ESPN is at it again

[Jet915]

We don't need ESPN. What we need is teams to not crap the bed once the lights turn on.

Even if 5 Big East teams were ranked in the top 25 I don't think we'd come anywhere near the eyeballs ESPN would get.

We have an unprecedented number of games on TV because of FS1 (Butler vs Manchester -really?). As they grow the number of their live football games this fall, ratings will increase plus all of the additional contracts they have signed in future years will help. It's a slow deal so enjoy the Big East action while you can. My worry is that once FS1 explodes that the number of our games that make national TV decreases significantly.

I wouldn't worry about that yet. All the new signings (MLS, US Open etc..) occur during the spring/summer. Until FS1 gets the Big Ten or NBA, that is when we will see more of our games on FS2. It's a double edged sword, adding them will increase the popularity of the channel and more people will tune into our games; however, more of our games will be on FS2. Hopefully by the time this happens, FS2 will be in more households.

[billyjack]

Couple of things... just my opinion...

Politics, business, entertainment... really everything out there... contains a continuous string of seemingly unstoppable, predatory, behemoth organizations that seem like they'll dominate forever... but that within a short period of time ended up shrinking, dwindling and/or collapsing. Going way back, the collapse happened over a longer period of time ... but in today's world, with instant communication across the planet, the turnover can happen much quicker when something better or different or more interesting or more stylish or more sensible comes along (see the obits of AOL, Blackberry, the Palm Pilot, Blockbuster, etc). Or at best, these organizations change their ways for the better.

ESPN, in my opinion, is in a dangerous spot because they're in the entertainment industry and they don't "produce anything" (they just own the rights to other groups' properties) or "employ anyone that the general public really gives a shit about" (they don't employ Tom Brady, instead they employ Golic and Greenberg). Their game is all about promoting themselves as must-see television, creating urgency through smoke-and-mirrors, telling the general sports-watching public what they should care about. In the 80's and 90's, ESPN reported the news. Since then, and former employees have exposed this, ESPN has decided to created its own news based on the properties it owns. Former employees talked about the Tebow-LeBron instructions. More viewers are picking up on their shenanigans. More sports fans affected by ESPN's meddling have sworm them off. Eventually enough people will recognize ESPN as the charlatans that they are, and the momentum against them will go downhill.

Alternatives are other sports networks, and other channels dedicated to specific sports... MLB Network, The Tennis Channel, NFL Network, etc...

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go... my travel agent just sent a fax to my wife and me, to meet him at Border's Bookstore so that we can plan our trip to the Soviet Union by steamship... I've got to remember to buy some Kodak 35mm film on the way over there in our Saturn... I'll be sure to telegraph you guys from there when I get to Leningrad.

[NJRedman]

At first it was shocking to go from a sweetheart conference with ESPN (they had us under contract for a while) to the red-headed step child once FS1 gave us a better deal. Now I'm getting used to it. As much as I hate to say it, we need to be on ESPN. I know FS1 is brand new and while it's still national TV, it's still in its infancy and will take years and years to become a name brand and have everyone know what channel it is by heart. What is our current deal with FS1 in terms of years? I wonder if ESPN will pursue us more aggressively just to have a monopoly? I'm sure ESPN would still rather the Big East than the AAC without L'Ville.

I want this conference where it belongs: on ESPN. I hate that they have all the power and continue to take swings at us, but being on ESPN really is essential if we are to be seen as major still IMO. Obviously it doesn't matter to diehard Big East fans...we will follow them on any channel. But the key is the common people who aren't partial to any team. Many people flip through ESPN and ESPN2 just to see what's on. No one does that for FS1 (at least yet). I miss the ESPN3 coverage because I could miss a game being at work and watch it whenever I wanted at home and rewind and fastforward. It was extremely convenient.

So trust me I hate ESPN for throwing us under the bus because we are sleeping with their competitor, but I do think we need to find a way to get back with ESPN.

