Aresco makes it official

[nelsonmuntz]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=322590120

5. Big East commissioner Mike Aresco says negotiations with ESPN are going nowhere and he will seek bids from other networks once ESPN’s exclusive window expires. What are we to make of this? Is ESPN finally out of money?

From the moment the Big East declined ESPN’s offer of a contract extension in spring 2011, it was obvious the league was going to take its TV business into the open market and see what it would command. ESPN has the right to negotiate exclusively for a 60-day period that ends in a few weeks, and don’t worry, the network still has the bucks to fulfill the Big East’s dream of a huge rights windfall that would stop the process on a dime. But that won’t happen.
It apparently has escaped notice, but the Big East has spent the first several weeks of the football season underscoring the lie -- with help from the hapless ACC -- that there are five elite conferences and the Big East isn’t one. There are either four or six, but certainly not five.
The Big East has shown there is life in its football brand, and that could be worth millions to those either building (NBC) or pondering (Fox) cable sports channels wishing to take on ESPN. The league will learn soon if that’s true -- and just how true.

It is what it is.

 

[huskymedic]

Where is the from... link take me to UConn-MD recap and I can't find it anywhere else.

 

[Greenback]

I think this is the link

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-ba...-john-calipari-ucla-midnight-madness-big-east

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Que new rumblings of the B-12 looking to expand any minute now......

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Que new rumblings of the B-12 looking to expand any minute now......

I bet the Big East and NBC already have the LOI ready to be signed. Now both sides just need to hold their breath for 2 weeks.

 

[UConnDan97]

I bet the Big East and NBC already have the LOI ready to be signed. Now both sides just need to hold their breath for 2 weeks.

From your lips to Aresco's ears!!

 

[huskymedic]

I think this is the link

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-ba...-john-calipari-ucla-midnight-madness-big-east

Thanks - still can't find that exact quote from Aresco. Appreciate the link.

 

[Marty Jackson]

People may squawk about the NBE and the incoming members. And it doesn't matter to me if Aresco said those things or not about being done with ESPN...
I like this guy. I think his hire was a home run for the BE. He's exactly what we need at his time. And if nothing else, he's why I'm not too concerned if Uconn stays in this league long term.
He's proactive, he's a promoter of the league, and I think he has the attention of the other commissioners. I also think his insight into this industry is a huge bonus as well. Whatever the figures turn out to be, I have confidence it was the best deal we could get. I don't see this guy leaving money on the table.

 

[epark88]

Que new rumblings of the B-12 looking to expand any minute now......

If anything like that is going to happen, look for news of it to drop the weekend before 1 NOV - probably in the 'crawl' during the UofL-Cincy game.

Unfortunately, that's how the Bristol Boys operate: they prefer maximum P.R. carnage...

 

[Pudge]

Aresco has the right resume for any Big Conference commissioner. Sure .. the B1G, SEC and Pac 12 have gotten lauded (Swofford is just scum), Aresco is the right man at the right time. Now ... just PRODUCE>+