So, something that I wasn't aware of regarding Notre Dame, NBC, the Big East, ESPN, etc.
I knew that NBC was wanting to get into the college football game (outside of Notre Dame) pretty badly, but I wasn't aware how badly NBC wants to compete with ESPN overall. I guess Comcast wanted to buy Disney (and ESPN) back in 2004, but they failed. So, now, they are getting pretty aggressive.
There were rumblings out there that NBC was wanting to use the Big East's gigantic geographical footprint to help create content that would help keep games on TV wall-to-wall every week, effectively sandwiching Notre Dame games with Big East football.
So, there is a possibility that the rumored numbers of NBC overpaying ND for their exclusive contract to be pretty legitimate.
One of the things that I find fascinating is how the Big East could evolve with an NBC partnership. They could, potentially, be a viable 16 team conference because they'd be the only game on NBC and NBC Sports Network. Because of time zones and how all of that shakes out, they could actually fill programming on NBC, NBC Sports Network, and if they wanted to do so, a conference specific network. They would essentially be an NBC content farm, and it would most likely pay them more than a tighter conference membership.
I think there is a possibility for the Big East to consist of 24 schools between football and men's basketball. I think you'll have 10 core members, six football only members, and the 8 Catholic schools (including ND).
There would be so much content there that you could fill three cable channels.
Anyway, it's something to think about.
