24 Hour Cable Channel - ESPN Big East

[duanewade]

I very much don't want to Marquette to go back to the days of being a mid-major playing in a mid-major conference.  Having said this I think the Marquette/Big East needs to be proactive and make a couple broad strokes of genius to keep all members fat and happy with cash the ability to entice the best athletes to compete at the highest levels in all their sports.

Having said this I think the Big East should approach ESPN about developing a 24 hour a day ESPN – Big East channel.  They already have ESPNU, ESPN I & II, ESPN Classic and ESPN News and think this next niche makes total sense in that they already have had several contacts with the Big East over the years. 

The Big 10 network has been another successful revenue stream for the Big 10 and basically gives all their members a 24 hour recruiting showcase for them.  The reason it makes money is it serves a niche for all the obsessed message board reading fans who have high disposable income and spend most of their free time thinking, discussing and watching the team's daily ups and downs (advertisers love college educated viewers with disposable income).  The reason this is profitable is the production costs are low and it serves a niche.  Look no further than reality TV where Survivor 100 – Tropical Island _____take your pick.  This show survives (no pun intended) as it hardly pays the contestants anything and has a loyal niche of viewers to consistently make it profitable to produce and air no matter how ridiculous it might seem to watch the same back stabbing in a jungle year after year. 

There is no doubt in my mind that all the many message board attics would provide the audience to make this a profitable niche.  Of course with recording so easy these days if there is 16 weekly coaching shows and the "Buzz Williams Show" isn't on to 4am then you could record it and watch it when you want. 

Primetime would be filled with live games.  AM would be filled with a Sports Center type recap.  Afternoons would be filled with behind the scenes looks at various programs and player profiles.  And late night would be filled of replays of various games for fans that didn't care to watch them live on the internet (once again if you are a Rutgers fan you can record the Rutgers vs. Seton Hall replay at 2am and watch it later).

I think it's a matter of time before every BCS conference has their own 24 hour cable network channels so let's be proactive and strike while the iron is hot.  And let's celebrate the fact that the Big East is a diverse mix of religious affiliated and non-religious affiliated private schools and public city/state schools that don't all play football.  Make this diversity an interesting selling point that will be more interesting to the common viewer than the other soon to be BCS channels are just full of Big, public State U's. 

[Boozemon Barro]

I thought there already was the Big East network? Anyways if ESPN is going to do a channel just for a specific conference (which I highly doubt they ever would) it would be the SEC. They will go where the money is and there is so much more money involved in SEC football than anything the Big East can offer.

[NavinRJohnson]

ESPN pretty much already is the Big East Network...no reason to throw any time or resources into something that would amount to a regional network, ala the Big Ten Network, that nobody outside the region gives a rip about. As it stands right now, the Big East has the best television situation going...the revenue and exposure they get from ESPN, will blow any self run network out of the water.

[chren21]

Has anyone watched "The Journey" on BTN?  It's pretty neat and gives you an up close a personal feel for the teams similar to the way Hard Knocks did with the Bengals.  If high school players are watching that they will feel more connected to Big Ten programs cause of the look "inside" the locker rooms, etc...  Big East needs programming like that for sure.

[GOMU1104]

ESPN pretty much already is the Big East Network...no reason to throw any time or resources into something that would amount to a regional network, ala the Big Ten Network, that nobody outside the region gives a rip about. As it stands right now, the Big East has the best television situation going...the revenue and exposure they get from ESPN, will blow any self run network out of the water.

That is just absolutely false. We may hate and make fun of the Big 10, but lets not that get in the way of the facts.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/07/24/tv-deals/index.html

[4everwarriors]

To be honest here living in Big Ten country, the BTN provides some pretty awesome broadcasting. Not sure that it would go over nationwide, but I definately watch it on a regular basis and enjoy doing so. Very well produced and informative.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I very much don't want to Marquette to go back to the days of being a mid-major playing in a mid-major conference.  Having said this I think the Marquette/Big East needs to be proactive and make a couple broad strokes of genius to keep all members fat and happy with cash the ability to entice the best athletes to compete at the highest levels in all their sports.

Having said this I think the Big East should approach ESPN about developing a 24 hour a day ESPN – Big East channel.  They already have ESPNU, ESPN I & II, ESPN Classic and ESPN News and think this next niche makes total sense in that they already have had several contacts with the Big East over the years.  

The Big 10 network has been another successful revenue stream for the Big 10 and basically gives all their members a 24 hour recruiting showcase for them.  The reason it makes money is it serves a niche for all the obsessed message board reading fans who have high disposable income and spend most of their free time thinking, discussing and watching the team's daily ups and downs (advertisers love college educated viewers with disposable income).  The reason this is profitable is the production costs are low and it serves a niche.  Look no further than reality TV where Survivor 100 – Tropical Island _____take your pick.  This show survives (no pun intended) as it hardly pays the contestants anything and has a loyal niche of viewers to consistently make it profitable to produce and air no matter how ridiculous it might seem to watch the same back stabbing in a jungle year after year.  

