I am annoyed also, but at least we are learning about more kickoff times than at this time last year, which helps me plan a tiny bit more.
I agree with the unfortunate analysis that until the contract is renegotiated, the only way Stanford gets lots of afternoon kickoffs in the short term is to suck its way down to the Pac 12 network.
It does appear the contract was very poorly negotiated, with an exceptional lack of foresight and an utter disregard for fans. My optimistic hope is that the contracts can be altered.
First, we could pre-determine kickoffs and still sell them on a take-it or leave-it basis. I just don't think giving the networks total control benefits anyone very much. How much of a viewership change is there really going to be by having total flexibility to air either arizona state vs colorado OR oregon vs arizona at 7pm? I have looked at the tv ratings for these 7pm games and I can tell you the ratings are pretty miniscule. Giving the networks this flexibility has totally screwed us over for almost nothing. I could see these games netting 1-3M total from advertisers, and how much goes to the conference, let alone the schools? I don't know what share the network keeps vs the conference, but I would estimate the amount that gets to Stanford for total schedule chaos is in the tens of thousands of dollars per last-minute game. But that's total. And if the network had to air arizona vs oregon instead of colorado vs arizona state because people didn't anticipate colorado's strength last year, what would the difference be? It would be a miniscule difference for an already miniscule audience. And ironically, predetermined kickoff times could very well INCREASE ratings because if arizona and oregon fans knew months in advance what time the game was on, more of them could make plans to watch it, even if their team sucked. And in turn, they are pissing off fans nationwide, screwing season ticket holders, reducing local support due to last-minute scheduling, and greatly decreasing ticket sales and stadium sales.
They could just determine a set of candidates of marquee matchups and stick them at either 2:30 for, let's face it, the SC's and UCLA's, or 4:30 for anticipated marquee matchups like Stanford-Wasu. Then the network could choose which prescheduled 2:30, 4:30 and 7pm games to air. Every now and then if there's a surprise team a possible afternoon game will have to live with a 7pm audience, or a possible nationwide 4:30 game will only get a regional audience at 2:30, but overall, the schools would come out way ahead.
Or, if they are really worried about missing out on a a brobdingnagian unexpected matchup, they could make a handful of kickoffs at either 2:30/4:30 tbd, just in case there is a surprise key game and they want to get a nationwide, network audience.
Then, they could just pre-schedule the rest of the games. Sure, maybe one week the take-it or leave-it 7pm option will be an oregon-arizona instead of an arizona state-colorado, oh no. Still a much better choice than airing some WAC game.
I'm telling you, the ratings for these 7pm games is puny. While it's probably worthwhile to offer the networks a pre-determined, pre-scheduled 7pm game each week, the claim that throwing everyone's schedule into last-minute chaos to let networks optimize for substantial revenues is a myth and a lie.
I agree with the unfortunate analysis that until the contract is renegotiated, the only way Stanford gets lots of afternoon kickoffs in the short term is to suck its way down to the Pac 12 network.
It does appear the contract was very poorly negotiated, with an exceptional lack of foresight and an utter disregard for fans. My optimistic hope is that the contracts can be altered.
First, we could pre-determine kickoffs and still sell them on a take-it or leave-it basis. I just don't think giving the networks total control benefits anyone very much. How much of a viewership change is there really going to be by having total flexibility to air either arizona state vs colorado OR oregon vs arizona at 7pm? I have looked at the tv ratings for these 7pm games and I can tell you the ratings are pretty miniscule. Giving the networks this flexibility has totally screwed us over for almost nothing. I could see these games netting 1-3M total from advertisers, and how much goes to the conference, let alone the schools? I don't know what share the network keeps vs the conference, but I would estimate the amount that gets to Stanford for total schedule chaos is in the tens of thousands of dollars per last-minute game. But that's total. And if the network had to air arizona vs oregon instead of colorado vs arizona state because people didn't anticipate colorado's strength last year, what would the difference be? It would be a miniscule difference for an already miniscule audience. And ironically, predetermined kickoff times could very well INCREASE ratings because if arizona and oregon fans knew months in advance what time the game was on, more of them could make plans to watch it, even if their team sucked. And in turn, they are pissing off fans nationwide, screwing season ticket holders, reducing local support due to last-minute scheduling, and greatly decreasing ticket sales and stadium sales.
They could just determine a set of candidates of marquee matchups and stick them at either 2:30 for, let's face it, the SC's and UCLA's, or 4:30 for anticipated marquee matchups like Stanford-Wasu. Then the network could choose which prescheduled 2:30, 4:30 and 7pm games to air. Every now and then if there's a surprise team a possible afternoon game will have to live with a 7pm audience, or a possible nationwide 4:30 game will only get a regional audience at 2:30, but overall, the schools would come out way ahead.
Or, if they are really worried about missing out on a a brobdingnagian unexpected matchup, they could make a handful of kickoffs at either 2:30/4:30 tbd, just in case there is a surprise key game and they want to get a nationwide, network audience.
Then, they could just pre-schedule the rest of the games. Sure, maybe one week the take-it or leave-it 7pm option will be an oregon-arizona instead of an arizona state-colorado, oh no. Still a much better choice than airing some WAC game.
I'm telling you, the ratings for these 7pm games is puny. While it's probably worthwhile to offer the networks a pre-determined, pre-scheduled 7pm game each week, the claim that throwing everyone's schedule into last-minute chaos to let networks optimize for substantial revenues is a myth and a lie.