Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="huskymedic, post: 4936428, member: 549"] [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.sportico.com/leagues/college-sports/2024/march-madness-2024-big-east-record-wins-finances-1234772853/[/URL] -> As for the media piece, the Big East’s rights become available again starting in 2025. UConn’s current form couldn’t come at a better time for a conference attempting to ensure its long-term security. “We’re in a very active stage” of rights negotiations, Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said. As new deals get closer to the finish line, incumbents Fox and CBS are currently expected to hold onto large parts of the package. Fox has expanded its basketball programming in recent years, and with plans to [URL='https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/fox-friday-college-football-showcase-smackdown-exits-1234769795/']replace[/URL] WWE’s [I]Friday Night SmackDown [/I]with an end-of-week college football package, the network could build a similar hoops-based property for when the football season ends. A third partner—possibly a streamer—might emerge as well. Outside of men’s basketball, the Big East has partnered with FloSports to host the Big East Digital Network. “The media business is certainly facing some headwinds right now … but the need for programming is still there,” said Bob Thompson, longtime sports TV executive and the founder of Thompson Sports Group. “Product quality remains extremely important, so I certainly expect that a property like this would be at the top of [those rightsholders’ priority] lists.” Still, keeping up is only going to get more difficult with time. Even a doubling of per-school media rights fees would leave Big East athletic departments bringing in a fraction of what Big 12, Big Ten and SEC schools are due to get as part of their latest megadeals. “We expect there’s going to be a growing revenue gap between the conferences we consider peers in basketball and us, because of the football money,” Ackerman said. “That challenge is real for our schools.”<- [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach