WVU's Gee: going to 12 is most likely

[Jimdish255]

Even if you get the LHN it sucks and almost nobody watches it.

The larger issue is that talk of a real B12 Network is driving the proposals of schools that want to strengthen the conference for the future. Offering to subsidize Texas puts them in an awkward position if they resist. It absolutely brings UConn's best attributes to the forefront of the discussion, and elevates our value as media property for the B12 or any league looking for market share or strategic advantage. Other conferences have to be watching this closely.

Unfortunately the car wash might be closed due to weather on Saturday.

 

[BlueDogs]

I suspect (unlike in the past where we were asleep at the wheel) there is a lot more happening than meets our public eyes. I also suspect that any rational conference decision makers are thinking they have to pull the trigger sooner rather than later to plant a flag in New England to either lock up the Northeast or to make sure they have access. Stay tuned.

 

[TruthNnumbers]

After your post I saw the SEC numbers, and they are stunning. I'm still skeptical if Big 12 content can make enough to breakeven on the LHN and pay $$ to the remaining conference members. Still, if I would be glad to be wrong.

I may not be following you both correctly but you do understand that the number given in your link is for total payout from the conference, not for SEC network money only? The SEC gave out $5.5 million this year from the SEC network per school. The BTN gave $7.6 million per school or at least those getting full cuts plus I believe for the first time the BTN gave a additional $1 million profit share to those 11 schools getting a full cut. Anyway that would be $77 million that the SEC network handed out and $90+ that the BTN passed around depending on how much Neb, Maryland and Rutgers received plus the $11 million in profit share. If the XII network made $50 million for the conference schools the first year I would be surprised. So that would be $15 million to Texas leaving $35 million or $3.9 million per school from a XII network.

http://www.whatyoupayforsports.com/...ols-getting-so-little-money-from-sec-network/

 

[NYUConn]

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/...ay-mailbag-expansion-title-contenders-in-2016

@BChatmon @ESPN_Big12 what is the likelihood the Big 12 expands and adds UConn

— Husky Army (@thehuskyarmy) January 19, 2016

Chatmon: I'm starting to believe we're inching closer to expansion, but it still won't be anytime soon. Frankly, there aren't a lot of really good, available options, but UConn would be worth considering. I would still say it's unlikely, mainly because expansion is a ways away and a lot can happen before then.

He may be right that UConn won't get in, but his response on "inching" closer to expansion seems particularly tone deaf in light of what Boren and Gee have been openly saying over the last 48 hours.

 

[HartbeatHusky]

He may be right that UConn won't get in, but his response on "inching" closer to expansion seems particularly tone deaf in light of what Boren and Gee have been openly saying over the last 48 hours.

I don't think ESPN is too keen on B12 expansion so I take it as an admission that there are rumblings that can't be ignored and the fact the ESPN B12 reporter said it made sense to consider UConn, instead of rejecting it outright as most of the football reporters have done in the past regarding UConn, makes me think there are really teeth to the rumors this time around.

 

[Carl Spackler]

ESPN laid off 300 employees in October.

http://www.businessinsider.com/espn-mistakes-led-to-layoffs-2015-10

It's pretty damn clear - that the Texas Longhorn Network, was another mistake, that ESPN learned from - with the SEC network. ESPN obviously is facing a whole host of issues, but when you're in that kind of situation, you got to start counting pennies, and the LHN might be a drop in the bucket in overall budgeting, and ESPN is still cutting checks - but what's the growth potential?

I've asked this question today - and it's a good one. How far is ESPN willing to go, to correct the losses it's taking on the LHN, in favor of something, that is at least break even and has potential to grow? I bet they are a lot more motivated to do such a thing in 2016, than they were in 2014.

We know from past experience, and blabbermouths, that ESPN was directly involved in things involving conference level decision making among intercollegiate institutions from things involving UCONN, the Big East, and the ACC in the past.

 

[Jimdish255]

He may be right that UConn won't get in, but his response on "inching" closer to expansion seems particularly tone deaf in light of what Boren and Gee have been openly saying over the last 48 hours.

Nobody makes that type of statement when they're "inching closer". That's what you do when you're actively lobbying and trying to build a consensus.

 

[pj]

B12 and ACC should team up. Neither conference has enough traction to support a network by itself, but together, they'd have enough content and footprint to make it work.

A B12+ACC network might generate roughly as much money as a B1G or SEC network, for half as much money per school. Better than no network at all.

 

[noeynox]

B12 and ACC should team up. Neither conference has enough traction to support a network by itself, but together, they'd have enough content and footprint to make it work.

A B12+ACC network might generate roughly as much money as a B1G or SEC network, for half as much money per school. Better than no network at all.

Till were in, keep these thoughts in your head.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

B12 and ACC should team up. Neither conference has enough traction to support a network by itself, but together, they'd have enough content and footprint to make it work.

A B12+ACC network might generate roughly as much money as a B1G or SEC network, for half as much money per school. Better than no network at all.

An alliance and joint network may work; but, not a combined conference unless some schools were raided by the B1G and/or SEC or if some schools were cut, which is very unlikely, as a 25 team conference would be a mess to manage.

 

[Kolumbo]

An AAC network, and we'll let Oklahoma and Kansas broadcast their state U's at a cost.

 

[UConn990411]

Ehhhh, this is a very West Virginia-centric view of things.

Sure ESPN would restructure the LHN to a Big 12 network instantly, but where is the incentive for Texas to give up such a prestigious money-maker? You can't just say, "the Big 12 would simply cover the money Texas would earn." That helps financially, but the exposure UT gets from having it's own network can't be rivaled by anything a Big 12 Network would provide.

You must be new here.

Everything conference realignment-related must go through West Virginia.