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Message: [QUOTE="reedny, post: 1694506, member: 1423"] There are a couple different things going on here. I think the most recent ESPN-ACC deal (post-addition of SU/Pitt) was made around 2012 or so, and approved in 2013. It started out at $17M per school, then went to $20M with ND and that figure may be $23M or so with 3d tier rights figured in. [URL]http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9200081/acc-media-rights-deal-lock-schools-okd-presidents[/URL] The deal includes a clause requiring ESPN either: 1) to set up an ACC NW by July 1st (not sure how that's defined); or 2) pay league members $45m ($3M per team). I think that would be on top of the contract price. Since ESPN retains the 1st tier rights (all nationally televised games), it spreads out its coverage of "regional" games through Raycom (2d tier). Raycom then has the right to broadcast the games (with ESPN production assistance) or sell the rights to other carriers. For these games, I suspect that the revenue is shared with conference members according to a 2-T revenue-sharing formula. Unfortunately for SU fans, many games not broadcasted nationally by ESPN have been problematic. Sometimes, ESPN holds onto the rights and relegates the games to the internet (which not only limits exposure but also subjects viewers to all the usual internet-related issues). Remaining games are released to Raycom. This results in even more problems. First of all, RC's broadcasts are 1980 - Zenith TV quality. They're in SD, not HD, so you can't even discern the numbers on the player's uniforms. Second, Raycom is not an honest player in the process. When it peddles SU game rights to a 3d party carrier, it gets paid whether SU fans can actually WATCH the game or not. As a result, SU broadcasts can be pre-empted by blackouts, scheduling conflicts and other issues --- or just used as bait to leverage another cable channel like MSG3 does with TWC. Where I live, our local carrier (TWC) is a competitor of Raycoms. TWC is a 3d tier provider, but isn't always willing to pony up to buy the 2d tier game rights. Fans here can buy an ESPN "game pass" to see the games PPV, but even those games can be "blacked out" (e.g., SU v St. Bonnies). This is obviously fraudulent since viewers are paying for the games and can't see the broadcast. From my seat, the current system is a mess and any "solution" that involves Raycom, or the current system of shot-gunning SU to the "marketplace" without proper controls, is unacceptable. [/QUOTE]

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