SNY Gets the Broadcast Rights, CPTV Out

[doggydaddy]

Just to be clear, I don't think we know for sure what CPTV's bid was for the new contract. The $900,000 figure is what CPTV paid for the rights under the recently expired contract.

The rights fee provided to the University by SNY is anticipated to be $4.55 million over the four-year term of the contract which will cover the 2012-13 season through 2015-16 - approximately $1.14 million annually. The rights fee in the previous four-year agreement for UConn women's basketball television rights averaged $900,000 annually.

I haven't read that this was the annual amount CPTV proposed to pay UConn in its bid for the rights under the new contract.

Based on how they struggled to make money (if they did) on the 900K, I doubt it was more than that.

 

[Husky68]

That is wrong.

"The rights fee provided to the University by SNY is anticipated to be $4.55 million over the four-year term of the contract which will cover the 2012-13 season through 2015-16 - approximately $1.14 million annually. The rights fee in the previous four-year agreement for UConn women's basketball television rights averaged $900,000 annually."

1.14 - .9 = .24 or 240k per year.

But what did CPTV bid for the future 4 years? The $240k relates to the prior 4 year contract paid by CPTV vs. the new 4 year future agreement by SNY. CPTV might have bid more (or less given the hard time they were claiming getting donations) for the future four years than they paid for the previous contract.

 

[doggydaddy]

Well there are some HUGE question marks here despite the positive spin being put on by UCONN & SNY. Most importantly to me is how will they handle conflicts with other programming. That was never an issue with CPTV but it scares me to see multiple eggs in one basket on a Sports Network. Also the excellent bonus coverage we always got with CPTV (In particular - Senior Night coverage) is probably not going to be a priority for SNY. This new "Geno Legacy" thing and the Geno Show are supposed to pacify us but when will they be on? Before the games , after the games or at some bizarre time to accomodate other sports programming? Lots of unkowns folks. Wonder if they gave CPTV the chance to match the bid (?) or if the biggest goal was to expand the coverage area (Particularly in NY) which SNY gives them.

There is no way that CPTV could match that bid. They probably lost money on the 900K per year.

 

[UConnCat]

According to Jerry Franklin via Rich Elliott's twitter, CPTV's bid was $4.537 million

Jerry also had this to say: ``I just got up and got the #UConn tread marks off my back. I’m pretty disappointed.’

From nbcconnecticut:

Obviously we are devastated and disappointed that they went with a New York-based firm," said Jerry Franklin, president and CEO of CPTV. "We have had an 18-year history with UConn and thousands of people have told me over the years that we helped build UConn women's basketball into a national phenomenon. We have been inundated with people who are upset about this, and tomorrow there with be thousands more people who are upset. We think we have done more to increase visibility of women's basketball than any other media outlet," he said.

Franklin said CPTV asked UConn for a second look so that the station could try and match SNY's bid, but weren't granted one. He said he believes Herbst wants to promote UConn in New York, but that he wishes the team the best of luck in future seasons.

 

[Vowelguy]

Well there are some HUGE question marks here despite the positive spin being put on by UCONN & SNY. Most importantly to me is how will they handle conflicts with other programming. That was never an issue with CPTV but it scares me to see multiple eggs in one basket on a Sports Network. Also the excellent bonus coverage we always got with CPTV (In particular - Senior Night coverage) is probably not going to be a priority for SNY. This new "Geno Legacy" thing and the Geno Show are supposed to pacify us but when will they be on? Before the games , after the games or at some bizarre time to accomodate other sports programming? Lots of unkowns folks. Wonder if they gave CPTV the chance to match the bid (?) or if the biggest goal was to expand the coverage area (Particularly in NY) which SNY gives them.

They said there will be a PRE & POST game show, in addition to a weekly coach's show. That's actually more than CPTV did.

I would assume scheduling will be worked out before the season. UConn was already able to keep the men and women from playing at the same time, so this would be similar.

The only question I see is the online situation.

 

[JimGunther]

Local TV reported the difference was $20K per year. I hope that was lazy (and incorrect) reporting on their part.

What ever the amount, I think there is some value in loyalty. Yes, yes, I understand there might be more eyeballs, more exposure; I could even be convinced the product might be better but...I just hope they didn't toss CPTV for a lousy $20k per year.

 

[ASweet3781]

I have to imagine this will help us even more with NYC tri state area recruits.

