Sure what you say is true, but remember under the old system the whole idea was to get into states that did not have a Big 10 team to capture that market and be able to charge them. That is why adding Rutgers and Maryland made financial since. That has now changed, what is important now and going forward is size of the fan base, and butts in the seats, that is a good indicator of how many people will purchase the content that is streamed.
One of the biggest drawbacks of bringing ISU into the Big 10 was just that fact, they was already a team here, so no new viewers would be added, but now that concept is dying and being replaced because of streaming. Last full year of attendence 2019, ISU was 21st nationally, we were behind EIU which was 20th, that would have been good for 8th place in the league. So 6 other teams in the league had less fans at the games then we did. Since we expanded the stadium 5 years ago, our attendence was in the top 30 every year but one.
This idea by EIU fans that ISU brings nothing to the table is a myth, we are an AAU school, we have a fine history in both men's and woman's bb, plus the same in wrestling. We have an up and coming football team coming off the best season in school history finishing in 9th place in final polls. We have spent and continue to spend 10's of millions up rebuild and up date our facilities.
ISU is not the red haired step child that EIU fans continue to press that we are, and if they do not see that, I am sure that the Pac 12 will. Their arrogance will be their undoing, they will make a play for the better Pac 12 schools, which those schools will turn down to try and add the left over Big 12 schools and rebadge the TV network and make another go at it. The SEC will soon be pumping 70 to 80 million into the coffers of each member schools atheletic department and before long, Ohio St, Michigan and Penn. State will be wondering if they should also not get in on the money train and form a new super conference with the SEC, a few ACC teams and a few Pac 12 teams.