Again - how does UConn extricate itself from the current TV deal?
First of all, it is survival so we figure out a way out. Your argument is like saying it is easier to drown because the current is too strong.
The easiest path would be to find the G5 with the nearest term expiration, and just dump the entire league into that one. In fact, all the G5 should do that. If you aren't going to get paid for televising your games, why bother? I posted my idea in the El Paso thread a couple of weeks ago about reconstituting the G5 under one umbrella that was a loose scheduling and network alliance, but then letting individual teams sell most of their own content individually.
Make 10 6 team divisions instead of 5 conferences that no one cares about. UConn would have 5 set games against regional opponents every year: short distance drives, full stadiums, rivals. Then UConn would play 3 games against national G5 opponents (Boise, Houston, whoever), then have 4 at-large games that UConn could schedule any way they want.
You would have Three tiers of content:
Tier 1: Top 10-20% games from the G5, sell these to a national network, figure out a revenue split.
Tier 2: Division games could be sold regionally. Would SNY or NESN want to televise a Division of UConn, UMass, Navy, Temple, Buffalo, Army? Probably, at a decent price.
Tier 3: Probably close to half the inventory per school, saleable however the school wants.
I would let the schools produce the games. The national networks get paid a crapload of money to show up with a few cameras and ex-jocks. Have a single national studio for the Tier 2 pregame and halftime shows. I would like the A10 join this for hoops.
Low investment, low overhead, more revenue than today. And likely how most P5 conferences will look post 2025 with the exception of Tier 3 will belong to the conference. Once UConn is in that structure, it will likely both generate more revenue and create a benchmark to value UConn for other leagues.
Or we could continue to give our content away for free for eternity.