 

[Vowelguy]

Now I wonder who the broadcasting team will be. I bet Bob Picozzi will be part of the team.

I'm gonna bet against Picozzi. I don't know if he's an official employee of ESPN or a contractor, but I would assume ESPN doesn't want its talent working for its major competitor Comcast (which owns SNY). [CPTV, as a niche player, was never a competitor and thus would not have been an issue.]

Eric Frede, in contrast, works for Comcast New England. I would bet on him.

 

[UConnCat]

I'm gonna bet against Picozzi. I don't know if he's an official employee of ESPN or a contractor, but I would assume ESPN doesn't want its talent working for its major competitor Comcast (which owns SNY). [CPTV, as a niche player, was never a competitor and thus would not have been an issue.]

Eric Frede, in contrast, works for Comcast New England. I would bet on him.

Good call. I like Eric a lot. I also thought Meghan was better alongside Eric.

 

[pppggg]

this is a clear case of money talking, what ever the number is.

 

[Vowelguy]

Keep in mind that many government contracts must go to the best $$ offer as long as all the criteria of the RFP are met. I don't know if those rules apply to this situation.

 

[ASweet3781]

Loyalty? Have these people seen what has happened in college athletics with conferences and conference members stabbing each other in the back?

Right now, with the football team in an uncertain era with a new coach, and Jim Calhoun possibly heading to retirement in another year or 2 with his program currently banned from the NCAA and Big East tournaments it is beyond irresponsible for the Unviersity of Connecticut to turn down an offer to increase the NY area visibility and brand of it's strongest and most consistent athletic program. It help's not only the program but the entire brand of the UConn name. UConn needs to do everything it possibly can to build up it's brand and make itself as attractive as possible next time a conference is looking to expand.

CPTV is owed a debt of gratitude for all they have done, but times are a changing in college athletics.

 

[Vowelguy]

Good call. I like Eric a lot.

Me too.

I hope SNY is smart enough to realize that bringing along a familiar voice will help with the transition.

 

[doggydaddy]

Based on what CPTV is saying, they were very close in their bids. Wow. My bad.

But it kinda makes me wonder how much their begging was overdone considering they bid around a million more for the 4 years.

 

[alexrgct]

Well there are some HUGE question marks here despite the positive spin being put on by UCONN & SNY. Most importantly to me is how will they handle conflicts with other programming. That was never an issue with CPTV but it scares me to see multiple eggs in one basket on a Sports Network. Also the excellent bonus coverage we always got with CPTV (In particular - Senior Night coverage) is probably not going to be a priority for SNY. This new "Geno Legacy" thing and the Geno Show are supposed to pacify us but when will they be on? Before the games , after the games or at some bizarre time to accomodate other sports programming? Lots of unkowns folks. Wonder if they gave CPTV the chance to match the bid (?) or if the biggest goal was to expand the coverage area (Particularly in NY) which SNY gives them.

The contract will stipulate that they will broadcast live games. As far as when the non-live programming will be aired, DVRs work amazingly well.

I understand the desire to increase UConn's footprint in NYC. All of the conference realignment has been around markets. UConn's ability to claim it brings a healthy chunk of the NYC market will be critical. Whether WBB really helps along those lines remains to be seen, but it is one of UConn's premium brands.

There's a lot more at stake here than what SNY bid vs CPTV.

 

[Vowelguy]

Base on what CPTV is saying, they were very close in their bids. Wow. My bad.

But it kinda makes me wonder how much their begging was overdone considering they bid around a million more for the 4 years.

Of course it was. Selling 101. I never believed they were just breaking even.
Or they were using that Hollywood accounting whereby a movie makes $500 million in revenue, but the accountants show it as having no profit.

 

[Vowelguy]

.

I understand the desire to increase UConn's footprint in NYC. All of the conference realignment has been around markets. UConn's ability to claim it brings a healthy chunk of the NYC market will be critical. Whether WBB really helps along those lines remains to be seen, but it is one of UConn's premium brands.

good point

 

[doggydaddy]

Of course it was. Selling 101. I never believed they were just breaking even.
Or they were using that Hollywood accounting whereby a movie makes $500 million in revenue, but the accountants show it as having no profit.

I guess I am just naive.

Jerry had me fooled. I want my money back.

 

[UConnCat]

Rich Elliott's blog has more from Jerry and his disappointment.

