No Games on SNY

[WestHartHusk]

They might as well rename ESPN as the UConn channel.

Or, We Won't Pay You, But We'll Play You.

The UConn men will be on CBS, ESPN and ESPN2 16 times, and the women will be on 8 times.

ESPNU and CBSSN is 10 for the men, 4 for the women.

40 times on CBS and ESPN channels.

Aresco = Pimp.
Uconn = Hooker.

 

[UkonCornelius]

No. What he has said was UConn never retained its tier 2 or 3 rights to women's bb (and that they were released to sny routinely under that rubric).

This isn't about how it was routinely done in the past-it was about assuring how it will be done in the future.

UConn controlled that aspect.

Manuel screwed up.

You're an angry, negative little man.

 

[Dooley]

Oh, but playing games on ESPN3 is so friggin' awesome! I can watch games "on the go!" on my 2X4 iPhone as opposed to the 55 inch HDTV that I bought for WATCHING SPORTS.

Get us the hell out of this frick frackin' conference ASAP. Also, I hate ESPN more than ever now.

 

[UkonCornelius]

You can't even name half the teams in this league, and for womens basketball yipes. There are some awful teams who can't draw flies. SMU women drew 724 last year at home. And they were on eof the better teams in CUSA!

Do you ever have anything positive to say? I enjoy the BY with the exception of a handful of morons like yourself.

 

[upstater]

Oh, but playing games on ESPN3 is so friggin' awesome! I can watch games "on the go!" on my 2X4 iPhone as opposed to the 55 inch HDTV that I bought for WATCHING SPORTS.

Get us the hell out of this frick frackin' conference ASAP. Also, I hate ESPN more than ever now.

I thought you were being sarcastic.

We're on the best channels, more national exposure than any other team.

Are you serious?

 

[MilliniumPrince]

Entering into negotiations with NBC, ESPN, and whomever, start with this premise:

The only school left in the AAC with appreciable value in its non-nationally televised tv rights (call them Tier 3, a nomenclature used in differing ways by different conferences) is UCONN. Whatever games the network does not want to pick up for national distribution, is retained by the school.

UCONN is the only AAC school that commands its marketplace. No other school exerts such influence over its DMA. Not memphis, not usf, not tulane, smu, houston and on and on.

In order to monetize these rights, UCONN would need an outlet willing to pony up money for "scrub" games, or games that attract local interest. This applies to football (UCONN v. Towson, UCONN v. Memphis), hoops (UCONN v. Fairfield), both men's and women's.

With respect to the value of these rights-SNY is paying $1.2 million a year for 17 scrub women's basketball games.

UCONN wants these rights. The AAC wants these rights to use in negotiations with the networks to increase the value of the tv contract.

When UCONN finds out that the value of the tv contract which grants the AAC's media rights (digital included) to ESPN, UCONN has two choices accept this or not.

Enter Navy discussions. Navy has a current contract with CBS. Navy gets to keep its tv revenue from CBS in the future. This was part of the negotiations with NBC, ESPN.

UCONN tells Aresco- $2 million is way too low. UCONN makes $1.2 million on 17 scrub girl's games, but now it will make a total of $2 million on 9 or 10 football games, 20-22, men's games, and 20-22 women's games. These games include high profile matchups in football, and men's and women's basketball games.

UCONN tells Aresco, we keep our tier 3 rights. Let every school keep them. If other schools don't want this, UCONN buys out its rights for the $2 million.

In negotiations, ESPN/NBC has offered $2 million a year per school. How much less would the offer be if schools kept their tier 3 rights? Would the amount be $1,999,999? Would NBC buy essentially same content for even cheaper? Of course they would.

The conference would have been made whole (through UCONN's payment back its conference tv distribution if school's demurred on retaining their individual tier 3 rights).

As for leverage: If Navy gets to keep their TIER ONE rights, UCONN keeps their Tier 3 rights.

At this point, what is Aresco going to do? His conference has already blown up, and the tv number is basically at the point where the conference is paying ESPN to broadcast games like a giant infomercial.

This issue is unique only to UCONN. UCONN had a relationship with an RSN that is ready, willing and able to produce the games.

Instead, UCONN is like a dumb host with parasites feeding off of it.

And incidentally, Ward makes $40,000 per month to come up with ideas to make UCONN money.
Uh
And in the end, you know who is getting screwed the most? UCONN football. UCONN lost a partner that had a financial incentive to boost it in the NY market.

The Navy point is a perfect example of leverage. The AAC needed Navy, Navy didn't need the AAC. Uconn was already stuck and had been passed over at least 3 times by the ACC alone. Wards could walked into a meeting with Aresco, ESPN, and anyone you want to throw in for fun.....and his leverage would been.....we retain our rights or we will...????

Aresco entered negotiations as most of his marquee programs were either jumping ship or begging for the opportunity to do so. What magic rabbit was he supposed to pull out of his rear to make the largest sports cable network bend to his will? The only hope he had was NBC offering a big number....of course they had no reason to do so....but let's ignore that fact. What leverage did he have sitting in a board room in Bristol?

Our reality sucks, but the dance isn't over. I wish it would have turned out better, but for the life of me I don't see how it could have. Uconn had no leverage. Aresco had even less.

 

[weyuo]

The Navy point is a perfect example of leverage. The AAC needed Navy, Navy didn't need the AAC. Uconn was already stuck and had been passed over at least 3 times by the ACC alone. Wards could walked into a meeting with Aresco, ESPN, and anyone you want to throw in for fun.....and his leverage would been.....we retain our rights or we will...????

Aresco entered negotiations as most of his marquee programs were either jumping ship or begging for the opportunity to do so. What magic rabbit was he supposed to pull out of his rear to make the largest sports cable network bend to his will? The only hope he had was NBC offering a big number....of course they had no reason to do so....but let's ignore that fact. What leverage did he have sitting in a board room in Bristol?

