Okie State to launch Network

[snowcraig2.0]

The most likely scenario is that those away games will be sold by Tech, TCU, etc. to the LHN for distribution. (KU did the same thing for its home FB game with UT) A check from the LHN is worth more than the hassle of trying to start up a competing network.

A network like the BTN makes the bulk of its money from the footprint states - charging 10-20X what they would per subscriber outside of its conference market. Typcially they LOSE money on the non-footprint states - content is usually relegated to a premium sports tier.

Lots of teams have "followings" outside of their home market. ISU in Kansas City, Iowa in Chicago, WVU in D.C., etc. But in terms of network coverage, it doesn't matter. The determining factor is, "Can you sell a cable package this city/region/state that DOESN'T include games from Team X?" If you can, than you don't pay for the network. There are lots of Cyclone fans in KC. But no cable package in KC is going to charge all of its subscribers more just to have access to ISU games.

If the LHN can't get wide distribution in Texas right now, how could a package of teams with lower interest? There's no business case that supports 2 competing TV networks of teams from the same conference...especially a conference that doesn't have a large TV footprint to begin with.

Have you guys ever been at a party and there is that one guy who doesn't get when it is time to leave....?

 

[simply1]

It needs to make a truckload of money just to break even. I think we all underestimate the amount of money, expertise, and talent that is needed to put on a watchable product.

Folks who regularly post on message boards are NOT representative of the wider TV audience. We'll watch Clone Zone even when the audio is out of sync with the video. That just won't fly for a dedicated sports channel on cable designed to appeal beyond a couple-thousand message board die-hards.

Mediacom already has the distribution network, ample space for content, engineers and production facilities. And it STILL puts out a subpar product. If you want to look like the BTN, you'd have to partner with Fox, ESPN, etc. to build your network. And they won't sign up unless there's a LOT more money to be made beyond what OK, KS, and parts of IA bring to the table.

You watch Clone Zone do you?

 

[Mizzoulander]

You watch Clone Zone do you?

When they don't put Iowa State vs. Missouri on TV...anywhere.

:smile:

 

[CysMyBoy]

Just my uneducated opinion:
I don't see how a "everyone except UT" network wouldn't be viable. Yes you're hitting up markets that have lower populations, but in those markets the colleges are the big show in town. Need content? ISU has a weekly Paul Rhoads show, I'm sure we're not the only program that does these things. If we did need to fill in an empty time slot, just replay the best game of last week. I might be underestimating costs here, but I just don't see how each school in the conference is able to collect all kinds of money from their fanbase but those same fans wouldn't pay for a tv subscription?

 

[Clonehomer]

You are forgetting Texas (Tech, Baylor and TCU. Many people will want to see the road games for Texas baseball, basketball, volleyball and the like since those would not be on the LHN) Oh yeah, West Virginia. The state is not huge but they have a large following in DC. Those are just footprint states. You would still distribute the network to non-footprint states and charge something like $.05 or $.10/subscriber. Whatever you get from that is essentially gravy. A network can succeed.

The most likely scenario is that those away games will be sold by Tech, TCU, etc. to the LHN for distribution. (KU did the same thing for its home FB game with UT) A check from the LHN is worth more than the hassle of trying to start up a competing network. A network like the BTN makes the bulk of its money from the footprint states - charging 10-20X what they would per subscriber outside of its conference market. Typcially they LOSE money on the non-footprint states - content is usually relegated to a premium sports tier. Lots of teams have

The LHN had to write quite the check to Kansas for that. After paying Texas the huge amount if money, how much more can that network afford to pay? Can they dish out another $10-$15mil to get the Texas away games as well?

 

[cykadelic2]

Just my uneducated opinion:
I don't see how a "everyone except UT" network wouldn't be viable. Yes you're hitting up markets that have lower populations, but in those markets the colleges are the big show in town. Need content? ISU has a weekly Paul Rhoads show, I'm sure we're not the only program that does these things. If we did need to fill in an empty time slot, just replay the best game of last week. I might be underestimating costs here, but I just don't see how each school in the conference is able to collect all kinds of money from their fanbase but those same fans wouldn't pay for a tv subscription?

There is a reason why no other conference besides the B10 has successfully launched their own conference network. Unless there is sufficient live premium FB and MBB content on it, there is not enough demand for other content in today's environment. The BTN was lucky that it locked in their the majority of their deals before the recent economic crash, the smartphone/IPad boom, and the continued trend of consumers dropping CATV/Satellite service for online content.

I highly question whether the P10's new conference network format will pan out and I think Mizzou was sold a bunch of BS regarding the SEC's ability to successfully launch their own conference network. The only way these networks will pan out on a traditional cable/satellite platform is if they push a high percentage of their current 1st and 2nd tier live premium content to their 3rd tier conference networks. And I doubt this will happen as the 1st and 2nd tier providers like ESPN will continue to pay the conferences enough money NOT to launch their own conference networks. ESPN already did this with the SEC and now with Aggy and Mizzou stimulating the look=in provisions of the SEC/ESPN TV deal, they will pay the SEC even more to keep 2nd tier premium content on the ESPN family of networks.

 

[acoustimac]

None of these articles ever mention that Iowa State has it's own video network and has had for quite some time. They mention MU and KSU but not us.

ding ding ding! 'nuff said.