Big 12 teaches us in BE on stay together methods, & on getting more $ lessons

[HouWarrior]

Big 12 teaches BE on stay together, more $ lessons

Having digested the stories of how the exposed, possible orphans of Big12 got together, and how Beebe secured promises of Bigger long term $ from Fox, and Espn, there seems to be some parallels for BE, and us to consider(and maybe act on now--not later.

1) exposed, possible loser schools have an incentive to be proactive—Big 12's five "out" teams promised a greater share of w/drawl $ to the UT group of teams, and tried to make it attractive (increased portion of tv revenues) to those not leaving for expansion offers:

In BE, the basketball only, and weaker schools should join in a common, proactive effort to max value to the Football schools—we want them to stay, remain BCS auto qualified, and that they get a new BIG tv deal, when it comes up. We want them less, not more interested in staying and not considering poaching/BE departure inquires. example: BE can waive league entry fees for good football programs joining, or agree that only the BE FB schools get such a pie. Conference licensing rights, media rights and possible cable network rights etc, as pooled can be re allocated to give more,  better $, % and incentives to the football schools.

2) Beebe ( encouraged by the B12 orphans)clearly got with Fox and ESPN, and gained hard assurances (but w/o actual contracts), of increased revenues and contracts on football play—thereby re-assuring the threatened departure group that both the gross$ and their shares would increase for the UT/OU /A&M group staying.

In BE, the football contract comes up soon, and its time for Taglibue and commissioner to get after the TV contract, try to elicit assurances of an ACC level FB deal, and even if not yet signed, convince those FB schools now here, and those we seek to entice, that BE will, in coming years kick out increased revenues—esp. to the FB schools.
UT is considering joint capital investment with Comcast, by example, to ramp up their "UT" brand cable "network". Clearly any BE network is a tough deal, but by at least lining up with Comcast, BE could promote access to cable, and better arrange regional advertising buys for any cable BE network. Increasing the BE programming $ w/fox/espn,and increasing other $ sources,( incl by Comcast style league network alliances/investment) is a Big12 proven way to keep BE FB schools, and likely, a good tool for BE FB expansion. Rather than wait for the risk of BE FB team poaching , lets put all the better "TV" deals together, and sell it CONCURRENT with adding TV markets of Memphis , UCF, etc---the bigger the FB league and bigger the market, the bigger the TV deal that can be crafted. Why not aspire to ACC level $. If FB can ramp up to 12 –there is better chance for champ game and for ACC size $.

3) Big 12 likes a ten team field, as it allows a full conf play through in FB, and a full home/away conf play through in Big 12 BB. Size matters-lol.

In BE ,target size is tougher, but  in both FB and also in BB it should account for good logical scheduling. In BE BB, an 18 game conf schedule, promotes ideally,a 19 team BB league, with 1 game complete play through in conf play, and a 16 team tourney,like now(or w/ play in games). 20 works too--increase conf schedule, by one game, and tourney is 16-like now(or with play ins )  
In FB either a 10 or 12 team league is best—although, an 8 game conf schedule cant (wont) ever assure any single season play through—12 is a really easy 2 division setup, with complete conf play through every 2 years (and, of course, a champ game).

The main lesson from BIG 12 is that MU and the basketball only schools are the ones who should unite now and push pro-activity on these points—Now, during the 1-2 year lull...and not at last minute...

OR ...the same group should go the other way now, and start planning a BB only world for themselves...I prefer the former, and if such fails...then we can work on option2.

Do you have more sweeteners/ improvements we can put together, or are you just so darn tired of this you'd prefer we live out 2 more years in BE and plan a BB only future?

I am not looking here to spur school expansion name discussions or size debates (as those points are already played out, and the math of 12 FBtakes us 20, not 19—lol), ....
rather I'm wondering whether the proactive success of Big 12 orphans/Beebe should spur our agreement/support for the PROCESS, ...now, toward a solution/solidification of the BE..

Enjoy.

[chapman]

A TV deal of any value is pretty much impossible for football in its current state or by adding mid-majors.  The 10-team Big 12 can offer 45 games a year.  The 8-team Big East offers 28 games to bidders on its television rights, with matchups that pale in comparison to those on the Big 12 slate.  Adding teams can add games to the schedule, but adding mid-majors will not add any appealing matchups.

A 19 team Big East with 18 game schedule also reduces its basketball television appeal and hurts revenue potential.  It's cute, but it's not good or logical or any more "fair" than an uneven schedule.  There isn't a better way to entice ESPN to pay more for television than to tell them they can air UConn/Syracuse, Georgetown/Syracuse, and Pitt/WVU twice a year.  Gives them plenty of enticing options for College Gameday and Big Monday.  People watch those games more locally and the games draw regional and national interest as well.  For the teams themselves, more butts will be in the seats.  Can't say the same if UConn has to give up its home game with Syracuse to add Central Florida or Eastern Carolina to its basketball schedule – that's not a Big Monday matchup, it's a Sunday afternoon afterthought.

