CPTV and UConn WCBB. The future. . .[Merged Thread]

[UcMiami]

My mind wanders back a bit as well - wasn't there a thread on the old board about a year ago regarding Uconn starting the bidding process for TV coverage. As I remember the RFP documment was actually linked regarding the conditions required for bidding? I imagine some enterprising person could find that thread or search the State of CT or Uconn web site for the document

 

[Ruffian75]

My mind wanders back a bit as well - wasn't there a thread on the old board about a year ago regarding Uconn starting the bidding process for TV coverage. As I remember the RFP documment was actually linked regarding the conditions required for bidding? I imagine some enterprising person could find that thread or search the State of CT or Uconn web site for the document

If this is the case, then it would appear that UConn feels no loyalty towards CPTV

 

[Kibitzer]

I have always been under the impression that a meaningful recruiting tool for Geno to use on the families of recruits has been that "every game is televised" and that the hoopstreams option makes viewing possible. If my impression is accurate, I have no doubt but that it has been a consideration for recruits who don't hear this option from other coaches.

 

[Dairyair]

Not sure I'd be a UConn WBB fan if not for CPTV. After seeing this gangly #50 with a weird face mask on sports clips, I started watching the games on CPTV. A few years later, IIRC, the girls started to show up a few times a year om ESPN. But I enjoy ALL the games on CPTV. When they're on a national channel, they're out of there 2 seconds after the horn. Yeah, we have to wait for the interview after the game on CPTV, but at least they show it. And someone mentioned Senior Night and the special shows after NCs...all great, and probably gone if SNY or Fox gets the games. I enjoy the Geno Show, and I even enjoy Bob and Meghan...think of some of the alternatives! <shiver!> There was a time a few years ago when I had hoped a regular station would pick up the games, but not any more. Yeah, some of the folks in the studio (Jerry <cough>) are really annoying, but overall I think they do a good job. My only gripe about CPTV is when they brag on about being a non-commercial station, yet some of their commercials are the same ones that show up on 'commercial' stations.
I also have direct TV...tons of sports stations, I'll be covered one way or another. But I enjoy the fact that CPTV makes it a SHOW, not just a GAME.

 

[RoyDodger]

I became a fan of UConn women's basketball because of CPTV. If the games had been on SNY or some other sports channel, I might never have noticed or cared. After years of watching, there's a comfort zone--the CPTV people like Harriet Unger, the players, the Geno show, even Meghan and Bob. CPTV is one of the things that makes UConn women's basketball special. And there is no question but that CPTV helped put women's basketball on the map. It would be a tragedy for the UConn games to go to some boring sports channel that's only available to those who can afford it. We need to tell UConn that we, the fans and supporters of UConn basketball, want the games to continue on CPTV.

Incidentally, is it me or does it seem like lots of things have changed or are changing when it comes to UConn sports since UConn President Susan Herbst arrived? I wonder if she is one of so many power people who cannot take over an organization without changing it, whether it needs it or not?

 

[Tonyc]

Rington you bring up CPTV Sports Channel and I read some posts about SNY which is already a sports channel and Im thinking why not have the two merge/partnership and form a CT Sports Network Station. That would settle alot of money problems with a larger audience. Many of the NYC kids look up to UConn WCBB. This would give UConn WCBB a larger audience and more money. Does anybody know if CPTV reaches any of the surrounding states? Maybe Boston NY LI Philly could encompass the new network or would ESPN or Fox squash it. It would be more of a regional station featuring UConn. ESPN and FOX are national sports and this could be a regional sports station. I wonder how the NCAA would feel about it? Any comments

 

[tomcat]

To me there is no comparison. Commercial TV ownership of the rights would be an unmitigated disaster from the consumer's point of view. Having been an employee of a commercial TV station for 8 years -- admittedly quite a while ago -- I do not know of a more bottom-line oriented business. The basketball, the UConn traditions, and all the rest will not matter one bit to a commercial station. You may or may not get better announcers but you will not get -- dare I say it? -- the love that CPTV puts into this, its biggest fundraiser.

While I've been critical of CPTV's style, I'm one of the many people who just accepts the fact that they have to fundraise. And think about Hoopstreams, the only way we have been able to continue as rabid fans for all these years. There is absolutely no guarantee that a commercial station will continue Hoopstreams, or if they do, at what price point. How many of us would pay $199 a year for Hoopstreams, just to pull a number out of thin air? It's possible that some commercial station's analysis would show that to be the right price for them to maximize profits. I don't know about you, but a financial hit like that would be much harder to absorb.

