AAC Media Contract details

[HuskyHawk]

Quotes from Susie. “It’s not about technology,” Herbst said. “Our fan base is of course sophisticated in the ways of digital media. But exposure on ‘linear’ (traditional, cable) television is vitally important to us because many Husky fans gather to watch UConn basketball as a social event — when traveling, in restaurants or bars, or in the living room with family and friends. Right now, wherever I am, I can tune in easily and see our student-athletes in action. We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted. Period.”

UConn president Susan Herbst on AAC/ESPN deal: “We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted. Period.”

 

[Guapo]

Quotes from Susie. “It’s not about technology,” Herbst said. “Our fan base is of course sophisticated in the ways of digital media. But exposure on ‘linear’ (traditional, cable) television is vitally important to us because many Husky fans gather to watch UConn basketball as a social event — when traveling, in restaurants or bars, or in the living room with family and friends. Right now, wherever I am, I can tune in easily and see our student-athletes in action. We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted. Period.”

UConn president Susan Herbst on AAC/ESPN deal: “We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted. Period.”

Whoa.

Maybe my biggest take away is that Herbst actually acknowledged that booze and bars exist

 

[GridironGR8]

The last AAC contract gave the tier 3 rights to the league. However the women’s deal with SNY predated that contract.

Initially the money went to the league and was split, a few years in UConn lobbied and got the money back for themselves.

There wasn’t any doubt to me that at the end of that SNY deal those right ls were going back to the league - as most of these schools have rights worth 0 and this gets them a UConn subsidy.

Thank you for that clear explanation.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If you think the AAC contract is bad, look at the Big East TV contract. FOX broadcasts the Big East and they get "at least 17 games on FOX", but those include OOC matches like Louisville at Seton Hall, Gonzaga at Creighton, Wisconsin at Marquette,... Most of the games are on FS1 or FS2 with a number on Fox Sports Networks (regional sports networks). The result is ratings aren't good for Big East basketball averaging probably half the viewership of a typical ESPN game.

Women's basketball has even less exposure on FOX and the sports networks. Most games end up on the "Big East Digital Network", in other words streaming. It would appear that SNY could grab a bunch of women's basketball games to keep that relationship alive.

Moving to the Big East would ensure a drop of viewership and would probably eliminate the SNY relationship with men's basketball (as well as football), but probably keep the women't basketball relationship.

This is key. As I mentioned about "best alternative", does everyone understand that the Big East wouldn't let us keep T3 SNY broadcasts either? Or that the Big East gets even less "linear" exposure than we would and a worse streaming option? The NBE TV deal is truly awful.

Going to the Big East results in an even worse situation than this one. For what it's worth, the Big 12 is the only major conference with school owned T3 rights. It was a great fit for us in that way.

What I think UConn may consider here, if possible, is buying back the T3 rights from ESPN and cutting our deal with SNY. But that doesn't change the linear broadcasting concern.

 

[JMick]

Quotes from Susie. “It’s not about technology,” Herbst said. “Our fan base is of course sophisticated in the ways of digital media. But exposure on ‘linear’ (traditional, cable) television is vitally important to us because many Husky fans gather to watch UConn basketball as a social event — when traveling, in restaurants or bars, or in the living room with family and friends. Right now, wherever I am, I can tune in easily and see our student-athletes in action. We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted. Period.”

UConn president Susan Herbst on AAC/ESPN deal: “We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted. Period.”

I get the sentiment but her word choices have always been so infantile. Can't wait til she's gone

 

[whaler11]

This is key. As I mentioned about "best alternative", does everyone understand that the Big East wouldn't let us keep T3 SNY broadcasts either? Or that the Big East gets even less "linear" exposure than we would and a worse streaming option? The NBE TV deal is truly awful.

Going to the Big East results in an even worse situation than this one. For what it's worth, the Big 12 is the only major conference with school owned T3 rights. It was a great fit for us in that way.