The true way to learn from the Big 12 and the only way the conference has a chance to stay intact is to negotiate the television deal in a pipe dream scenario.  Negotiate and get the value of the television contract with BC and Maryland included – the ten team, 45 game slate with some matchups of interest on the schedule.  Find the highest bidder on that – just know it has to be a guarantee to beat the ACC without even having a championship game, enough to convince the schools who are being proposed in a conference television deal that aren't even in the conference to slide into place to make it happen.  The ammo to use in the negotiation is the threat of breaking up the conference, causing ESPN to figure out if it wants to televise the 8 team Big East, bid for continued television rights for superconferences and/or the leftover mid-majors, as well as lose its opportunity to televise the most lucrative basketball conference because it won't exist.  Does ESPN want to be strong-armed by the Big Ten for as much money as possible and have to outbid anyone and everyone for BOTH the SEC and ACC, else be stuck airing leftovers and mid-majors?  It's desperate, it's likely to fail, but it's a better pitch than the status quo or by adding mid-majors to the slate and expecting a premium for it. 

As with all the survival scenarios, that's all assuming the Big Ten hasn't made that negotiation impossible before it can even take place, that it stays as is or that some of the more farfetched Big Ten targets outside of the Big East become reality instead.  For basketball scheduling, the cute round robin works-it makes it easier for teams like Uconn, Cuse, Georgetown, Pitt, and WVU not to have to play their rivals twice when they're replacing with BC or Maryland instead of UCF – and keeps the proposed television slate healthy.

[HouWarrior]

There is another leverage issue with next BE football contract. Fox is already a part investor in B10 network(ESPN is not in that business--to my knowledge). BE can play ESPN off Fox with a competition wherein all of BE leaves espn at end of contract (or threatens to--((Big 12 played threat well with ESPN))) goes to Fox for 1)programming, and 2)with fox invested in/sharing rights on league cable channel (or same, no2 to Comcast)....This leverages, as you note loss of BB to ESPN to up ante for both fb and BB . This sounds like Chicos input is needed--here--lol

[bilsu]

The reality is that Big East football is not a big deal, so I do not see them getting a big TV contract for football. The Big East is a basketball conference that will be eventually ruined by medicore football schools.

[GGGG]

The true way to learn from the Big 12 and the only way the conference has a chance to stay intact is to negotiate the television deal in a pipe dream scenario.  Negotiate and get the value of the television contract with BC and Maryland included – the ten team, 45 game slate with some matchups of interest on the schedule.  Find the highest bidder on that – just know it has to be a guarantee to beat the ACC without even having a championship game, enough to convince the schools who are being proposed in a conference television deal that aren't even in the conference to slide into place to make it happen. 

You aren't saying that a BE with Maryland and BC would be a better TV draw than the ACC are you?  Because I don't think that's the case.

[goodgreatgrand]

If the B12 told us anything, its that downsizing can be attractive. It's a win-win for the schools and the fans because a round-robin in basketball is the most ideal schedule possible.

In the BE, the biggest basketball draws are the football schools. I dont know about you, but I would rather watch UConn vs. Syracuse than UConn vs. Providence....or WVU vs. Pitt than WVU vs. DePaul.

If the football schools broke away, they would definitely get more money from a tv contract than if they dont (and Im talking strictly from a basketball perspective). The rivalries will heat up with a round-robin and a network will get to air more games with national interest (UConn vs Cuse twice instead of once). I think it sucks that rivalries cant be protected in the current BE format (the schedule wouldnt be close to fair for each school).

[GGGG]

The B12 didn't intentionally downsize you know.  And there are no guaranties of what the new television contracts will bring.  Furthermore, the reasons that the B12 survived are as much political as they are economic.

The B12 is putting a good spin on everything though.

[tower912]

If the B12 told us anything, its that downsizing can be attractive. It's a win-win for the schools and the fans because a round-robin in basketball is the most ideal schedule possible.

In the BE, the biggest basketball draws are the football schools. I dont know about you, but I would rather watch UConn vs. Syracuse than UConn vs. Providence....or WVU vs. Pitt than WVU vs. DePaul.

If the football schools broke away, they would definitely get more money from a tv contract than if they dont (and Im talking strictly from a basketball perspective). The rivalries will heat up with a round-robin and a network will get to air more games with national interest (UConn vs Cuse twice instead of once). I think it sucks that rivalries cant be protected in the current BE format (the schedule wouldnt be close to fair for each school).

Yeah, those Georgetown/Villanova, Villanova/MU, MU/G-town games are real snoozers.     Moronic troll.