So you'd rather NOT have your (SJU) games on TV and the schools make less money then be able to watch your team (SJU) and the schools make more money but have to deal with made up bullsh-- from ESPN? You really are a shitty fan. ESPN was bashing us WHILE WE WERE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THEM! THEY WERE THE ONE WHO ORCHESTRATED THE ACC RAIDS!!!!!! THEY ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS AND HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE THE EARLY 90'S!!!

[FormulaX]

Couple of things... just my opinion...

Politics, business, entertainment... really everything out there... contains a continuous string of seemingly unstoppable, predatory, behemoth organizations that seem like they'll dominate forever... but that within a short period of time ended up shrinking, dwindling and/or collapsing. Going way back, the collapse happened over a longer period of time ... but in today's world, with instant communication across the planet, the turnover can happen much quicker when something better or different or more interesting or more stylish or more sensible comes along (AOL, Blackberry, Blockbuster, etc). Or at best, these organizations change their ways for the better.

ESPN, in my opinion, is in a dangerous spot because they're in the entertainment industry and they don't "produce anything" (they just own the rights to other groups' properties) or "employ anyone that the general public really gives a shit about" (they don't employ Tom Brady, instead they employ Golic and Greenberg). Their game is all about promoting themselves as must-see television, creating urgency through smoke-and-mirrors, telling the general sports-watching public what they should care about. In the 80's and 90's, ESPN reported the news. Since then, and former employees have exposed this, ESPN has decided to created its own news based on the properties it owns. Former employees talked about the Tebow-LeBron instructions. More viewers are picking up on their shenanigans. More sports fans affected by ESPN's meddling have sworm them off. Eventually enough people will recognize ESPN as the charlatans that they are, and the momentum against them will go downhill.

Alternatives are other sports networks, and other channels dedicated to specific sports... MLB Network, The Tennis Channel, NFL Network, etc...

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go... my travel agent just sent a fax to my wife and me, to meet him at Border's Bookstore so that we can plan our trip to the Soviet Union by steamship... I've got to remember to buy some Kodak 35mm film on the way over there in our Saturn... I'll be sure to telegraph you guys from there when I get to Leningrad.

Nice,
All that matters right now is how you like the FS1 and FS2 broadcasts. I think they have done a great job. Fact: Fox will grow and ESPN will shrink. ESPN knows it. I just read that Fox is going to make over 6 Bil. on the X-Men movies. They got tons of cash and know-how. But, It would give a little boost If the BE can get those 4-5 ranked teams. (People tune in to see ranked teams.) Then we can see a beginning like the Old Big East 30yrs ago. relax.. In 2 years everyone will know FS1 and FS2.

[NJRedman]

Couple of things... just my opinion...

Politics, business, entertainment... really everything out there... contains a continuous string of seemingly unstoppable, predatory, behemoth organizations that seem like they'll dominate forever... but that within a short period of time ended up shrinking, dwindling and/or collapsing. Going way back, the collapse happened over a longer period of time ... but in today's world, with instant communication across the planet, the turnover can happen much quicker when something better or different or more interesting or more stylish or more sensible comes along (AOL, Blackberry, Blockbuster, etc). Or at best, these organizations change their ways for the better.

ESPN, in my opinion, is in a dangerous spot because they're in the entertainment industry and they don't "produce anything" (they just own the rights to other groups' properties) or "employ anyone that the general public really gives a shit about" (they don't employ Tom Brady, instead they employ Golic and Greenberg). Their game is all about promoting themselves as must-see television, creating urgency through smoke-and-mirrors, telling the general sports-watching public what they should care about. In the 80's and 90's, ESPN reported the news. Since then, and former employees have exposed this, ESPN has decided to created its own news based on the properties it owns. Former employees talked about the Tebow-LeBron instructions. More viewers are picking up on their shenanigans. More sports fans affected by ESPN's meddling have sworm them off. Eventually enough people will recognize ESPN as the charlatans that they are, and the momentum against them will go downhill.

Alternatives are other sports networks, and other channels dedicated to specific sports... MLB Network, The Tennis Channel, NFL Network, etc...

