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Message: [QUOTE="Zissou, post: 2189164, member: 7920"] Here is what I would ask for from UConn's perspective: Entering discussions at all has some risk. A few months back the UConn - Big East discussions made it to the press, which does no good for anyone. My guess is that the leak came from the Big East office. UConn should not engage the Big East directly, but rather negotiate an option contract directly with Fox. This adds a layer of truth to "we have not had talks with the Big East", and allows for a discussion with the real decision maker. The UConn - Fox option contract. UConn asks for: [LIST] [*]Should UConn accept a Big East invitation (full TV share), UConn has the option with Fox for a $M / year, multi-year contract, for its independent football should UConn leave the AAC for football. Fox would televise all of UConn's football games, subject to host team's own rights. [*]UConn retains its 3rd tier rights for all sports. [/LIST] I'll throw out a number here - maybe $6M per year. From Fox's perspective, they get UConn's MBB and WBB 1st and 2nd tier, at the normal Big East pro rata, which is still a value. If UConn exercises its option on FB, Fox is only paying 1 program the independent fee, it's not paying for a whole conference that has questionable value (E Carolina, Tulsa, Tulane, UCF, USF, etc). YES is a FOX regional sports network and would seem to be a good home for WBB and lesser football games. UConn would have the benefits of the Top 3 Big East basketball conference, and a safety net for football should the AAC play hardball on a football-only membership. If the current TV take in the AAC is $1.8M, a $6M independent payout seems generous for the best hope of what the AAC might get in a new contract. $4 to $5M for the Big East plus a $6M option on football as a back-up plan looks pretty attractive vs. $1.8M. As an independent, UConn takes the best pay games it can land on the road. The exposure is good, and it is extra revenue. With the Fox option contract in hand, UConn is in a strong position with Aresco, facilitating a reasonable football-only deal (like Navy has). [/QUOTE]

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