Our reality sucks, but the dance isn't over. I wish it would have turned out better, but for the life of me I don't see how it could have. Uconn had no leverage. Aresco had even less.

That is the reality of the situation and all the whining and complaining and finger pointing in the Boneyard isn't going to do any good. Bottom line...the football team needs to win and win a lot. That gets you better TV exposure and more invites to alleged better conferences although I think given some time the AAC could give the ACC a run for it's money in football. Spend more time supporting the Huskies and their new conference mates and less time trying to drag this thing further into the mud than it already is. This will actually be a bigger challenge for UConn. Instead of being just another doormat team in the B1G they have a chance to lead an entire conference...a brand spanking new, underdog that no body gives a chance to conference. If UConn and their new friends can make a silk purse out of this sow's ear it will go down as one of the greatest stories in the history of sports.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

More than ever, UConn would be better off going independent and joining the Big East or even the A10 for basketball. This league is a train wreck.

 

[Rumrunner]

What is so compelling about Navy that the AAC needed it?

You lost me on that one.

 

[upstater]

More than ever, UConn would be better off going independent and joining the Big East or even the A10 for basketball. This league is a train wreck.

16 game son the best channels. The best team in the BE is going to get 8 on FS1.

I'd prefer the better exposure.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

What is so compelling about Navy that the AAC needed it?

You lost me on that one.

......you think they were added because of the pretty ships? Did you check the list of alternative options?

 

[whaler11]

16 game son the best channels. The best team in the BE is going to get 8 on FS1.

I'd prefer the better exposure.

Don't waste your time. As bad as the AAC is, Big East games may as well be televised on Aurora Public Access.

 

[whaler11]

What is so compelling about Navy that the AAC needed it?

You lost me on that one.

You are just setting up Spackler right?

Navy answers the age old question:
1. Steal Underpants
2. Intimidate television partners in Newport with ships
3. Profit

 

[freescooter]

Navy is going to struggle to compete in this league. I am not sure why they were so important, either. Sure everyone "respects" them, but they aren't that good a football team.

 

[pj]

16 game son the best channels. The best team in the BE is going to get 8 on FS1.

I'd prefer the better exposure.

For basketball, this is not a bad deal. For football it is awful.

 

[UConn Dan]

For basketball, this is not a bad deal. For football it is awful.

For football should be good as well - remember, deal doesn't start until next year. 90% of all AAC football games will be on national TV.

 

[noeynox]

Don't waste your time. As bad as the AAC is, Big East games may as well be televised on Aurora Public Access.

Is this serious? FS1, to me looks good so far. I already like their sportscenter version better . And with the UFC over there, more and more people are going to find the channel in no time. It won't happen over night but FS1 is going to emerge as a serious threat to ESPN. I bet they make a big play for the NBA in a couple of years.

 

[UConn Dan]

Don't waste your time. As bad as the AAC is, Big East games may as well be televised on Aurora Public Access.

Shaw, and monkeys might fly out of my butt.

 

[upstater]

For basketball, this is not a bad deal. For football it is awful.

Explain. Since more games are carried than used to be.

If anything the basketball conference is BETTER than the old BE.

 

[upstater]

Is this serious? FS1, to me looks good so far. I already like their sportscenter version better . And with the UFC over there, more and more people are going to find the channel in no time. It won't happen over night but FS1 is going to emerge as a serious threat to ESPN. I bet they make a big play for the NBA in a couple of years.

Wait, you think the BE games will be on FS1? The vast majority will be on FS2.

 

[pj]

Explain. Since more games are carried than used to be.

If anything the basketball conference is BETTER than the old BE.

For basketball, the conference will be competitive, the exposure will help the weaker schools (like SMU) upgrade their programs, the league will probably be #3 to #7 in any given year and could have two teams in the Sweet Sixteen typically. UConn will be the marquee team in the conference and will get the bulk of the exposure. It might actually benefit UConn basketball relative to Pitt/Cuse/Louisville since it will be easier to stand out in the AAC than in the ACC. Basketball programs don't need much money so the poor money is not a major issue.

For football, money is huge as we're in an arms race. With the removal of recruiting restrictions, teams are building staffs of 5+ full-time non-coaching recruiters and investing in facilities. Football exposure is better for other conferences, and will stay that way because people want to see two marquee teams. The football is good enough in the AAC that it will be hard for UConn football to stand out, but not so good as to win us respect.

In short: exposure over money is good for basketball, bad for football.

 

[Husky25]

Oh, but playing games on ESPN3 is so friggin' awesome! I can watch games "on the go!" on my 2X4 iPhone as opposed to the 55 inch HDTV that I bought for WATCHING SPORTS.

Get us the hell out of this frick frackin' conference ASAP. Also, I hate ESPN more than ever now.

There are ways to watch it on your 55 inch television and they have been suggested on this site.

 

[Exit 4]

You are just setting up Spackler right?

Navy answers the age old question:
1. Steal Underpants
2. Intimidate television partners in Newport with ships
3. Profit

Great reference to a hilarious South Park episode. An episode my wife and I still often reference as well.

 

[Husky25]

More than ever, UConn would be better off going independent and joining the Big East or even the A10 for basketball. This league is a train wreck.

Please, o please tell us why, so those who know their from their elbow can knock down every one of your premises...Oh wait...WE ALREADY HAVE the other umpteen times you suggest this mode of action!!!!

You are aware that the A10 Basketball Tournament semi-finals were not televised last year, yes?

 

[noeynox]

Wait, you think the BE games will be on FS1? The vast majority will be on FS2.

I don't know. What content will be playing on FS1, when the Big East games or on FS2?