[Farm93]

[quote author=Mick link=topic=13725.msg143186#msg143186 date=1448294020]
[quote author=donkey687 link=topic=13725.msg143184#msg143184 date=1448293670]
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next contract negotiations. Sure, the flexibility is better to set-up the best tv matchup and the networks will pay more for that flexibility, but what is the cost of that? If the Pac12 asked the networks to pitch on two scenarios, one with less night and less scheduling flexibility (i.e. most games locked in advance) and one with current flexibility, what would be the difference in contracts?  I imagine the flexibility generates more than $1 million extra per year per team but less than $2 million per team.  (i.e. $12 to $24 million annual higher contract). I bet if Stanford votes, they would choose the scenario that treats its fans better and generates $2 million less per year.  The Pac12 would still get a decent contract with less flexible game times.

Ehhhh, I wouldn't bet The Farm on that...
[/quote]

What they might be able to do, but almost certainly won't, is "protect" say two home games a year for each team where the University gets some flexibility on game time.  I'm thinking specifically for us about

- reunion homecoming every year
- Big Game every other year and some other home game in the year Big Game is away

with times to be set at the beginning of the season and the University allowed to eliminate one time slot with the TV people to pick from the other two time slots (thinking here to eliminate the 7pm or later times for these specific games)
[/quote]

This is never about Stanford.  Stanford is not the swing vote on these issues.  That said, the homecoming/reunion protection is likely a cause that many Pac-12 schools would support.  It is very hard to plan those events, and those events, when run well, help generate big money for the schools.  Most schools don't want angry alums on fundraising, ummmm, reunion weekend.

The rivalry protection certainty thing likely will have less support.  And FWIW - it doesn't matter as much to me.  I know I will be at Big Game if it starts at 10AM or 10PM.  In some ways, the rivalry games are the easiest to justify starting at 7PM since the rivalry game fans and players likely are not too far from hom.  It is a long night, but the Cal kids still got home at a good hour.  USC and UCLA would be in a similar not too late return situation.  Same for Oregon and OSU.   

[Farm93]

[quote author=Mick link=topic=13725.msg143186#msg143186 date=1448294020]
[quote author=donkey687 link=topic=13725.msg143184#msg143184 date=1448293670]
It will be interesting to see what happens in the next contract negotiations. Sure, the flexibility is better to set-up the best tv matchup and the networks will pay more for that flexibility, but what is the cost of that? If the Pac12 asked the networks to pitch on two scenarios, one with less night and less scheduling flexibility (i.e. most games locked in advance) and one with current flexibility, what would be the difference in contracts?  I imagine the flexibility generates more than $1 million extra per year per team but less than $2 million per team.  (i.e. $12 to $24 million annual higher contract). I bet if Stanford votes, they would choose the scenario that treats its fans better and generates $2 million less per year.  The Pac12 would still get a decent contract with less flexible game times.

Ehhhh, I wouldn't bet The Farm on that...
[/quote]

What they might be able to do, but almost certainly won't, is "protect" say two home games a year for each team where the University gets some flexibility on game time.  I'm thinking specifically for us about

- reunion homecoming every year
- Big Game every other year and some other home game in the year Big Game is away

with times to be set at the beginning of the season and the University allowed to eliminate one time slot with the TV people to pick from the other two time slots (thinking here to eliminate the 7pm or later times for these specific games)
[/quote]

This is never about Stanford.  Stanford is not the swing vote on these issues.  That said, the homecoming/reunion protection is likely a cause that many Pac-12 schools would support.  It is very hard to plan those events, and those events, when run well, help generate big money for the schools.  Most schools don't want angry alums on fundraising, ummmm, reunion weekend.

The rivalry protection certainty thing likely will have less support.  And FWIW - it doesn't matter as much to me.  I know I will be at Big Game if it starts at 10AM or 10PM.  In some ways, the rivalry games are the easiest to justify starting at 7PM since the rivalry game fans and players likely are not too far from hom.  It is a long night, but the Cal kids still got home at a good hour.  USC and UCLA would be in a similar not too late return situation.  Same for Oregon and OSU.