What I think UConn may consider here, if possible, is buying back the T3 rights from ESPN and cutting our deal with SNY. But that doesn't change the linear broadcasting concern.

But if they are willing to sell them to UConn why would they sell them to UConn for less than what SNY would pay - which is the same amount UConn could sell them to SNY for...

Which means it’s a net zero financially for UConn.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I get the sentiment but her word choices have always been so infantile. Can't wait til she's gone

What exactly did she say that was infantile?

 

[JMick]

What exactly did she say that was infantile?

I read this

We do not want our amazing Husky fan lifestyle disrupted

and cringe. You're an adult. Talk like one. Certainly there's a better way to phrase that.

 

[HuskyAlum012]

The way I see it, there are 3 scenarios that UConn could consider:

1) Stay in the AAC. Slowly bleed out and die. Football is likely already dead, if Hurley is as good as we hope, we probably can retain some relevance for awhile. Women's hoops is buried as soon as Geno retires.

2) Drop football. Move Sports to the Big East. I think the Big East would welcome a UConn addition less a football program as they know there's no shot of them leaving and league maintains its cohesiveness. It's not the old league, but probably still has enough juice to keep hoops relevant, plus MSG come March.

3) Drop football. Move Sports to the ACC. No idea if the ACC would even consider this, but without our anchor of football, I think it could be mutually agreeable. I think season tickets for hoops would skyrocket given Cuse, Duke, UNC, Pitt, etc., etc., etc. would be on the slate.

I think football independence is a non-starter given that the Big East or ACC won't take UConn as long as it fields a football program.

At this point, I think it's probably: AAC 49.99%, Big East/Drop Football 49.99%, ACC/Drop Football .02%.

Wrong. There are 2 options, and 2 options only. We wait until 2023-2025 when all the major conference deals are up and one of the following two things happen:

1) The major conferences break off from the NCAA because it is a useless organization that takes away millions of dollars from the conferences/schools to do one thing very poorly; govern student athletes. The CFP is not run by the NCAA, so why do we need them to run the b-ball tourney? We dont.

2) That doesnt happen and we drop football and move to BE.

We must remain in the AAC until 2023-2025 and pray that number 1 happens and we get an invite to that. Having football is our only chance at getting the invite to join the big boys. Now we just sit and pray.

 

[JMick]

Wrong. There are 2 options, and 2 options only. We wait until 2023-2025 when all the major conference deals are up and one of the following two things happen:

1) The major conferences break off from the NCAA because it is a useless organization that takes away millions of dollars from the conferences/schools to do one thing very poorly; govern student athletes. The CFP is not run by the NCAA, so why do we need them to run the b-ball tourney? We dont.

2) That doesnt happen and we drop football and move to BE.

We must remain in the AAC until 2023-2025 and pray that number 1 happens and we get an invite to that. Having football is our only chance at getting the invite to join the big boys. Now we just sit and pray.

I used to think that until I realized that no one is ever coming to save us. Might as well end it now.

 

[SubInATub]

Wrong. There are 2 options, and 2 options only. We wait until 2023-2025 when all the major conference deals are up and one of the following two things happen:

1) The major conferences break off from the NCAA because it is a useless organization that takes away millions of dollars from the conferences/schools to do one thing very poorly; govern student athletes. The CFP is not run by the NCAA, so why do we need them to run the b-ball tourney? We dont.

2) That doesnt happen and we drop football and move to BE.

We must remain in the AAC until 2023-2025 and pray that number 1 happens and we get an invite to that. Having football is our only chance at getting the invite to join the big boys. Now we just sit and pray.

Yeah I agree with all of that. UConn needs to actually spend money on a legit football coach though. It's now or never, 2023 is right around the corner. They can't expect to make a hire the year before and expect an invite from anyone.

 

[freescooter]

This is key. As I mentioned about "best alternative", does everyone understand that the Big East wouldn't let us keep T3 SNY broadcasts either? Or that the Big East gets even less "linear" exposure than we would and a worse streaming option? The NBE TV deal is truly awful.

