06-02-2017, 10:18 AM
Until the contract is renegotiated?!!!?!
That just is not going to happen. The Pac-12 AD budgets NEED this TV money. Many of them have already spent the current TV deal revenue AND more. The deal will stand. Given that cord cutting is now a real concern it is likely a renegotiation could include massive reductions in payouts, so best to not even go down that route for the ADs.
FWIW - When the NEXT set of deals are negotiated I would expect less favorable terms for "us". Don't care if the deals are negotiated by Scott, a committee of Pac-12 presidents and ADs, or any of you. The marching orders from the schools will be to get as much money as possible, leave no option unexplored. The person at the table will be doing their job if they follow orders. The alums, athletes, fans will not be THAT person's worry. The ADs will scream, "Just show me the money!"
Here are some options for the next money grab -
Wednesday games. NFL owns Thursday now. Since the Pac-12 gives the schools a bye before the game anyway...How about Wednesday? Wednesday 6PM Pacific? - Sold!
100% After Dark/Under the Lights Conference? Broadcasters don't need Pacific time day games as the other Power 4 conferences can cover those time slots. The next deal could give schools scheduling certainty be eliminating anything before 4PM. (Almost joking). Evening and Late night only? - Sold!
It doesn't matter if the ratings are puny. The ratings for these broadcasters are better than they would be for rebroadcasts of earlier games which is what you will often see on those channels now. ESPN, TNT, the NHL Network and the NBA Network have all become very fond of repeating earlier sporting events now. Pac-12 After Dark is a better draw than a repeat. That's our conference's value proposition at the moment. The Pac-12 during the early afternoon is not quite as compelling as the other options. Pac-12 After Dark! Best to own it. Can any other Power 5 conference start a game at midnight Eastern? ummm, maybe the SEC, so forget I asked ;)
It is not about the actual ratings of the games, it is all about the payouts. If the payouts drop a lot because TV networks can't justify giving the Pac-12 big money then maybe the formula swings back to the ticket holders. However in that world the Pac-12 is likely in a world of hurt if the BigTen and SEC are pulling in $40+ million per school per year on TV contracts.
That just is not going to happen. The Pac-12 AD budgets NEED this TV money. Many of them have already spent the current TV deal revenue AND more. The deal will stand. Given that cord cutting is now a real concern it is likely a renegotiation could include massive reductions in payouts, so best to not even go down that route for the ADs.
FWIW - When the NEXT set of deals are negotiated I would expect less favorable terms for "us". Don't care if the deals are negotiated by Scott, a committee of Pac-12 presidents and ADs, or any of you. The marching orders from the schools will be to get as much money as possible, leave no option unexplored. The person at the table will be doing their job if they follow orders. The alums, athletes, fans will not be THAT person's worry. The ADs will scream, "Just show me the money!"
Here are some options for the next money grab -
Wednesday games. NFL owns Thursday now. Since the Pac-12 gives the schools a bye before the game anyway...How about Wednesday? Wednesday 6PM Pacific? - Sold!
100% After Dark/Under the Lights Conference? Broadcasters don't need Pacific time day games as the other Power 4 conferences can cover those time slots. The next deal could give schools scheduling certainty be eliminating anything before 4PM. (Almost joking). Evening and Late night only? - Sold!
It doesn't matter if the ratings are puny. The ratings for these broadcasters are better than they would be for rebroadcasts of earlier games which is what you will often see on those channels now. ESPN, TNT, the NHL Network and the NBA Network have all become very fond of repeating earlier sporting events now. Pac-12 After Dark is a better draw than a repeat. That's our conference's value proposition at the moment. The Pac-12 during the early afternoon is not quite as compelling as the other options. Pac-12 After Dark! Best to own it. Can any other Power 5 conference start a game at midnight Eastern? ummm, maybe the SEC, so forget I asked ;)
It is not about the actual ratings of the games, it is all about the payouts. If the payouts drop a lot because TV networks can't justify giving the Pac-12 big money then maybe the formula swings back to the ticket holders. However in that world the Pac-12 is likely in a world of hurt if the BigTen and SEC are pulling in $40+ million per school per year on TV contracts.