Smoke your cigars and enjoy the band while you can....

[chum1]

Bowlsby setting the stage for BYU.  What a rough ridin' loser.

"I wouldn't presume to know what they're thinking at BYU," Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. "But I think it is harder than ever to be an independent. I think it's very difficult, and the fact that even Notre Dame struggles with it is testimony to the difficulty of it."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaaf/independents/story/2012/09/13/byu-could-find-independence-comes-with-big-price/57772002/1

[steve dave]

Is it too early to fire this loser? 

[Rage Against the McKee]

Is it too early to fire this loser?

It's almost too late. We need to fire his ass right now.

[Panjandrum]

Even if BYU wanted to rethink its independent status, its path to a conference is unclear. The Big East might be an option â?? or at least, a scheduling alliance with the league similar to what Notre Dame had. The Big12's Bowlsby won't comment on prospective new member but said the league isn't actively considering expansion.

 

[Dugout DickStone]

Is it too early to fire this loser?

It's almost too late. We need to fire his ass right now.

You stole my post.

I think it is too late.  He got out schemed.

[WildcatNkilt]

Bowlsby is scheming the Big 12. 

[MakeItRain]

They're going to have to get the Big East because that's the only inventory available for them.  They invested a lot of Comcast money into NBC Sports Network and the Olympics being the exception they have the same inventory that Versus had when they bought the network.  Actually when they purchased Versus, that network still had some Big 12 inventory.  So they will have to overpay for the Big East because as you know all of the Big 5 conferences are locked up for a long time.  They also won't be getting anymore access to the NFL, NBA, or the MLB.  I think $20 million will be the absolute floor of the starting point of the ND negotiation when they start early next year.  If they lose ND they will be in play for everyone else and NBC cannot afford to lose them.  It's a tough position for NBC because viewership is declining and they are not sure where that is going to bottom out and how this will effect ad revenue.

And with that, Notre Dame won realignment.

Pete, can we get them a trophy?

I don't think so.  They've pretty much maintained the status quo, the biggest difference now is their non football sports are going south instead of north.  ND's hand might have been forced if NBC had attractive options, but I don't see them in a greater position of strength then they were on Monday.

[Panjandrum]

They're going to have to get the Big East because that's the only inventory available for them.  They invested a lot of Comcast money into NBC Sports Network and the Olympics being the exception they have the same inventory that Versus had when they bought the network.  Actually when they purchased Versus, that network still had some Big 12 inventory.  So they will have to overpay for the Big East because as you know all of the Big 5 conferences are locked up for a long time.  They also won't be getting anymore access to the NFL, NBA, or the MLB.  I think $20 million will be the absolute floor of the starting point of the ND negotiation when they start early next year.  If they lose ND they will be in play for everyone else and NBC cannot afford to lose them.  It's a tough position for NBC because viewership is declining and they are not sure where that is going to bottom out and how this will effect ad revenue.

And with that, Notre Dame won realignment.

Pete, can we get them a trophy?

I don't think so.  They've pretty much maintained the status quo, the biggest difference now is their non football sports are going south instead of north.  ND's hand might have been forced if NBC had attractive options, but I don't see them in a greater position of strength then they were on Monday.

Well, maintaining the status quo in this environment is pretty impressive, they upgraded their home for all non-football sports considerably, and they somehow wiggled their way into the playoff.   All while getting paid a lot more money and getting a sweeeeeet bowl tie-in deal.

Swarbick out AD'd everybody.

[wabash909]

Florida State seems pretty pissed about this.

[SkinnyBenny]

Florida State seems pretty pissed about this.

Post more stuff! 

 

[KITNfury]

 Just thought I would shed an outsider's opinion on 3rd tier rights to try to clear up any misconceptions.

First, I am a UNLV fan (sucks, I know...) but I live in the Orlando area and am in sports/media marketing and consulting. Being a sports fan and married to an FSU alum, I was curious how some of the local teams were feeling about the ND move. Personally, I think its a great move for ND and will leave it at that. My wife, less excited, but that is not why I decided to post (actually sign up).

Reading this forum perked my interest for reasons I hadn't intended. I was somewhat dismayed when I read claims that 3rd tier rights were somehow unimportant and some actually mocked their importance. Is that why all the networks are desperate for them? Those of you who say third tier rights are worthless are the exact same kind of people who told Henry Ford that he was wasting his money because there weren't enough roads and practically nobody sold gasoline. Not very forward thinking people, right? Technically they were right. If things never changed, Ford would have been an idiot. Fortunately for mankind, some, if not most (with the exceptions of a poster or two here), have been given the ability to forecast or at worst guess what the future will bring.