Going to the Big East results in an even worse situation than this one. For what it's worth, the Big 12 is the only major conference with school owned T3 rights. It was a great fit for us in that way.

What I think UConn may consider here, if possible, is buying back the T3 rights from ESPN and cutting our deal with SNY. But that doesn't change the linear broadcasting concern.

And way less money on top of that.

 

[Guapo]

Wrong. There are 2 options, and 2 options only. We wait until 2023-2025 when all the major conference deals are up and one of the following two things happen:

1) The major conferences break off from the NCAA because it is a useless organization that takes away millions of dollars from the conferences/schools to do one thing very poorly; govern student athletes. The CFP is not run by the NCAA, so why do we need them to run the b-ball tourney? We dont.

2) That doesnt happen and we drop football and move to BE.

We must remain in the AAC until 2023-2025 and pray that number 1 happens and we get an invite to that. Having football is our only chance at getting the invite to join the big boys. Now we just sit and pray.

We’ve been over this before, #1 is not a serious possibility. The NCAA may cease to exist or become a powerless figure head, but the “big schools” will never (officially) break away competitively from the “smaller schools.” It is a legal nightmare and a political impossibility.

 

[billybud]

No need to "break away".....they have already an "autonomous group".

They just further refine that.

I submit that the breakaway has already happened...in media contracts, in distribution of CFP money, and now basketball tournament money.

 

[Towney007]

Sans SNY deal, we're a Big East team soon.

 

[polycom]

Yeah I agree with all of that. UConn needs to actually spend money on a legit football coach though. It's now or never, 2023 is right around the corner. They can't expect to make a hire the year before and expect an invite from anyone.

Spend what money we are upgrading softball fields.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Wrong. There are 2 options, and 2 options only. We wait until 2023-2025 when all the major conference deals are up and one of the following two things happen:

1) The major conferences break off from the NCAA because it is a useless organization that takes away millions of dollars from the conferences/schools to do one thing very poorly; govern student athletes. The CFP is not run by the NCAA, so why do we need them to run the b-ball tourney? We dont.

2) That doesnt happen and we drop football and move to BE.

We must remain in the AAC until 2023-2025 and pray that number 1 happens and we get an invite to that. Having football is our only chance at getting the invite to join the big boys. Now we just sit and pray.

I agree with @JMick here. At this point I'm not even sure of which is less likely, the football team ever winning 8 games or the ACC somehow saving the AD.

 

[Towney007]

They're not going to spend anymore money on football. While it seems shortsighted, spending more money on football when you have a $40 million deficit at a state university where the state's economy and budget is flirting with a death spiral is so unpractical and frankly tone deaf, I'm not even sure where to begin.

And that's a significant investment for what, basically? A 5% shot we get a call from a P5 conference *in the next 3 years*? While you never say never, a P5 invite is so unlikely at this point that it isn't worth the investment. That's basically what the 'invest in football' crowd is trying to sell, here. And that's *assuming* a P5 conference even WANTS to expand.

So you need there to actually be a real, legitimate reason for expansion which right now given how quickly the gap erupted between them and the G5, it makes more sense to poach each other's members than it does to grab anything from the AAC - so just being in this conference already bumps you further back in the line automatically. Then you're competing against everyone else - and we're going to do that WITHOUT the NYC TV contract? It's like thinking you've got a shot to win the Super Bowl, even though you aren't a player on each team and you're ticket is in the upper bowl.

And it's been said before - the University can't keep up with this spending. Period. There isn't three more years without SNY and even with it... there's probably not three more years.

 

[FartMan69]

Anyone still pinning all their hope on the p5 dream are just trying to convince themselves it’s a possibility so they can drown out the drop football noise. It’s not a possibility. They just don’t want their football team taken away and that is totally understandable.