There is no doubt in my mind that all the many message board attics would provide the audience to make this a profitable niche.  Of course with recording so easy these days if there is 16 weekly coaching shows and the "Buzz Williams Show" isn't on to 4am then you could record it and watch it when you want.  

Primetime would be filled with live games.  AM would be filled with a Sports Center type recap.  Afternoons would be filled with behind the scenes looks at various programs and player profiles.  And late night would be filled of replays of various games for fans that didn't care to watch them live on the internet (once again if you are a Rutgers fan you can record the Rutgers vs. Seton Hall replay at 2am and watch it later).

I think it's a matter of time before every BCS conference has their own 24 hour cable network channels so let's be proactive and strike while the iron is hot.  And let's celebrate the fact that the Big East is a diverse mix of religious affiliated and non-religious affiliated private schools and public city/state schools that don't all play football.  Make this diversity an interesting selling point that will be more interesting to the common viewer than the other soon to be BCS channels are just full of Big, public State U's.  

Duane...great idea.  Except that it won't happen.  Hopefully my "Television IQ" serves me well here.   

I was involved heavily in the Big Ten Network launch.  We owned 49% of the network (we being NewsCorp) before NewsCorp then spun us off.

It was a bold move on their part and will be interesting to see if it succeeds long term.  Some of the deals are coming up for renewal in the next year and a lot of the MSO's (the cable, satellite and Telcos) are bracing for what the new pricing will be.  You may see it come off the air much like it took over a year for some of them to MSOs to even take the programming to begin with.

Having said that, there are several things the Big Ten has going for it that no one else does.  

1)  Largest universities and alumni base in the country.  =  eyeballs and equals dollars

2)  Midwest college towns that are not heavily dialed into pro sports (for the most part).


The SEC looked long and hard about going with their own network and opted to stay with ESPN (who made it financially lucrative for them to do so).  The Big 12 did the same.  The Pac Ten is with Fox for the most part.

The MTN West has their own network and it's been a big struggle for them.

Everyone else is still going with ESPN or FOX at the moment.

The cost of launching a network is enormous.  Despite that fact that the Big East is in the top markets in the country, they are smaller schools with smaller alumni bases.  They also are mostly in markets where pro sports dominate (Philly, New York, D.C.).  

ESPN is dominated by Big East alumni at the network, so there is already a huge soft spot for the Big East.  We get a lot of play considering that the football product isn't that great.

It's a nice idea, but the reality of it happening anytime soon is just a pipe dream.  The contracts are locked in for several more years with ESPN.  2014 is when the new deal comes up.  Now, if all the conferences start tearing each other apart, there are out clauses for the networks that can be exercised.  Until then, we have what we have.

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

Duane...great idea.  Except that it won't happen.  Hopefully my "Television IQ" serves me well here.   

I was involved heavily in the Big Ten Network launch.  We owned 49% of the network (we being NewsCorp) before NewsCorp then spun us off.

It was a bold move on their part and will be interesting to see if it succeeds long term.  Some of the deals are coming up for renewal in the next year and a lot of the MSO's (the cable, satellite and Telcos) are bracing for what the new pricing will be.  You may see it come off the air much like it took over a year for some of them to MSOs to even take the programming to begin with.

Having said that, there are several things the Big Ten has going for it that no one else does.  

1)  Largest universities and alumni base in the country.  =  eyeballs and equals dollars

2)  Midwest college towns that are not heavily dialed into pro sports (for the most part).


The SEC looked long and hard about going with their own network and opted to stay with ESPN (who made it financially lucrative for them to do so).  The Big 12 did the same.  The Pac Ten is with Fox for the most part.

The MTN West has their own network and it's been a big struggle for them.

Everyone else is still going with ESPN or FOX at the moment.

The cost of launching a network is enormous.  Despite that fact that the Big East is in the top markets in the country, they are smaller schools with smaller alumni bases.  They also are mostly in markets where pro sports dominate (Philly, New York, D.C.).  

ESPN is dominated by Big East alumni at the network, so there is already a huge soft spot for the Big East.  We get a lot of play considering that the football product isn't that great.

It's a nice idea, but the reality of it happening anytime soon is just a pipe dream.  The contracts are locked in for several more years with ESPN.  2014 is when the new deal comes up.  Now, if all the conferences start tearing each other apart, there are out clauses for the networks that can be exercised.  Until then, we have what we have.

Chicos, stop making this into a Crean thread.    Thanks for the info.

[TallTitan34]

If the Big East were to have their own cable network, I'd prefer the booyahs at ESPN to be left out.   

[Jacks DC]

I know others have already pointed this out, but hasn't this already been done with the Big East Network?  How would another channel increase exposure?  I live on the East Coast and subscribe to the ESPN Full Court package.  One way or another I get every Big East basketball game and a lot of coaches shows, etc., very similar to the BTN shows.

