Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[Die4Cy]

The funding is already almost all advertising dollars. That’s how the networks are paying for the media rights, selling ads. The advantage of this is that live sports are one of the only ways left to capture an audience. Most streaming is ad free or has a tier to avoid ads if not live. Premier shows on services like HBO have no ads so unless you get a show you have to watch live to avoid massive spoilers, love sports is still one of the best ways to capture an audience.

You understand that the decline in sports viewership is occurring also, just not as fast, right? It's understandable that media outlets would put more chips on their sports content because it is a better bet over other linear television options, but the established trend is fewer eyeballs every year. At some point, that is a reality that has to show up in the bids for content. Just because big checks have come in the past, it doesn't mean they always will. PAC learning about this right now, looks like.

This multi-year decline already is rearing its head in sports media. ESPN is cutting ties with dozens of their established media personalities in a bid to save cash right now, before any of the recently negotiated deals even kick in. Fox Sports just finished a restructuring a year ago but the parent company is slashing jobs in their other TV holdings.

Hypothetically, what do you think happens in the B1G if next time contracts are bid the deals come back flat or a 10% reduction on average over the lifetime of the deal?

 

[RonBurgundy]

My cable company unbundled the SEC network and I immediately cancelled. I still have the LHN and the B1G network (not by choice). I have to assume the day is coming that these will be unbundled and I can cancel them.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Is the $12M correct? It was reported in May that the Pac 12 operating expenses were $77 million ($6.42 million per school) for the 2021-2022 year.

Pac-12 announces record 2021-22 financial results

The Pac-12 Conference today reported the financial performance for the financial year 2021-2022, with record total revenues of $581M and record distributions at $444M, representing an average of $37M per member university. The increase in reported revenues and distributions from the last Pac-12...

pac-12.com

$3M per school for ESPN+? Oof, that is a lot.

I must have seen all-in 'league dues' and mistaken them for those numbers.

 

[KnappShack]

My cable company unbundled the SEC network and I immediately cancelled. I still have the LHN and the B1G network (not by choice). I have to assume the day is coming that these will be unbundled and I can cancel them.

LHN, B1G, and Marquee are three networks I will not pay for.

 

[LLCoolCY]

Not that it would really move the needle on the potential media deal still interesting.

 

[Cloneon]

Not that it would really move the needle on the potential media deal still interesting.

Two things I think make the biggest difference: parity and success. The B12 has parity in both major sports and success in basketball. The B1G doesn't have enough success across the top to cover for the lack of parity and the Pac: well let's just say they've been really down lately. The SEC has enough success across the top to cover for lack of parity. Also, someone will eventually do a 'Covid confinement change in behavior analysis' which I believe will show people less inclined to attend live games, less inclined to watch live events and more inclined to fit watching recorded events or highlights of events instead. Which directly correlates with down ad revenue. Expect the media industry to change their advertising methods.

 

[Acylum]

Brett Yormark Predicts Big 12 as a 'Top National Conference'

The Big 12 officially welcomed BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF to the conference on Saturday as the new era of the conference is set to get underway with the 2023 football season. Under Commissioner Brett Yormark, there have been plenty of additions to the Big 12, both literally with four new...

www.heartlandcollegesports.com

 

[isucy86]

For one thing we know Iowa vetoed that possibility.

Secondly, UCLA is a bigger brand in school and competitive success. Adding that a visiting B10 school to LA can do a two game stint with one flight, seems like an easy add. BB, swimming, volleyball, and many more can play Thursday and Saturday once at UCLA and once at USC and then head back. That would be a great trip.

Plus the BTN monthly carriage fee is higher having both LA schools vs. just 1.

 

[isucy86]

One thing ignored is that adding Oregon and Washington increases the travel costs for athletic teams. Lower tiered teams in the B1G aren’t necessarily in favor of adding teams that won’t increase their take while increasing their travel costs. And those new teams are likely to keep them from even sniffing at the playoffs.

The travel costs for existing Big10 teams wouldn't increase that much assuming a protected rivalry would be created among UCLA, USC, OR & WA.

In football, that would mean 24 games for the Pac4 against the current 14 teams. At most 1 west coast road trip for twelve Big10 school each year.

Sure there are west coast road trips for other sports, but easily managed. In some sports like baseball & softball playing the Pac4 could just replace existing warm weather trips during spring.

it's funny we currently don't hear much about travel costs for Iowa, Neb, Minn or Wisky traveling to Penn State, Rutgers or Maryland.