But, as Rich points out:

CPTV simply cannot match up with SNY. The Huskies will now be seen in nearly 14 million households. SNY’s regional territory covers all of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania, accounting for a total of 8.7 million households. Coupled with national coverage on DirecTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Cable and AT&T U-Verse, the network’s total distribution is 13.7 million homes.

http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/

 

[ed4ourgirls]

Perhaps UConn feels that if they can increase their exposure and
fan following in the NYC area, that it will make them more
attractive to the ACC.

 

[UcMiami]

As others have said - this is not simply a Uconn decision - Uconn is owned by the state and state laws regarding the RFP process are pretty fixed. If a single bid situation is called for, then giving either party a 'chance to match' would not be legal. Loyalty is a nice concept, but this is not a private institution/business and public moneys (tax dollars) are involved. Uconn and the state have to answer to all their residents, not just the fans of WCBB.
(I would not be surprised to discover that CPTV was actually the longest continuous State contractor. They have been great, but sports broadcasting has beccome a big business over the last ten years and this was bound to happen at some point.)

 

[ASweet3781]

Rich Elliott's blog has more from Jerry and his disappointment.

But, as Rich points out:

CPTV simply cannot match up with SNY. The Huskies will now be seen in nearly 14 million households. SNY’s regional territory covers all of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania, accounting for a total of 8.7 million households. Coupled with national coverage on DirecTV, Verizon FiOS, Comcast Cable and AT&T U-Verse, the network’s total distribution is 13.7 million homes.

http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/

Exactly. And that area covers A LOT of recruits.

 

[Kibitzer]

I wonder what the reaction from the athletic department at Rutgers will be. Seems to me that this wider coverage of UConn wcbb into NYC and New Jersey presents a new and major challenge for them to compete with UConn for recruits.

 

[alexrgct]

I wonder what the reaction from the athletic department at Rutgers will be. Seems to me that this wider coverage of UConn wcbb into NYC and New Jersey presents a new and major challenge for them to compete with UConn for recruits.

Perhaps so. But if we're talking conference alignment and the ability of UConn and Rutgers to present themselves as an attractive package deal that brings with it a compelling slice of the NYC market, Rutgers as a whole will be delighted. Not saying UConn WBB by itself gets the two schools there by itself, but it's a piece of a very delicate puzzle.

 

[Scotter]

They may have still been making significant money on it, but even if they were taking a loss they still would have to bid on it because they had already invested in all the infrastructure and it was still a ratings driver that they could advertise their other programming on. It is one of those bid now ask questions later situations.

Based on what CPTV is saying, they were very close in their bids. Wow. My bad.

But it kinda makes me wonder how much their begging was overdone considering they bid around a million more for the 4 years.

 

[justML]

dang no more Geno Show.. that sucks

There will be a new show called "Geno's Legacy".

I REALLY don't like the legacy word . . . it sounds like his best work is behind him.

 

[justML]

I guess I'm just a softie but I'll miss Harriet, Mary and Larry - all who seemed to TRULY be UConn fans.

Without CPTV, who knows if the women's games would have taken such a strong hold in this state? I know I'm not thinking with a "business mind" but they should have been given the opportunity to match SNY's offer.

Question for the board - Don't you think Geno will work it out to take Meghan with him to SNY? Their history and camaraderie can't be matched by an unknown on SNY.

 

[alexrgct]

There will be a new show called "Geno's Legacy".

I REALLY don't like the legacy word . . . it sounds like his best work is behind him.

That won't be his weekly show; that will be the show that interviews former players.

 

[huskymedic]

Keep in mind that many government contracts must go to the best $$ offer as long as all the criteria of the RFP are met. I don't know if those rules apply to this situation.

http://www.purchasing.uconn.edu/staff/bids/KJ100711_local_television_broadcast_rights.pdf

3.9.3 The University reserves the right to award a contract not based solely on the firm with the lowest cost, but based on an offer which, in the sole opinion of the University best fulfills or exceeds the requirements of this RFP and is deemed to be in the best interest of the University.

IMO - This is all about market penetration. SNY has a much larger reach (nationally) than CPTV - who did a phenomenal job over the years.

 

[justML]

That won't be his weekly show; that will be the show that interviews former players.

That makes it somewhat better.

At least they're not calling it "Geno's Dynasty"!