adoraz wrote:Not having USA in the World Cup is no doubt horrible for Fox. It will be awful for their bottom line.
That said, at the risk of Stever turning this into a ten page debate, I don't think it'd impact Big East ratings. The World Cup takes place in June, which is as far removed from college basketball season as you can get. I'm skeptical as to whether having the USA in the WC (and likely eliminated in the first round) would lead to Big East viewership 5-9 months later. Again, I am not trying to downplay this sucking for Fox. I'm disappointed USA didn't make it. I just don't think it'll impact what we care about.
What is far more important is what you saw last night, with the Yankees winning game 5 in a market we are desperately trying to capture. This ensures the NYC market on FS1 from mid-late October, with the Big East season starting a couple weeks later. And even more important than that is having Big Ten basketball (and to a lesser extent, football) games on FS1 to get viewers in the habit of going there.
FS1 is getting pretty lucky with the MLB postseason, last year with the Cubs and this year with the Yankees. Obviously Astros aren't great aside from acting as the underdog, but Yankees are the team you want this/most years. When Yankees and Red Sox were down 2-0 it was looking like we'd have a disappointing ALCS.
What if I told you I pretty much agree 100% with you on the World Cup with regards to the Big East?
Where I disagree is the impact of the Yankees on Big East ratings. The reason is quite frankly- how many Big East ads will Fox run during the ALCS? Also, wouldn't say it ensures the NYC market on FS1 from mid-late October. The LCS will be over between Oct 17-21(depending on if it goes 4-7 games). Oct 21 isn't late October. The series could easily be over by October 18. And 1 of the games will be on Big Fox.
Also, Big Ten basketball I don't think will have the impact that you think. Casual fans are still going to trek to ESPN for most games. Big Ten fans will go where the games are. And the top Big Ten games are split between Fox, ESPN, and CBS.