 

[Towney007]

Anyone still pinning all their hope on the p5 dream are just trying to convince themselves it’s a possibility so they can drown out the drop football noise. It’s not a possibility. They just don’t want their football team taken away and that is totally understandable.

I’m convinced the football thing is really more a personal thing for its supporters. 1.) like anyone, they don’t want to be wrong and 2.) they internalize it to a point of it being a reflection on their/out social standing. And hey. Hard for me to blame them.

Outside of a 5-10% chance at getting a P5 invite there’s literally zero case for keeping football given the broader context of everything.

 

[FartMan69]

I’m convinced the football thing is really more a personal thing for its supporters. 1.) like anyone, they don’t want to be wrong and 2.) they internalize it to a point of it being a reflection on their/out social standing. And hey. Hard for me to blame them.

Outside of a 5-10% chance at getting a P5 invite there’s literally zero case for keeping football given the broader context of everything.

It’s the folks who want the university to be like the actual big boys of the B1G or SEC and why wouldn’t you wanna be thought of as an elite overall university? Unfortunately due to being to late to the party by about 60 years and being in a region where people don’t worship the state U’s football team continuing this endeavor in this economic climate of college football is detrimental and the admin has shown it hasn’t put its best foot forward. End it.

 

[superjohn]

I can't wait for football not to exist in 20 years.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I’m convinced the football thing is really more a personal thing for its supporters. 1.) like anyone, they don’t want to be wrong and 2.) they internalize it to a point of it being a reflection on their/out social standing. And hey. Hard for me to blame them.

Outside of a 5-10% chance at getting a P5 invite there’s literally zero case for keeping football given the broader context of everything.

Or maybe people just like college football and UConn?

 

[Towney007]

Or maybe people just like college football and UConn?

Some, for sure.

Just not enough people to justify having it.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Or maybe people just like college football and UConn?

Many people like college football and like UConn. Many people are happy that UConn has a football team. Many people were happy when that program was elevated to FBS and given a shot to succeed.

Many people also don't like the financial pit football has driven UConn into. Many people don't like the embarrassment the football program has become. Many people don't like that football is the sole reason UConn is relegated to this abomination of a conference we are in. Many people don't like how football has been a key contributor to pulling down the status, resources, and success of other programs at the school - namely the two basketball programs, whose success is the sole reason the football program was allowed to move up to FBS.

The two categories above are not mutually exclusive.

 

[UConnJim]

Sans SNY deal, we're a Big East team soon.

What? There is no SNY in the Big East either, except for maybe some WBB games.

End of the day, I think AAC basketball is trending up and Big East basketball is in a slow, but steady decline. Besides, do you think the UConn leadership and academics want to align long term with a group of primarily small Catholic schools? You do realize that all of the AAC schools are rated as National Universities by US News, but only 6 out of the 10 of the New Big East schools are? Xavier, Providence, Butler, and Creighton are rated as Regional Universities. Remember, the Big East lost most of their best academic schools over time: BC, Syracuse, UConn, Miami, Rutgers, Pitt, VT.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Many people like college football and like UConn. Many people are happy that UConn has a football team. Many people were happy when that program was elevated to FBS and given a shot to succeed.

Many people also don't like the financial pit football has driven UConn into. Many people don't like the embarrassment the football program has become. Many people don't like that football is the sole reason UConn is relegated to this abomination of a conference we are in. Many people don't like how football has been a key contributor to pulling down the status, resources, and success of other programs at the school - namely the two basketball programs, whose success is the sole reason the football program was allowed to move up to FBS.

The two categories above are not mutually exclusive.

Football has brought down the men's basketball program? Good to know, I'll let AD Dave known we can forget about the whole Hurley thing and bring back KO. BTW speaking of Hurley, how has the football program stopped UConn from paying $3M for the men's hoops coach? Oh wait. It hasn't.

There's probably a lot of reasons to drop football. But some bizarre psychoanalysis of the fanbase or KO not doing his job for 3 seasons aren't one of them.

