The MWC signs with FOX. FS1

[MUPanther]

The home games of Boise State is a different TV deal. So, that might stick with ESPN.

[MullinMayhem]

I'm still surprised ESPN has not bid like crazy for the Big East. I'll admit...for now cable is still king in terms of exposure, but the future is cordless. As much as I hate to admit it, the better future probably belongs to ESPN+ and will eventually get the main ESPN audience once everyone has smart TV's and most people ditch cable. For now the exposure on FS1 and being able to walk into a bar seeing the Big East is great, but I just think long term it may not be sustainable. Disney Plus is hugely successful early on getting record numbers of subscribers and one of their packages includes ESPN+. It feels like cord-cutting is happening now and only getting more popular as the 35 and under crowd is largely throwing their cable boxes out. Once the boomers are gone, this will only get more popular and eventually will replace cable completely.

[SamElliott]

It’s a smart play for MW football and BB by FS1. They were buried on ESPN and will get great exposure now.

The problem is the size of the audiences. The MWC only got a .37 for their title game on ESPN. Believe it or not that number will be significantly lower on another channel.

[stever20]

It’s a smart play for MW football and BB by FS1. They were buried on ESPN and will get great exposure now.

The problem is the size of the audiences. The MWC only got a .37 for their title game on ESPN. Believe it or not that number will be significantly lower on another channel.

going up against the SEC title game a pretty easy way to get crushed. Plus the AAC game also up against it was more competitive.

[SamElliott]

going up against the SEC title game a pretty easy way to get crushed. Plus the AAC game also up against it was more competitive.

It is what it is. Last year the MWC did a .6. Keep going back it’s in that range. About what the Sunbelt gets.

[GampelCrazies]

I'm still surprised ESPN has not bid like crazy for the Big East. I'll admit...for now cable is still king in terms of exposure, but the future is cordless. As much as I hate to admit it, the better future probably belongs to ESPN+ and will eventually get the main ESPN audience once everyone has smart TV's and most people ditch cable. For now the exposure on FS1 and being able to walk into a bar seeing the Big East is great, but I just think long term it may not be sustainable. Disney Plus is hugely successful early on getting record numbers of subscribers and one of their packages includes ESPN+. It feels like cord-cutting is happening now and only getting more popular as the 35 and under crowd is largely throwing their cable boxes out. Once the boomers are gone, this will only get more popular and eventually will replace cable completely.

ESPN+ is going to crash and burn. There isn't a big market for people to buy it. Your casual fan isn't going to buy a separate package to watch low-level Big East basketball games.

And if it did somehow become successful the price will skyrocket and force people to make tough decisions.

[scoscox]

I'm still surprised ESPN has not bid like crazy for the Big East. I'll admit...for now cable is still king in terms of exposure, but the future is cordless. As much as I hate to admit it, the better future probably belongs to ESPN+ and will eventually get the main ESPN audience once everyone has smart TV's and most people ditch cable. For now the exposure on FS1 and being able to walk into a bar seeing the Big East is great, but I just think long term it may not be sustainable. Disney Plus is hugely successful early on getting record numbers of subscribers and one of their packages includes ESPN+. It feels like cord-cutting is happening now and only getting more popular as the 35 and under crowd is largely throwing their cable boxes out. Once the boomers are gone, this will only get more popular and eventually will replace cable completely.

ESPN+ is going to crash and burn. There isn't a big market for people to buy it. Your casual fan isn't going to buy a separate package to watch low-level Big East basketball games.

And if it did somehow become successful the price will skyrocket and force people to make tough decisions.

agreed. streaming may be the future, but i'm not sure streaming premium content will be.

[MUPanther]

SEC on CBS will be done after 2023. What's next for Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12. There deals are done in that timeframe.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/SB- ... 2/SEC.aspx

[admin]

SEC on CBS will be done after 2023. What's next for Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12. There deals are done in that timeframe.

https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/SB- ... 2/SEC.aspx

Multiple sources said ESPN/ABC is in the final stages of negotiating a deal that is expected to pay more than six times the $55 million per year fee that CBS currently pays, sources said. Fox Sports execs still are planning to make an official bid presentation at SEC HQ in Birmingham next month. But sources say ESPN’s negotiations are in the final stages. ESPN and Fox Sports would not comment.

CBS plans to carry SEC football for the four seasons it has left on its contract, unless the conference or winning network is able to buy it out. CBS has carried SEC football since 1996 and network execs were interested in extending. When bidding went well over $300 million per season for 15-17 football games, including the conference championship game, CBS opted to bow out.

Over $300M / year for 15-17 football games?

[adoraz]

I'm still surprised ESPN has not bid like crazy for the Big East. I'll admit...for now cable is still king in terms of exposure, but the future is cordless. As much as I hate to admit it, the better future probably belongs to ESPN+ and will eventually get the main ESPN audience once everyone has smart TV's and most people ditch cable. For now the exposure on FS1 and being able to walk into a bar seeing the Big East is great, but I just think long term it may not be sustainable. Disney Plus is hugely successful early on getting record numbers of subscribers and one of their packages includes ESPN+. It feels like cord-cutting is happening now and only getting more popular as the 35 and under crowd is largely throwing their cable boxes out. Once the boomers are gone, this will only get more popular and eventually will replace cable completely.

Are you aware of what ESPN+ actually is? It doesn't include any of the ABC/ESPN/ESPN 2/ESPN U/etc cable games. It's mostly low-majors being streamed on that. I believe some Big 12, AAC and A10 games are on it, but that's it. ESPN+ also I think requires the schools to stream and announce (some AAC schools aren't happy with the costs and poor production). It's very low exposure and is an additional purchase on top of the cable ESPN channels. It has nothing to do with cord cutting unless fans would be content only watching a few games each year.

Could things change in the future? Sure. But for the foreseeable future almost all major games will remain on cable.