New ACC TV Deal

[HartbeatHusky]

If the ACC went to 16 and invited UCONN, would you take the deal?

Of course I would. I never suggested I wouldn't. I just said that if you guys are still around next year when the Big East goes to bid and the numbers offered for the Big East are better than the renegotiated ACC contract it will be interesting to see what happens. We already know the deal that the Big East had on the table from ESPN was pretty much on par with the ACC's and one reason the ACC raided the Big East was to prevent it from getting a more lucrative deal and leaving them in last place.

We also know that NBC/Comcast is desperate for more college content so there is no telling what they would do to get it. They could tell the Big East next year that they'll give them Pac 12 money. I don't think it will happen but it could and if it did I think it would be hard for anyone to turn down. At this point as a UConn fan I wish we were in your shoes but also want the Big East to pull of a miracle if we are going to be stuck here. So with that said, Marrinatto better not let you guys go until 2013 at the earliest.

 

[omniorange]

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/09/26/Colleges/ACC.aspx

I'm just curious about your take on this article about the re-negotiated ACC TV deal. Not trying to flame or anything just wanted to get your honest thoughts about this. They are saying that it will possibly increase by as much as $2 M per school per year wich would be about $15 M. Not terrible but not great either considering that it's the same as the B12 and still behind the Big 10, SEC, and Pac 12. As a UConn fan I'd be thrilled for us to be in your position and looking at that type of money annually but I've got to ask you what do you think would happen if the BE holds you guys to the 27 months and next year when the contract goes onto the open market it becomes clear that you could make significantly more per year by staying in the Big East. Would you still think that the ACC is the best option for you? Do you even think such a scenario would be possible?

As others have stated, the stability of the ACC and knowing we have achieved "safe harbor" in a possible 4 super-conferences future is enough for us.

But, I would like to point out that these pundits are the same ones who thought the Pac would only get a modest doubling of TV rights as a result of their adding Colorado and Utah. And they basically tripled what they were getting before.

Granted, that contract went to open market, while the ACC can only negotiate with ESPN, but I think ESPN might reward the only potential super-conference that is likely to stay with them for the long haul. JMHO, nothing hard or fast to back that up.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[HartbeatHusky]

As others have stated, the stability of the ACC and knowing we have achieved "safe harbor" in a possible 4 super-conferences future is enough for us.

But, I would like to point out that these pundits are the same ones who thought the Pac would only get a modest doubling of TV rights as a result of their adding Colorado and Utah. And they basically tripled what they were getting before.

Granted, that contract went to open market, while the ACC can only negotiate with ESPN, but I think ESPN might reward the only potential super-conference that is likely to stay with them for the long haul. JMHO, nothing hard or fast to back that up.

Cheers,
Neil

ESPN will be tough negotiators. However based on today's article in the Boston Globe it would appear that none of the basketball schools want to add any new all sports members and the Big East is done. So, good luck to you guys. I just hope we get into one of the power conferences at some undetermined point in the future. They did say that nobody is going anywhere until 2014 though so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[SURules]

What if the ACC negotiated an ACC Network like the BigTen Network and put that in every household on the Atlantic coast. That would be worth something in terms of $$'s. I read somewhere that that was a possibility as part of the negotiations with ESPN.

 

[omniorange]

What if the ACC negotiated an ACC Network like the BigTen Network and put that in every household on the Atlantic coast. That would be worth something in terms of $$'s. I read somewhere that that was a possibility as part of the negotiations with ESPN.

Right now I believe ESPN owns all of the ACC TV rights and sublicenses some the Tier 3 and Tier 2 to Raycom and its those games that one sees branded as the ACC Network.

Cheers,
Neil