Fox Pulling out of B12 FB Championship Game

[aeroclone]

Bad look to who? The people already not watching?

The national sports media that is trying to portray the B12 as a second tier league, or to the casual fan outside B12 country. You wouldn't see the SEC or the B1G placing the game of the year on streaming only. The B12 doing so while the other P5s are playing on ESPN and the networks screams mid major.

Network plus streaming as a play for the future sounds great, but streaming exclusive looks desperate.

 

[BryceC]

The national sports media that is trying to portray the B12 as a second tier league, or to the casual fan outside B12 country. You wouldn't see the SEC or the B1G placing the game of the year on streaming only. The B12 doing so while the other P5s are playing on ESPN and the networks screams mid major.

Network plus streaming as a play for the future sounds great, but streaming exclusive looks desperate.

Unless they drastically overpay. Then it just looks smart.

That said, there are tiers to the conferences. The SEC and the Big 10 are tier 1 whether we like it or not. They command by far the most money and their fanbases and ratings are huge. The Big 10, despite missing the CFP multiple times in a row is not changing anything. The Big 12 was running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

 

[KnappShack]

 

[Clonehomer]

Yet they still somehow end up with Shaka Smart

 

[aeroclone]

Unless they drastically overpay. Then it just looks smart.

That said, there are tiers to the conferences. The SEC and the Big 10 are tier 1 whether we like it or not. They command by far the most money and their fanbases and ratings are huge. The Big 10, despite missing the CFP multiple times in a row is not changing anything. The Big 12 was running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

If the networks sit this out, I don't see the streamers overpaying. At that point you have a buyer's market.

 

[CrossCyed]

ESPN won't get it since it butts up against the ACC. All the networks wanted us to move to Friday and we said no.

Untrue, they have right of first refusal and could very easily put it up against the ACC with one on ABC and one on ESPN.

 

[madguy30]

or it could go on LHN.

 

[madguy30]

ABC and roll back sports viewing all together.

 

[NWICY]

I refuse to enrich Jeff Bezos any more, so I guess it would be CFBStreams on Reddit for me.

Maybe the soon to be ex Mrs. Bezos may get that part of Amazon. You never know.

 

[ArgentCy]

A well written article from WVU site. I'm still not sure how they had a contract where Fox can just walk during their years.

https://247sports.com/college/west-...hts-shape-future-media-rights-deal-127908227/

After just two years and two highly successful events, the Big 12 may be shopping around broadcast rights to its conference championship football game. Sports Business Journal reported this week Fox, one of the Big 12's two television partners, has passed on televising the game in 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Suppose ESPN isn't interested in another $20 million commitment to the Big 12 or that the Big 12 isn't interested in a lower fee or, say, a Friday night time slot. A deal doesn't happen, and both Fox and ESPN pass. SBJ said the Big 12 can then negotiate with outsiders. That could be a network, though there aren't too many options left there. That could also be a streaming service, and, no there aren't too many options there now, either. But there is potential.

 

[CyHans]

Can we just go back to no championship game? I thought that was better.

Other than bringing in a bunch of money it's not really needed IMO. Round robin decides the champion but ever since TCU got jumped over by OSU we were told we needed it.

 

[CyForPresident]

Other than bringing in a bunch of money it's not really needed IMO. Round robin decides the champion but ever since TCU got jumped over by OSU we were told we needed it.

We do need it. OU doesn't make the playoff in 2018 without it. In 2014, it would've helped the winner of TCU/Baylor immensely.

 

[CYCLNST8]

Other than bringing in a bunch of money it's not really needed IMO.

Bringing in a bunch of money is really needed. Conference quality is now judged by total revenue dispersed to its respective schools. The Big 12 is firmly in the middle of the pack, dispelling myths of our imminent demise. Perception is everything.