[Farm93]

There's just no reason why games in late October and November in Oregon and Washington should kick off after 4pm.  In the middle of the afternoon yesterday it was overcast and 55F here.  Nice weather for a football game.

It may not be a popular reason, or a good reason, but there is a reason.  It is our TV contract!

FWIW - I have heard a lot of concerns about the games playing too late on the East coast to matter much.  I think that concern is not applicable really.  East Coasters are used to watching games much later into the night than West Coasters.  MNF used to START at 9:07PM and end well after midnight.  Most east coast baseball teams play west coast games that start at 10:30PM Eastern.  It is just different.  To some extent East Coasters gasp at the idea of watching football at 9AM, so it is all relative.

Also, for reporters and the like even if the game is late they can DVR the thing to watch it later.  I know an argument could be made that they could do that with a 1PM Pacific kick too, but TV networks place a greater value on potential content later in the day/night.

The entire conference is better off with the money and most college football players and college students have no problem staying in a stadium until 11PM.  Bay Area movie theatres are packed well after midnight, so there is a potential audience for Pac-12 games.  I recognize it may be a different audience, but it is possible Saturday Night Lights will turn into a Pac-12 recruiting and ratings advantage over time.

If you thought OSU fans were soft, the vast majority of UW fans were long gone well before the UW team scored their 6th TD in that thriller in Seattle last night.  :)

[Farm93]

There's just no reason why games in late October and November in Oregon and Washington should kick off after 4pm.  In the middle of the afternoon yesterday it was overcast and 55F here.  Nice weather for a football game.

It may not be a popular reason, or a good reason, but there is a reason.  It is our TV contract!

FWIW - I have heard a lot of concerns about the games playing too late on the East coast to matter much.  I think that concern is not applicable really.  East Coasters are used to watching games much later into the night than West Coasters.  MNF used to START at 9:07PM and end well after midnight.  Most east coast baseball teams play west coast games that start at 10:30PM Eastern.  It is just different.  To some extent East Coasters gasp at the idea of watching football at 9AM, so it is all relative.

Also, for reporters and the like even if the game is late they can DVR the thing to watch it later.  I know an argument could be made that they could do that with a 1PM Pacific kick too, but TV networks place a greater value on potential content later in the day/night.

The entire conference is better off with the money and most college football players and college students have no problem staying in a stadium until 11PM.  Bay Area movie theatres are packed well after midnight, so there is a potential audience for Pac-12 games.  I recognize it may be a different audience, but it is possible Saturday Night Lights will turn into a Pac-12 recruiting and ratings advantage over time.

If you thought OSU fans were soft, the vast majority of UW fans were long gone well before the UW team scored their 6th TD in that thriller in Seattle last night.  :)