 

[husky8273]

This is not wholly accurate. The UConn Club Priority Point system allows points to accrue over time. So it's a combination of how much you spend and how long you've been donating. The less time you've been donating, the fewer opportunities you've had to accrue points. Yes, you can buy your way to the front of the line, but it takes serious coin to do so. Similarly, if SNY's bid blows CPTV's completely out of the water, I imagine UConn will take the money and run. But if the bids are fairly close, the loyalty factor may well (and I think should) come into play.

Rumored changes to point system next year may tilt the balance toward current year giving rather than accumulated points

 

[Icebear]

How many of us would pay $199 a year for Hoopstreams, just to pull a number out of thin air? It's possible that some commercial station's analysis would show that to be the right price for them to maximize profits.

Virtually, no one at the current quality of picture and streaming that many struggle with. $75 maybe but I suspect there would be a huge increase in Gametracker and radio listeners.

I do not know whether it is even possible for CPTV as an enterprise to be linked to a commercial enterprise under the Not for profit regulations in CT.

 

[Tonyc]

Got this from Jim Fullers article found above

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2012/01/12/sports/doc4f0dfa6d2bf74768538357.txt

 

[alexrgct]

Virtually, no one at the current quality of picture and streaming that many struggle with. $75 maybe but I suspect there would be a huge increase in Gametracker and radio listeners.

I do not know whether it is even possible for CPTV as an enterprise to be linked to a commercial enterprise under the Not for profit regulations in CT.

To add onto this- the NBA charges about $150-$175 for unlimted access to all games online, and I think $70-90 to be able to watch your choice of seven teams. So that's a market standard that should serve as a good frame of reference. A single women's college team should not be able to command more than that.

 

[Cafe Poliziano]

Money talks, especially in today's tough economic times. IMO, UCON goes with the best financial deal.

You are likely correct.

 

[jdubct]

As I posted above I would really like CPTV to retain the television rights. However, should SNY win the rights, what additional benefits would accrue to the program. Would it improve recruiting in NY/NJ for example, by virtue of SNY being widely offered on cable in those areas?

 

[FairView]

To add onto this- the NBA charges about $150-$175 for unlimted access to all games online, and I think $70-90 to be able to watch your choice of seven teams. So that's a market standard that should serve as a good frame of reference. A single women's college team should not be able to command more than that.

Another issue here is that all NBA games are telecast, so there is a crew already there and the cost is for the re-channeling of a signal -- the incremental cost for an online feed is minimal. Will someone like SNY agree to broadcast ALL the games that are not on national networks? Ad sales are based on viewership and I don't know what type of an audience the College of Charleston or Seton Hall pull in.

 

[Alexmia]

Just to add my 2¢ it would be a disaster for many of us in MA since SNY is not on the Charter lineup. We would completely lose UCWBB coverage on TV.

 

[meyers7]

Just to add my 2¢ it would be a disaster for many of us in MA since SNY is not on the Charter lineup. We would completely lose UCWBB coverage on TV.

Don't believe I get it on Comcast up here in MA either.

 

[magic]

SNY is on DirecTv at NO CHARGE.. so no hoop streams needed.. USA coverage,not 100% sure but I think in HD..

Let me start this by stating I have nothing against CPTV, and we have been lucky to have them. My girlfriend lives in new york state, and we never miss games. We both have directv , and exchange boxes. We even take one with us in our camper with a portable dish. She has become a huge UCONN fan, both men and women. SNY has expanded UCONN men's interest in new york from talking to many people. In conversations, I have often heard people say that wish they had more access to Uconn women's games. I'm not saying it would be right, just that things change, and the audience would be much bigger. Young girls seeing uconn games at early ages.

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I have DirecTV, both here in AZ and previously in NJ.

Obviously, I don't get CPTV. Last 2 years when I lived in NJ I got a station that carried the CPTV feed, although I'm not sure what that station exactly was. Since I'm a WBB fan in general, as well as Rutgers, I did watch parts of a few games, but as a non-UConn fan the national televised games pretty much were enough for me.

If you do end up on SNY, I see where that could be an issue for cable subscribers, but perhaps some folks would get the game that don't get CPTV and unfortunately vice versa for some. SNY is available on DirecTV nationally, and currently they do not black out any women's games. Men's games (I think) and FB games are blacked out if they are being carried on the pay services "Gameplan" or "Full Court" programming, but they don't at this time even bother to black out a women's game that might be on "Gameplan". Pro sports are always blacked out.

So I would assume that SNY would over-all increase the number of folks able to watch. My response to someone who commented they don't pay for something like DirecTV is - you would if you were a serious sports fan (i.e. not just local teams). I am a WBB junkie and have choices of over 10 games some weekend days, 4 or 5 games tonight, including Tenn / KY I think. Usually HD and on the big screen, which beats streaming in my mind.