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go... my travel agent just sent a fax to my wife and me, to meet him at Border's Bookstore so that we can plan our trip to the Soviet Union by steamship... I've got to remember to buy some Kodak 35mm film on the way over there in our Saturn... I'll be sure to telegraph you guys from there when I get to Leningrad.

Nice,
All that matters right now is how you like the FS1 and FS2 broadcasts. I think they have done a great job. Fact: Fox will grow and ESPN will shrink. ESPN knows it. I just read that Fox is going to make over 6 Bil. on the X-Men movies. They got tons of cash and know-how. But, It would give a little boost If the BE can get those 4-5 ranked teams. (People tune in to see ranked teams.) Then we can see a beginning like the Old Big East 30yrs ago. relax.. In 2 years everyone will know FS1 and FS2.

What we (Hopefully) will see in the next decade is Fox pushing for OOC games amongst the properties they control. More BE/B1G, B1G/Pac-12, Pac-12/BE, B1G/BXII, Pac-12/BXII, BE/BXII games would really be a great thing to see. It would also help draw interest to the channel while drawing away match ups from the WWL.

[marquette]

Marquette isn't in financial trouble are they?

No more than any other schools. Marquette is making preemptive cuts (generally by not filling recently vacated positions that are redundant or obsolete) to get ahead of the student loan bubble. In fact, Marquette is building a new $12 million residence just so the Jesuits can be more comfortable. They also added a lacrosse squad and built a new law school building within the last decade. We pay assistant coaches more than 75% of schools pay head coaches. A university that is struggling financially doesn't generally do things like that.

[robinreed]

At first it was shocking to go from a sweetheart conference with ESPN (they had us under contract for a while) to the red-headed step child once FS1 gave us a better deal. Now I'm getting used to it. As much as I hate to say it, we need to be on ESPN. I know FS1 is brand new and while it's still national TV, it's still in its infancy and will take years and years to become a name brand and have everyone know what channel it is by heart. What is our current deal with FS1 in terms of years? I wonder if ESPN will pursue us more aggressively just to have a monopoly? I'm sure ESPN would still rather the Big East than the AAC without L'Ville.

I want this conference where it belongs: on ESPN. I hate that they have all the power and continue to take swings at us, but being on ESPN really is essential if we are to be seen as major still IMO. Obviously it doesn't matter to diehard Big East fans...we will follow them on any channel. But the key is the common people who aren't partial to any team. Many people flip through ESPN and ESPN2 just to see what's on. No one does that for FS1 (at least yet). I miss the ESPN3 coverage because I could miss a game being at work and watch it whenever I wanted at home and rewind and fastforward. It was extremely convenient.

So trust me I hate ESPN for throwing us under the bus because we are sleeping with their competitor, but I do think we need to find a way to get back with ESPN.

Top

The ONE thing that we can not allow is to permit Fox to put all or even most of our games on FS2. This is literally a death decree. We can probably find a way to live with all our games on FS1 especially with the money the contract pays but FS2 would kill us even if the money was doubled. I agree with you there is nothing like having your games on ESPN although I have grown to hate their commentators. Their game broadcast is still outstanding and far superior to Fox.

Again I believe we can stay alive on FS1, not on FS2. I must admit I don't know the answer but were we not promised a minimum number of games on FS1? That surely should have been in the contract. If so this will save us if Fox abides by the contract.

[NJRedman]

At first it was shocking to go from a sweetheart conference with ESPN (they had us under contract for a while) to the red-headed step child once FS1 gave us a better deal. Now I'm getting used to it. As much as I hate to say it, we need to be on ESPN. I know FS1 is brand new and while it's still national TV, it's still in its infancy and will take years and years to become a name brand and have everyone know what channel it is by heart. What is our current deal with FS1 in terms of years? I wonder if ESPN will pursue us more aggressively just to have a monopoly? I'm sure ESPN would still rather the Big East than the AAC without L'Ville.

