Chicago Sun Times: Big Ten's "next move will be adding the 15th & 16th schools"

[Wojo'sMojo]

Syracuse yes.  Not SMU or Rice.

SMU endowment $1.268 billion

[GGGG]

They aren't a BCS level program.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Nobody watches college basketball? Nobody watches college hockey?

You know who watches? Males under 50. You know who LOVES males under 50? Every advertiser ever. (hyperbole).

I mean, I get it, outside of football, college sports is niche programing. But, that doesn't mean there isn't money in that niche. Just ask N-N-N-NAPA know how.

In the grand scheme of ratings...nobody watches college hockey, not for the regular season games.  The Frozen Four, sure....that's worth something.  But a game with RPI vs Wisconsin, the numbers aren't there.  Niche is nice, but you ultimately have to be able to sell it.  Is it accretive enough to generate the dollars one is talking about?  Personally, I don't see it.  I'm in a position right now to argue the Los Angeles Dodgers aren't accretive for the money being asked or an entire Pac 12 Network, let alone a network that wants to add some college hockey, or even basketball. 

It's nice to have hours of content and new things to watch.  It isn't nice to spend millions if not billions for it and be left holding the bag because no one watches it, or too few to justify the cost.  That's the key.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

In the grand scheme of ratings...nobody watches college hockey, not for the regular season games.  The Frozen Four, sure....that's worth something.  But a game with RPI vs Wisconsin, the numbers aren't there.  Niche is nice, but you ultimately have to be able to sell it.  Is it accretive enough to generate the dollars one is talking about?  Personally, I don't see it.  I'm in a position right now to argue the Los Angeles Dodgers aren't accretive for the money being asked or an entire Pac 12 Network, let alone a network that wants to add some college hockey, or even basketball.  

It's nice to have hours of content and new things to watch.  It isn't nice to spend millions if not billions for it and be left holding the bag because no one watches it, or too few to justify the cost.  That's the key.

You're not wrong, but in the grand scheme of things, nobody watches anything but football anymore, and that includes all forms of television (scripted, reality, mini-series, etc.).

The entire marketplace is extremely segmented and niche... except for football.

It's all simple speculation on my part... but I seen more sports channels purchasing college athletics broadcast rights FS1). I've seen ESPN create an entire channel dedicated to college athletics.

A desirable niche is watching this stuff.

I don't think the B10 is going to run out and sign up North Dakota tomorrow... but at some point the football revenue is going to level off, and I don't think these guys are likely to just stand pat. They could have done that with 10 teams, or 11 teams, or 12 teams, etc. etc. They will add non-aau, and/or partial members in the next 15 years.

They will continue to look for more revenue everywhere they can. It won't stop. Get ready for more corp. sponsorships with the B10 too. We've only scratched the surface.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Big 12 not getting memo apparently.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11066269/big-12-ads-say-no-discussions-expansion

[GGGG]

Man did BYU make a mistake dropping out of the MWC.