texas might give the conference confidence to go head to head w/ SEC/B1G schools for the 12PM and 3PM ET games, but that has everything to do with them being a valuable product and nothing to do with what time zone they're in.

 

[onealcd]

there's nothing stopping the Pac 12 from scheduling games at those times now, except:
(1) lack of desire to compete with SEC & B1G fans for the same viewing times
(2) pissing and moaning from fans over the idea of early games (didn't we just hash that one out last year?)

neither of those factors change if the Pac adds a CTZ school.

Texas might give the conference confidence to go head to head w/ SEC/B1G schools for the 12PM and 3PM ET games, but that has everything to do with them being a valuable product and nothing to do with what time zone they're in.

I don't really agree there. Having games start at 11 am local time in Texas and noon eastern is a lot different than having a game at 9 am local time on the west coast. Most campuses and AD's were against those early games for a reason.

 

[hokiehead]

I don't really agree there. Having games start at 11 am local time in Texas and noon eastern is a lot different than having a game at 9 am local time on the west coast. Most campuses and AD's were against those early games for a reason.

for what reasons do you think most campuses and AD's in the current Pac 12 were against the early games? more relevant, why do you believe those reasons would change if the Pac added 1-2 CTZ schools?

 

[onealcd]

for what reasons do you think most campuses and AD's in the current Pac 12 were against the early games? more relevant, why do you believe those reasons would change if the Pac added 1-2 CTZ schools?

Because Pac-12 schools already have attendance issues so 9 AM local starts hurt that even more. Yes there are old people that are fine with them but when you have a student section that is supposed to fill up 20,000 seats it is a disaster. When you have 10/12 schools on west coast time for 2/3rds of the season and 8/12 for the other third there isn't a very good opportunity to schedule those early games. Adding 4 schools in the central time zone that can realistically play games at 11 am local time and noon on the east coast it opens up a lot for the conference in terms of possibilities.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

for what reasons do you think most campuses and AD's in the current Pac 12 were against the early games? more relevant, why do you believe those reasons would change if the Pac added 1-2 CTZ schools?

Dude. A game starting at 9am local time in CA, WA, OR, AZ is completely different than a game starting at 11am local time in TX. Not only for the players waking up at the ass crack of dawn, but for fan attendance as well.

 

[CarolinaBuff]

The ratings for Fox's Big Noon kickoff game this past season were up significantly showing there was a big untapped opportunity in the noon EDT window. Granted a few of those games were driven by the massive Ohio State or Texas fanbases but if USC, Oregon, UW, or UCLA were to play a noon game at Texas Tech or Ok State that same opportunity for increased viewership would be there. And even Boulder could be on the table maybe once a season, we've had 10am kickoffs for the Nebraska game in the past.

 

[BerkeleyBuff]

The ratings for Fox's Big Noon kickoff game this past season were up significantly showing there was a big untapped opportunity in the noon EDT window. Granted a few of those games were driven by the massive Ohio State or Texas fanbases but if USC, Oregon, UW, or UCLA were to play a noon game at Texas Tech or Ok State that same opportunity for increased viewership would be there. And even Boulder could be on the table maybe once a season, we've had 10am kickoffs for the ****braska game in the past.

Their pregame show was good too.

 

[BerkeleyBuff]

Besides FOX, is CBS looking to replace their game of the week, since they bowed out of the SEC bidding war? Their broadcasts are terrific.

 

[01Buff]

Besides FOX, is CBS looking to replace their game of the week, since they bowed out of the SEC bidding war? Their broadcasts are terrific.

Between dropping (or losing the bid to espn) on the SEC game of the week and the Romo contract, it looks like they are going all in on keeping the NFL in the next round of negotiations. Probably with hopes for a SB or 2 included