Let me ask you something really important. Has the internet changed the way news is distributed? Has the internet changed the way music is distributed? Has the internet changed the way movies are distributed? Has the internet changed the way books are distributed? Yet, now we have people who are claiming the future of sports distribution won't be changed? Maybe not in the next 3-5 years, but with fiber being rolled out the avenues to distribute your product is going to make your cable guide look like a pamphlet. This isn't just some crazy speculation. It is happening now. Just look around you and if you think the internet is done expanding, then you are in for some serious future shocks. Notre Dame knows that, Texas knows that, heck even Kansas BASKETBALL knows that. Trust me when I say that the networks are scared to death of the Big 12 and its model. People in my business always get a chuckle when we hear somebody ridicule ESPN for signing the Longhorn Network to such a large deal. I don't know anybody in my industry who isn't 100% certain that by the end of the 15 years, ESPN will be laughing its way to the bank.

At this present moment, we are limited by bandwith and technology in general, but all one needs to do is look at the trends. In 10 years from now, when every single major college has the ability to operate their own internet network that will play instantly, in hi-def (3d/digital sound, etc) on any device (tv, phone, tablet, etc), how much do you think owning your owns games will be worth THEN? Networks where the universities can sell the advertisements and display and control them however they like. $15 million a year for Texas is going to be a GOLDMINE for ESPN by the end of that contract. Seriously, those of you thinking that Raycom and ESPN are the end of the road when it comes to distribution truly aren't seeing the enormous, huge picture being painted around you. That being said, Notre Dame is never giving up those rights. You don't think they have consultants like me telling them the same thing? Or do you honestly think Texas and ND have consultants telling them that, hey this internet thing is a fad, give your rights to a communal pool because that way we can get our much needed exposure... Exposure was an issue before cable. Exposure was an issue 10 years ago before the explosion of the internet. Now, ownership rights are the next big thing in college sports and Texas (and because of that, the Big 12) and Notre Dame understand that. I would predict it will be before the end of this decade where schools like Ohio State, Florida, USC, etc try to regain some, if not all, of their third tier rights because that is where the money is going to be. Distribution has/will be solved.

All that said, I am for the ACC staying together, but I think the ND deal is a fatal blow. They are never joining and if anybody advised them too, when they are literally sitting in the prime seat for the next round of financial rewards while practically every other major school has hogtied themselves to smaller schools by inconceivably pooling their third tier rights, those advisers should be fired. Like I said, 10 years ago the third tier network conference channels made sense due to limited distribution options. Now??? I guess we will just have to wait and see, but I promise I am not giving away a big industry secret, this is pretty obvious if you are following technology over the last 20 years. Why do you think the networks tried to buy up or even "overpay" for all the 3rd tier rights this last decade? Either they saw the writing on the wall about the real possibility of losing control over the distribution, or it was charity. Must be charity, right?

 

[MadCat]

 

[SleepFighter]

I agree with that guy that distribution is going to change tremendously, but how exactly are schools/networks going to monetize all of those disparate feeds to various devices.  His "put it on the Internet = $$$" thesis hasn't exactly always played out exactly like that.

[MadCat]

I agree with that guy that distribution is going to change tremendously, but how exactly are schools/networks going to monetize all of those disparate feeds to various devices.  His "put it on the Internet = $$$" thesis hasn't exactly always played out exactly like that.

My guess is with ads...stop grilling; start traegering

[Pete]

The Dude of WV ?@theDudeofWV
I'll say this. #FSU was screwed by the ACC. If ND resigns with NBC #FSU is gone no matter the buyout.

I suppose this is what we have left to hang our hat on....that FSU just gets so rough ridin' pissed that the donors line up and force them out of the ACC...ala aTm kind of thing.

Dude is running around saying that Deloss overplayed his hand, and he mumped us.  I happen to believe this, but I also put this on Bowlsby as well.

[Pete]

Here's a thought...

....What if the ACC has completely re-vamped it's stance on third tier rights, convinced Notre Dame of this (hence them joining initially as partial members), and Notre Dame will soon join as a full member WITH.....TEXAS.  Deloss had it all worked out. 

I mean, who would the ACC pull if Notre Dame was ever to be a full member?  Texas, right?

[Skipper44]

Here's a thought...

....What if the ACC has completely re-vamped it's stance on third tier rights, convinced Notre Dame of this (hence them joining initially as partial members), and Notre Dame will soon join as a full member WITH.....TEXAS.  Deloss had it all worked out. 

I mean, who would the ACC pull if Notre Dame was ever to be a full member?  Texas, right?

Texas legislature wouldn't let UT leave TT, BU and TCU up the creek like that

Notre Dame will only become a full member if they get shut out of a playoff and as the playoffs grow (and they will grow) that becomes less and less likely.

[steve dave]

Deloss had it all worked out. 

If Texas has been negotiating to do this while, at the same time, being involved in Big 12 TV, contract, etc. stuff they are going to get the living eff sued out of them. Assuming there is a paper/digital trail to link them to it. Also it kind of sounds like crazy conspiracy stuff.