[GOMU1104]

I know others have already pointed this out, but hasn't this already been done with the Big East Network?  How would another channel increase exposure?  I live on the East Coast and subscribe to the ESPN Full Court package.  One way or another I get every Big East basketball game and a lot of coaches shows, etc., very similar to the BTN shows.

It isnt the same as the Big Ten Network . It is just what ESPN calls the coverage of the Big East games. They do the same with the Big 12 and the SEC.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I know others have already pointed this out, but hasn't this already been done with the Big East Network?  How would another channel increase exposure?  I live on the East Coast and subscribe to the ESPN Full Court package.  One way or another I get every Big East basketball game and a lot of coaches shows, etc., very similar to the BTN shows.

The difference is that the BTN allows for a 24/7 propaganda show which is essentially what it is.  It is also designed to help them in their Olympic (non-revenue) sports because they need content so they'll throw some of those games up there as well.

[butchbadger]

I think that the Big 10 network is already beyond regional.  I am in Miami and it is on Comcast here.

The revenues are significant.  

Just on Hi-Def alone it is a great channel.   I go crazy at the horrible picture for most of Marquette's games.

The Big East  is going to have to become a bigger playerin football to ever get their own network.

[StillAWarrior]

The difference is that the BTN allows for a 24/7 propaganda show which is essentially what it is.  It is also designed to help them in their Olympic (non-revenue) sports because they need content so they'll throw some of those games up there as well.

Actually, if it wasn't for volleyball coverage and wrestling coverage, I don't think that BTN would ever get watched in our house.  My daughter plays volleyball and we have enjoyed the chance to watch the awesome Penn State VB team with some regularity.  Coming from a wrestling background, I will usually stop flipping channels for a few minutes when I see wrestling.  We never watch FB or BB on BTN.

[duanewade]

The cost of launching a network is enormous.  

OK I'll forego my $3MM market rate salary for my handsome sports show face and work for free as my philanthropy to MU and Big East.  Tell that to the ESPN Brass as another incentive to discuss this concept further .   

[MUsoxfan]

I hate the Big Televen with an intense fire of 1000 suns.   I've never seen the network and offered Dish Network extra money if they would simply remove that channel dedicated to glorified mid-major sports off my package and they couldn't do it without also removing several other channels.  

[duanewade]

I hate the Big Televen with an intense passion of 1000 suns.   I've never seen the network and offered Dish Network extra money if they would simply remove that channel dedicated to glorified mid-major sports off my package and they couldn't do it without also removing several other channels. 

I know the feeling....I have a lot of Wisconsin and Illinois alumni friends who are some of the most delusional people on the planet.  Of course living in Chicago, the heart of Big 10 country, I have to read the pro big ten Chicago Tribune that constantly pumps these teams up and then have to see people wearing Michigan, OSU, MSU, Wisconsin, NW & Illinois shirts every Saturday morning as they march to their team bars to watch football or basketball. 

I've secretly become a USC football fan due to the fact that they routinely destroy big ten teams and have won the last ten and mostly by a very large margin.  However with Lame Kitten taking over those days might be over too. 

[NavinRJohnson]

I think that the Big 10 network is already beyond regional.  I am in Miami and it is on Comcast here.

The revenues are significant.  

The Big East  is going to have to become a bigger playerin football to ever get their own network.

The football point is the big one, and the reason starting the Big East Network would be rather stupid. There just isn't enough marketability there. Without Big Ten football, there is no Big Ten network. Everyone oohs, and ahhs at the $250 million in TV revenues the Big Ten, but the SEC just signed a $3Billion TV contract (for several years obviously), which includes the new SEC network. The effort and expense required just wouldn't be worth it for the Big East.

As far as the best TV situation going...as far as basketball goes, I stand by the comment. Every Big East game can be seen by some means in every house in America. Of course the Big 10 and SEC have better deals overall, but that is because of football. The Big East will never approach what those conferences pull down, but that has little or nothing to do with the fact that they have (or will have) their own networks.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think that the Big 10 network is already beyond regional.  I am in Miami and it is on Comcast here.

The revenues are significant.  

Just on Hi-Def alone it is a great channel.   I go crazy at the horrible picture for most of Marquette's games.

The Big East  is going to have to become a bigger playerin football to ever get their own network.

It's availability is national, but it's tiered on many MSO's.  That's the one drawback.  On ESPN, it's part of just about every base package known to man on every cable, satellite and telco television service.  If you're on ESPN, you will be seen.  The one drawback with these conference affiliated networks (BTN, MTN) is that they are tiered and you must pay extra to see them in many cases (DIRECTV is an exception).  If you're a diehard Big Ten fan, that's great because you will pay.  If you're a casual sports fan, you may not which means you won't see them play but that casual sports fan will see other conference teams play on ESPN because everyone has it.

As the Big Ten Network contract comes up for renegotiation in the coming years, my feeling is that you will see it become more and more tiered into higher packages or sports only packages.  That's when it gets real fun.... i.e (see Versus dispute with DIRECTV or Time Warner dispute with...., etc, etc).

[Tugg Speedman]

ESPN "the ocho," The Big East Network