I want this conference where it belongs: on ESPN. I hate that they have all the power and continue to take swings at us, but being on ESPN really is essential if we are to be seen as major still IMO. Obviously it doesn't matter to diehard Big East fans...we will follow them on any channel. But the key is the common people who aren't partial to any team. Many people flip through ESPN and ESPN2 just to see what's on. No one does that for FS1 (at least yet). I miss the ESPN3 coverage because I could miss a game being at work and watch it whenever I wanted at home and rewind and fastforward. It was extremely convenient.

So trust me I hate ESPN for throwing us under the bus because we are sleeping with their competitor, but I do think we need to find a way to get back with ESPN.

Top

The ONE thing that we can not allow is to permit Fox to put all or even most of our games on FS2. This is literally a death decree. We can probably find a way to live with all our games on FS1 especially with the money the contract pays but FS2 would kill us even if the money was doubled. I agree with you there is nothing like having your games on ESPN although I have grown to hate their commentators. Their game broadcast is still outstanding and far superior to Fox.

Again I believe we can stay alive on FS1, not on FS2. I must admit I don't know the answer but were we not promised a minimum number of games on FS1? That surely should have been in the contract. If so this will save us if Fox abides by the contract.

I think we're getting WAY ahead of ourselves here. Even if Fox gets the rights to the NBA and B1G they will still need a lot of our games to fill out their lineup. Fox would only be getting a package of NBA games that they will show one or two nights a week. The rest of the week will be college basketball mixed between the B1Gm Pac, Big XII and ourselves. The thing is except for us Fox only gets SOME of those games from those conferences. ESPN gets half of the Pac and Big XII games and the BTN will get some of the B1Gs games. We will probably see some of our lower OOC games moved to FS2 and maybe a few of the undesirable conference games down there like DePaul vs whoever else is at the bottom os the league. Other than that FS1 still needs a majority of our games especially the big name ones.

[MUBoxer]

this is not a result of 'poor research'. he didn't make any 'errors'. this is just a deliberate attempt to downgrade BE. the latest in the long series of misleading articles and comments ever since the BE breakup.

No he made plenty of mistakes:

MU playing at the Cell... no we play at the Bradley center and have for something like 20+ years.

UW out recruiting MU in state... Depends entirely on how you look at it. Currently UW has Koenig and Dekker who were in state top 100s (Dekker outranking any MU player) although MU has more with Wilson, Burton, Cohen, Fisher, and Noskowiak committed.

The financial trouble statement is messy. Our fundraising has been down thanks to the old Prez sucking at it and obviously there's the preemptive cuts. Overall MU might have less money than usual but no MU isn't in trouble

Finally his last statement is just a stupid assumption asking whether MU's accademic reputation is going to prevent good players from coming there. MU's a great school but there's plenty of better ones that have been winning even more consistently than MU has.

So sorry to dispute your opinion but it was in fact a poorly researched article full of errors.

[Bill Marsh]

this is not a result of 'poor research'. he didn't make any 'errors'. this is just a deliberate attempt to downgrade BE. the latest in the long series of misleading articles and comments ever since the BE breakup.

No he made plenty of mistakes:

MU playing at the Cell... no we play at the Bradley center and have for something like 20+ years.

UW out recruiting MU in state... Depends entirely on how you look at it. Currently UW has Koenig and Dekker who were in state top 100s (Dekker outranking any MU player) although MU has more with Wilson, Burton, Cohen, Fisher, and Noskowiak committed.

The financial trouble statement is messy. Our fundraising has been down thanks to the old Prez sucking at it and obviously there's the preemptive cuts. Overall MU might have less money than usual but no MU isn't in trouble

Finally his last statement is just a stupid assumption asking whether MU's accademic reputation is going to prevent good players from coming there. MU's a great school but there's plenty of better ones that have been winning even more consistently than MU has.

So sorry to dispute your opinion but it was in fact a poorly researched article full of errors.

Yes, and you didn't even mention one of his most egregious errors, the claim that the old Big East TV contract with ESPN was more "lucrative" than the their current Fox TV contract. This guy needed a fact checker if ever anyone has.