Announcements I'd most like at B.E. Media Day...

Could it be that the top Big East brass isn't supposed to comment on the particulars of that meeting because ESPN is supposed to have a period of exclusivity in contract negotiations? (I don't know that is the answer; I'm just speculating as to why) There are a number of reasons that the Big East leadership hasn't talked in depth about that presentation or the FOX presentation, one being a touch of stupidity. But it's possible that they felt that Johnson, who isn't yet "part of" the Big East, could blabber on freely about the presentation and the Big East not worry about the fact that he leaked it.

This is where I queue up BizLaw, who is infinitely more knowledgeable in terms of negotiation exclusivity periods than I am.

I appreciate the compliment, and I didn't take your post to be a personal attack (it was quite mild, actually!). I think that I should be clear as to what I was trying to say, albeit 4 pages ago. I believe that the main NBC channel and the bracketing of the marquis games around the ND game is on the table. That, however, does not mean that I know it to be true. I am only basing that belief on the information that I gathered; some of which I linked in the posts. And I will be the first to admit that some of the links are just outside people (like Bleacher Report....I just threw up a little in my mouth) that are speculating on the situation entirely.

But my point was that if outside people are speculating on it and if an AD of a soon-to-be member commented on it, it seems like it has legs. That's all. I'm not saying I was in the board room. There's no problem with you or Whaler being skeptical about whether the main NBC channel happens or not. But hopefully you will both admit that it seems like it may be an option to be placed on the table.

It is certainly something NBC could use to sweeten their deal, and it may be strategic having Johnson leak it. That being said I have zero faith in the ability of the Big East to negotiate well, nevermind actually coordinate the public statements of 19 or 20 schools or however many are in the league right now.

Linking to B/r is like someone who wants Rice, Duke and Tulane to join forces linking to a Waylon post. It's a million monkeys at a million keyboards.

In fairness to me, I was just grabbing the first ones that I saw on the Google search and quoting their excerpts. In the future, I will deduct points from myself if I include them in a post. I'm one of the many "fans" who think they belong in my septic system...

The more I think about it the more NBC should be the goal. They've been acquired by Comcast, the leading cable provider. That's a side I want to be on, they own the network and the pipeline. NBCSN is still brand-new. People are finding about where the channel is during the Olympics. It's a basic channel on Comcast, right next to ESPN on my father's cable. They are going to promote the Big East, as opposed to just sticking it in a closet.

In fairness to you that was me making fun of b/r and Waylon. If only he'd make slideshows for us.

It goes without saying that it is foolish to severely overpay. It also is foolish to underpay, however. NBC needs a way into this market. The Big East is it's foot in the door. If it underpays, so that it is financial beneficial for a school to jump ship, the conference is at risk and therefore their considerable investment, much of which is here in Connecticut, is also at risk.

Accordingly, NBC needs to 'right price' this deal, paying the lowest possible amount that keeps the conference stable. I suggest that that price is at least equal to the ACC deal, and probably just a bit higher. Quality of the games is largely irrelevant. Yeah, I'd rather watch the average B!G or SEC game, but those aren't available to the NBC. Coincidently that pricing point makes a compelling case that the Big Five is the still the Big Six.

We will do well as a conference if we stay the course and, of course, if the conference leadership doesn't screw it up. It's the latter part of that sentence that scares the crap out of me.

I'd like to believe this will happen, but most Big East schools seem to be reconciled to getting significantly less than the ACC. Unless Fox emerges as a major bidder, it's hard to see that NBC will have competitive pressure to pay something similar to the ACC. I agree that if they were forced to, it might well make business sense for them to do so.

The other possibility is a deal with incentives -- a relatively low fixed payout, say half what the ACC gets, but extra payments based on audience that could grow to exceed the ACC deal. I think that kind of structure would make sense for both sides. It protects NBC from conference departures, and gives Big East schools an opportunity to earn a competitive income. It would motivate everybody to perform and market.