CuseLegacy
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Interesting Conversation on ACC Network (Audio)
- Thread starter CuseLegacy
- Start date
Lou_C
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Can't listen at work...can anyone note any highlights or new information?
Todd Gack
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Listened to it earlier -- basic thrust: won't materialize for 3-5 years and that's okay. You can't ask subscribers to pay $1.25 for the SEC Network and then shortly thereafter say, "Now we need you to pay for the ACC Network." Also said it'd help to have the SEC grease the skids, so that when/if (there might be a better way to go in a few years) it launches it's done right: talked about how in the 2nd year of the Big 10 Network you were still watching softball games with cameras aimed through chained-linked fences, and how the SEC needs to answer the "What do you show between May and July?" question. He also talked about the strength of the ACC's syndication deals (better than the SEC's), but also it's trickier 3rd tier issues. In short he stated that Swofford/ACC know what they're doing.Lou_C said:
SUFan44
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- Noting Big Ten & SEC Networks are rolling in cash now. SEC Network will launch Aug. 14 in 90 million + homes.
- Mentions BTN was not a profitable venture in the beginning.
- SEC Network is setting the course for the ACC. ACC has the best commercial broadcast syndication deal (Raycom) in all of college sports. Which is why they have been wait and see.
- When SEC had Raycom deal, wasn't distributed nearly as well as ACC was/is.
- ACC fans are asking why not now, why not us? Reality is ACC is in same line as SEC. SEC is going to launch to 90 million subscribers. It's not good business for ESPN to turn right around after SEC Network is launched and say "Oh, wait, ACC Network is coming in 6 months, need more money." ACC has more connected deals (Fox Sports, Raycom, ESPN) - they need to be ironed out. May turn out that it's better to use something different than what they're using for the SEC Network launch that they haven't thought of in 3-5 years.
- By launching SEC Network, what changes will be made to current relationships with media outlets?
- Mentions BTN was not a profitable venture in the beginning.
- SEC Network is setting the course for the ACC. ACC has the best commercial broadcast syndication deal (Raycom) in all of college sports. Which is why they have been wait and see.
- When SEC had Raycom deal, wasn't distributed nearly as well as ACC was/is.
- ACC fans are asking why not now, why not us? Reality is ACC is in same line as SEC. SEC is going to launch to 90 million subscribers. It's not good business for ESPN to turn right around after SEC Network is launched and say "Oh, wait, ACC Network is coming in 6 months, need more money." ACC has more connected deals (Fox Sports, Raycom, ESPN) - they need to be ironed out. May turn out that it's better to use something different than what they're using for the SEC Network launch that they haven't thought of in 3-5 years.
- By launching SEC Network, what changes will be made to current relationships with media outlets?
Lou_C
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Thanks.
Only thing I will say is that as far as the syndicated distribution, there's no question it is now better than any syndicated distribution anyone has had before, in terms of homes.
But unless there is some unrevealed profit sharing coming back, that ONLY helps in eyeballs, not cash. Those rights were sold to ESPN along with everything else, and ESPN was forced to sublease to Raycom.
Now, had the ACC subleased directly to Raycom as they had in the past, and were sharing in some of the spoils of the syndicated distribution, then great. But right now, as far as we know, it means nothing in terms of cold hard cash. I mean, whoopee that more people on the west coast can see NC State-BC at 12:30, but money is the key here.
That said, I have no problem with stalling it out for 3-5 years if not more. The closer it gets to the end of the contract, the longer the ACC has to improve football and get to where it's expected in basketball. And the closer the ACC is to having the option to forgo a network until the end of the contract, and go with a network they partially or wholly own.
In 5 years, we'll have a better idea of whether the PAC model (100% conference owned) is working. The SEC had to strike now, they were at an absolute peak, and no guarantee that they wouldn't fall back by the time their contract ended. The ACC is a couple years at the most removed from their lowest value, which would be reflected in any offer ESPN made now. The ACC's leverage to get a good deal on an ESPN-owned network should only increase with time and the closer they get to having other options.
Only thing I will say is that as far as the syndicated distribution, there's no question it is now better than any syndicated distribution anyone has had before, in terms of homes.
But unless there is some unrevealed profit sharing coming back, that ONLY helps in eyeballs, not cash. Those rights were sold to ESPN along with everything else, and ESPN was forced to sublease to Raycom.
Now, had the ACC subleased directly to Raycom as they had in the past, and were sharing in some of the spoils of the syndicated distribution, then great. But right now, as far as we know, it means nothing in terms of cold hard cash. I mean, whoopee that more people on the west coast can see NC State-BC at 12:30, but money is the key here.
That said, I have no problem with stalling it out for 3-5 years if not more. The closer it gets to the end of the contract, the longer the ACC has to improve football and get to where it's expected in basketball. And the closer the ACC is to having the option to forgo a network until the end of the contract, and go with a network they partially or wholly own.
In 5 years, we'll have a better idea of whether the PAC model (100% conference owned) is working. The SEC had to strike now, they were at an absolute peak, and no guarantee that they wouldn't fall back by the time their contract ended. The ACC is a couple years at the most removed from their lowest value, which would be reflected in any offer ESPN made now. The ACC's leverage to get a good deal on an ESPN-owned network should only increase with time and the closer they get to having other options.
