[Spiny_Norman]

I have been reading more about the 2 proposals currently made public. Both of them would involve the FBS schools banding together under an umbrella anti-trust exemption to negotiate media rights as a single entity instead of conference-by-conference which is what happens today. In the current environment, ESPN and Fox have leverage over the conferences. But if the conferences come together, they would have leverage over ESPN, Fox, CBS, NBC, Amazon, Apple, etc. Basically, they could put their significant potential audience up for bid just as the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL do.

In this scenario, support from ESPN and Fox would not be needed to make the super conference work. In fact, they would oppose it because it might cost them more money and potentially take away lucrative content.

Note that for this to work, the super conference will need a Congressional anti-trust exemption. I think this makes it more likely that Stanford would be included. In fact, all of FBS should be included in the proposal, the Power 4 and the Gang of 5. Let's say you want elected representatives from Ohio to support the anti-trust exemption. They might say, "To get our vote, you have to take Akron, Ohio U and Miami as well as Ohio State." California's representatives and senators would say, "If you want to include USC and UCLA, you have to take Stanford and Cal too (as well as Sac State, Fresno State, San Jose State, etc.)."

[Spiny_Norman]

I have been reading more about the 2 proposals currently made public. Both of them would involve the FBS schools banding together under an umbrella anti-trust exemption to negotiate media rights as a single entity instead of conference-by-conference which is what happens today. In the current environment, ESPN and Fox have leverage over the conferences. But if the conferences come together, they would have leverage over ESPN, Fox, CBS, NBC, Amazon, Apple, etc. Basically, they could put their significant potential audience up for bid just as the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL do.

In this scenario, support from ESPN and Fox would not be needed to make the super conference work. In fact, they would oppose it because it might cost them more money and potentially take away lucrative content.

Note that for this to work, the super conference will need a Congressional anti-trust exemption. I think this makes it more likely that Stanford would be included. In fact, all of FBS should be included in the proposal, the Power 4 and the Gang of 5. Let's say you want elected representatives from Ohio to support the anti-trust exemption. They might say, "To get our vote, you have to take Akron, Ohio U and Miami as well as Ohio State." California's representatives and senators would say, "If you want to include USC and UCLA, you have to take Stanford and Cal too (as well as Sac State, Fresno State, San Jose State, etc.)."