Btw - the real sport that should be cut is hockey if we want to talk about sports that tank the budget.

 

[Towney007]

What? There is no SNY in the Big East either, except for maybe some WBB games.

End of the day, I think AAC basketball is trending up and Big East basketball is in a slow, but steady decline. Besides, do you think the UConn leadership and academics want to align long term with a group of primarily small Catholic schools? You do realize that all of the AAC schools are rated as National Universities by US News, but only 6 out of the 10 of the New Big East schools are? Xavier, Providence, Butler, and Creighton are rated as Regional Universities. Remember, the Big East lost most of their best academic schools over time: BC, Syracuse, UConn, Miami, Rutgers, Pitt, VT.

I'm not going 15 rounds with people again, but everything in this post is just silly.

1.) You're in a league with a Methodist University and basically the South's second best academic school (arguably). Then there's Wichita State and Memphis and Cincinnati - which are essentially commuter schools. And what you're worried about is how our university structure lines up with catholic schools?

2.) Villanova? Pretty good school. Providence? Pretty good school. Georgetown? Fantastic school. Creighton? Pseudo Midwestern Ivy.

3.) While being academically compatible is preferred, when you're losing your shirt - people stop caring. And our best growth was existing in a conference. With those types of schools. And zero prospective students are chewing their nails off over 'regional' vs 'national' and even if they were, they're not NOT choosing us because of our affiliations in sports ball.

And lastly, there's no such thing as 'trending up' in a conference like this. Every notable coach who had success this year is being looked at for other jobs. Every member in the conference wants to leave it sans the dregs. Some might. There's zero stability here. You're not in a good spot, you're standing on a trap door.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Football has brought down the men's basketball program? Good to know, I'll let AD Dave known we can forget about the whole Hurley thing and bring back KO. BTW speaking of Hurley, how has the football program stopped UConn from paying $3M for the men's hoops coach? Oh wait. It hasn't.

There's probably a lot of reasons to drop football. But some bizarre psychoanalysis of the fanbase or KO not doing his job for 3 seasons aren't one of them.

Btw - the real sport that should be cut is hockey if we want to talk about sports that tank the budget.

Did you miss the "key contributor to pulling down the status...of the two basketball programs" part of my post? Nowhere does it say "sole reason" for that.

Most recent numbers I can find are for FY 2014, the program's first in Hockey East - Men's Hockey had expenditures of ~$1.35M. Football had ~$15.4M. Of course football will generate more revenue, but if you're looking for a sacrificial lamb that's bringing the financial ship down, it's not the hockey program.

https://senate.uconn.edu/wp-content...Senate-UBC-Report-on-AD-Subsidy-to-Senate.pdf

 

[superjohn]

I'm not going 15 rounds with people again, but everything in this post is just silly.

1.) You're in a league with a Methodist University and basically the South's second best academic school (arguably). Then there's Wichita State and Memphis and Cincinnati - which are essentially commuter schools. And what you're worried about is how our university structure lines up with catholic schools?

2.) Villanova? Pretty good school. Providence? Pretty good school. Georgetown? Fantastic school. Creighton? Pseudo Midwestern Ivy.

3.) While being academically compatible is preferred, when you're losing your shirt - people stop caring. And our best growth was existing in a conference. With those types of schools. And zero prospective students are chewing their nails off over 'regional' vs 'national' and even if they were, they're not NOT choosing us because of our affiliations in sports ball.

And lastly, there's no such thing as 'trending up' in a conference like this. Every notable coach who had success this year is being looked at for other jobs. Every member in the conference wants to leave it sans the dregs. Some might. There's zero stability here. You're not in a good spot, you're standing on a trap door.

Are you talking about Tulane when you say the South's second best academic school?

This board is bizarre how much it inflates Tulane's academics, it's nowhere near the second best academic school in the South. My brother went to Vandy and Tulane is a major safety school for people who apply to Vandy and the other top Southern schools. It's a good school but this board has turned it into an Ivy.