 

[rington]

I have DirecTV, both here in AZ and previously in NJ.

Obviously, I don't get CPTV. Last 2 years when I lived in NJ I got a station that carried the CPTV feed, although I'm not sure what that station exactly was. Since I'm a WBB fan in general, as well as Rutgers, I did watch parts of a few games, but as a non-UConn fan the national televised games pretty much were enough for me.

If you do end up on SNY, I see where that could be an issue for cable subscribers, but perhaps some folks would get the game that don't get CPTV and unfortunately vice versa for some. SNY is available on DirecTV nationally, and currently they do not black out any women's games. Men's games (I think) and FB games are blacked out if they are being carried on the pay services "Gameplan" or "Full Court" programming, but they don't at this time even bother to black out a women's game that might be on "Gameplan". Pro sports are always blacked out.

So I would assume that SNY would over-all increase the number of folks able to watch. My response to someone who commented they don't pay for something like DirecTV is - you would if you were a serious sports fan (i.e. not just local teams). I am a WBB junkie and have choices of over 10 games some weekend days, 4 or 5 games tonight, including Tenn / KY I think. Usually HD and on the big screen, which beats streaming in my mind.

Just about all of the cable providers in CT carry SNY. It carries a lot of the men's games and is the channel for the NY Mets.

 

[rington]

I guess it was just a matter of time. I hope CPTV gets the bid. If another network does get it it will be a wider audience...CT NY LI and maybe NJ, which will help recruiting for UConn as a Univ and BB. This would be a huge blow for CPTV. Im sure the ST Johns Seton Hall and Cuse games will draw a larger audience. I concern is that if there is a game like UConn and Stonybrook or Cuse vs Duke which game will they broadcast or will CPTV get the lesser games and SNY take all the big games.

I agree; SNY will not be attracted by weaker teams playing Uconn. They are also very weak in public relations. I have emailed them questions, and never received answers.

 

[alexrgct]

I agree; SNY will not be attracted by weaker teams playing Uconn. They are also very weak in public relations. I have emailed them questions, and never received answers.

You bring up two critical points:

1. Will they show every game? I think it would shooting the program in the foot from a recruiting standpoint if they wouldn't. I can't imagine how myopic a decision it would be if UConn cashed a bigger check to have fewer games broadcast. I can promise you recruits and their families don't care that UConn got more money on their TV deal if they can't see every game. I'm going to assume UConn wouldn't sign a deal that didn't include every game being televised.

2. A lack of responsiveness is the tip of the iceberg. CPTV is part of the UConn WBB community. They do try to respond, both to direct emails and to stuff on this board, which they're not even affiliated with. Some people didn't like the last Geno Show, but I like that there is a Geno Show, and not only that, I like that a lot of the topics we talk about on this forum, sometimes word for word, is discussed on the show. If there is, in fact, a loss of connectedness to the program by going with SNY, there's a cost to that. I know it's difficult to quantify and measure that cost, but there very much is one. And when you run a business, you need to be able to recognize that there is a value to good relationships with customers, especially in bad economic times.

 

[AllAmerRedHeads]

UConn had the great product, but it took the vision and risk of CPTV to bring it to the masses.

You can have the greatest product around (like I think of the All American Red Heads), but you need people to know about it and get their buy in to what you have.

CPTV had a vision no one else did. Kudo's to CPTV for all of these years.

I'd like to believe loyalty still counts for something in todays society.

ESPN and gets to show UConn several times



I am sticking with the original. Best wishes on this to CPTV

 

[DaddyChoc]

Just to add my 2¢ it would be a disaster for many of us in MA since SNY is not on the Charter lineup. We would completely lose UCWBB coverage on TV.

CPTV is televised in Mass?

 

[zls44]

I know it's tough dealing with change, but if SNY offers more cash, UConn has to take the deal. Presumably, they would sublicense streaming through ESPN3.

That would open up every game to a larger tv and online audience.

One of the concerns for growing the sport is that it skews to such a dramatically older demographic (no offense intended, my mother falls into this category and loves the team). Moving to SNY would be putting the games on a channel with a more ad revenue in the demographic that generates cash. Sorry, it is what it is.

What should not be lost is the great job CPTV has done in growing themselves, as well as UConn WBB.

But times change.

A move to SNY could ONLY benefit the long-term viability of the program. Bigger audience, more revenue. More people having access to the games only helps.

 

[Ruffian75]

I agree; SNY will not be attracted by weaker teams playing Uconn. They are also very weak in public relations. I have emailed them questions, and never received answers.

There is no rhyme nor reason to the TV scheduling of WCB. On Sunday, Baylor v Oklahoma is on FS, a sports package channel, while Temple v Dayton is on ESPN2