[Panjandrum]

I agree with that guy that distribution is going to change tremendously, but how exactly are schools/networks going to monetize all of those disparate feeds to various devices.  His "put it on the Internet = $$$" thesis hasn't exactly always played out exactly like that.

Saul probably knows this better than most of us, but I presume, eventually, most of us will be connecting through virtual desktop like portals via cloud based computing so that folks using smart phones, tablet devices, and PCs will be able to use the same stuff.

Also, it appears that the line between phone/tablet OS and laptop/desktop OS is starting to blur, and eventually, most of those will most likely merge into pretty much the same thing for all intents and purposes.

[Panjandrum]

Here's a thought...

....What if the ACC has completely re-vamped it's stance on third tier rights, convinced Notre Dame of this (hence them joining initially as partial members), and Notre Dame will soon join as a full member WITH.....TEXAS.  Deloss had it all worked out. 

I mean, who would the ACC pull if Notre Dame was ever to be a full member?  Texas, right?

Texas legislature wouldn't let UT leave TT, BU and TCU up the creek like that

Notre Dame will only become a full member if they get shut out of a playoff and as the playoffs grow (and they will grow) that becomes less and less likely.

As long as the SEC has 14 members and muscle to flex, they're going to push for at-large selections, and as long as there are at-large selections, Notre Dame will remain independent.

Further expansion of the playoff almost assures more at-large bids.

[mocat]

Notre Dame is like a hot girl who somehow became a paraplegic. Still has a great rack, but she's in a goddamn wheelchair.

Curious as to whether Belvis thinks the girl and wheelchair should be crowd surfed.

 

[MadCat]

I agree with that guy that distribution is going to change tremendously, but how exactly are schools/networks going to monetize all of those disparate feeds to various devices.  His "put it on the Internet = $$$" thesis hasn't exactly always played out exactly like that.

Saul probably knows this better than most of us, but I presume, eventually, most of us will be connecting through virtual desktop like portals via cloud based computing so that folks using smart phones, tablet devices, and PCs will be able to use the same stuff.

Also, it appears that the line between phone/tablet OS and laptop/desktop OS is starting to blur, and eventually, most of those will most likely merge into pretty much the same thing for all intents and purposes.

  There are a whole slew of companies and freelancers who would "build an app for that" regardless of what device "that" is.  Just provide the data stream (or have a third party do it) in a standard format.  No need for remote anything.

[Panjandrum]

From the WVU site, but it's talking about another radio report.

Bill had Lou Somogyi with the Notre Dame 227 site and they were talking about future schedules.  Lou mentioned the 3 home 2 away scenerio for ND and suggested the "away games" for ND would be places like NYC for the Syracuse "home" game and Atlanta for the Clemson "home" game.  I bet you none of the ACC schools will ever see ND actually play a football game in their stadiums.  I for one am thrilled we didn't get the 'ol ND up the keester agreement that the ACC ended up with.

[SleepFighter]

I agree with that guy that distribution is going to change tremendously, but how exactly are schools/networks going to monetize all of those disparate feeds to various devices.  His "put it on the Internet = $$$" thesis hasn't exactly always played out exactly like that.

Saul probably knows this better than most of us, but I presume, eventually, most of us will be connecting through virtual desktop like portals via cloud based computing so that folks using smart phones, tablet devices, and PCs will be able to use the same stuff.

Also, it appears that the line between phone/tablet OS and laptop/desktop OS is starting to blur, and eventually, most of those will most likely merge into pretty much the same thing for all intents and purposes.

I watched the same KStateHD.tv feed on both a tablet and a PC two weeks ago.  The technical logistics already don't matter.  I don't need Saul to tell me that. 

The implication in the post I was responding to was that either because all of these devices exist or the pipes to consumers are getting bigger and more numerous that owning third tier content is going to become an important, perhaps even dominant, revenue stream. 

What I am saying is that in the case that every big boy school owns their own streaming service or cable channel, that doesn't mean that they are going to be able a earn significant revenue because of it.  Are you going to pay for an FSU subscription?  Do you think that some kind of embedded ads on a feed streamed to whatever screen you happen to watch a Longhorn vs Wyoming game are gong to make more money than the current television advertising model?  Because that's what UNLV guy seems to be saying.

Just because lots of people want to watch something stream over the Internet, does not mean that you are going to be able to get lots of money for it.

[MadCat]

From the WVU site, but it's talking about another radio report.

Bill had Lou Somogyi with the Notre Dame 227 site and they were talking about future schedules.  Lou mentioned the 3 home 2 away scenerio for ND and suggested the "away games" for ND would be places like NYC for the Syracuse "home" game and Atlanta for the Clemson "home" game.  I bet you none of the ACC schools will ever see ND actually play a football game in their stadiums.  I for one am thrilled we didn't get the 'ol ND up the keester agreement that the ACC ended up with.

I would make ND play the return game at Lucas Oil Field ( or whatever it is called ) or Soldier Field in that case.