 

[Cloneon]

The travel costs for existing Big10 teams wouldn't increase that much assuming a protected rivalry would be created among UCLA, USC, OR & WA.

In football, that would mean 24 games for the Pac4 against the current 14 teams. At most 1 west coast road trip for twelve Big10 school each year.

Sure there are west coast road trips for other sports, but easily managed. In some sports like baseball & softball playing the Pac4 could just replace existing warm weather trips during spring.

it's funny we currently don't hear much about travel costs for Iowa, Neb, Minn or Wisky traveling to Penn State, Rutgers or Maryland.

While what you're saying reduces travel expense, the delta between flying to Chicago vs flying to Phoenix for OR/WA is not that much different. Yes, it's more expensive, but considering the increase in potential revenue, it's rather small.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

You understand that the decline in sports viewership is occurring also, just not as fast, right? It's understandable that media outlets would put more chips on their sports content because it is a better bet over other linear television options, but the established trend is fewer eyeballs every year. At some point, that is a reality that has to show up in the bids for content. Just because big checks have come in the past, it doesn't mean they always will. PAC learning about this right now, looks like.

This multi-year decline already is rearing its head in sports media. ESPN is cutting ties with dozens of their established media personalities in a bid to save cash right now, before any of the recently negotiated deals even kick in. Fox Sports just finished a restructuring a year ago but the parent company is slashing jobs in their other TV holdings.

Hypothetically, what do you think happens in the B1G if next time contracts are bid the deals come back flat or a 10% reduction on average over the lifetime of the deal?

Legit no clue as it’s never happened to any p5 conference yet, pac could be the first and it’s hard to compare because they lost two flagships.

The thing is I’m not super worried about a decline in viewership unless it’s very sharp or another form of media comes out that can capture an ad audience like live sports does. Now if the market shifts and companies stop viewing TV ads as smart business due to cost I could see something changing but honestly we’re already at the point in the P2 that there really isn’t that much more that money can buy. It’s just going to be higher coaches salary’s and more fluff facilities.

 

[werdnamanhill]

Legit no clue as it’s never happened to any p5 conference yet, pac could be the first and it’s hard to compare because they lost two flagships.

The thing is I’m not super worried about a decline in viewership unless it’s very sharp or another form of media comes out that can capture an ad audience like live sports does. Now if the market shifts and companies stop viewing TV ads as smart business due to cost I could see something changing but honestly we’re already at the point in the P2 that there really isn’t that much more that money can buy. It’s just going to be higher coaches salary’s and more fluff facilities.

It will all go to coach salaries and paying players (once that is legal)

 

[FriendlySpartan]

It will all go to coach salaries and paying players (once that is legal)

If it’s paying players (aka employees) then none of this really matters as a lot of current P5 programs will shut down. No need to bring that convo over to this thread but as I’ve said before everyone on here should really really hope that doesn’t happen.

 

[cyclonemagic]

Not that it would really move the needle on the potential media deal still interesting.

I guess Kansas is counting on the declining football attendance with its new football stadium rennovation plan. The seating capacity is estimated to decrease by 7,000. But they are trying to do their own version of CyTown. Only there is limited space to work with compared with the Iowa State Center complex.

Leaked Memorial Stadium Proposal Gets It Right

 

[CycloneBamaFan]

This would make things interesting. Not sure I believe the financials though.

Very odd source. Anyone more reputable saying anything??

 

[simply1]

If it’s paying players (aka employees) then none of this really matters as a lot of current P5 programs will shut down. No need to bring that convo over to this thread but as I’ve said before everyone on here should really really hope that doesn’t happen.

If it’s only the big ten and Sec left standing, bring Armageddon.

 

[Acylum]

If it’s paying players (aka employees) then none of this really matters as a lot of current P5 programs will shut down. No need to bring that convo over to this thread but as I’ve said before everyone on here should really really hope that doesn’t happen.

Your tendency to remind ISU fans of where we stand in the CFB world gets a little tiresome.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Your tendency to remind ISU fans of where we stand in the CFB world gets a little tiresome.

I was including myself in that comment. Almost every non revenue sport would vanish and a ton of programs would be forced to close, ISU wouldn’t be one of them, but Im not a fan of any program being forced to shutter.

 

[Kinch]

Very odd source. Anyone more reputable saying anything??

If it is a true rumor, the PAC 12 would be screaming this from the rooftop.

 

[Kinch]

The Big 12, Big East and ACC have an ace in their back pocket in case the SEC and Big 10 pull Armageddon. It’s called the NCAA basketball tournament.