More than anything else, the new, out-of-this-world, uber-lucrative
$2.7 billion deal the Pac-10 has negotiated with
ESPN and
Fox Sports establishes, financially, the Bay Area and LA markets.
It's about time.
Sure, it helps to have the aura and cachet of USC and the Oregon schools, but ultimately, (duh) it all comes down to money and markets.
I've always been surprised in this era of big collegiant conferences with super-sized budgets and independent TV contracts, (read: Notre Dame and
NBC) that the Pac-10 was left out of the $weepstakes.
Until now.
Give new conference head, Larry Scott, credit for securing the deal.
“We didn’t feel we had to give equity to get the broadcast and cable packages we got,” Scott told the
NY Times, via the SF Business Times.
While the Oregon schools have monied interests, (particularly, the Phil Knight/Nike Oregon connection) the deal is a reflection of the Bay Area, (market#4 and Stanford/Cal territory) and LA's storied USC and UCLA programs, not to mention an area with over 12 million people and growing.
The Michigans, Floridas, and LSU's of the college world can brag about their various BCS and NCAA championships, but when all is said and done, its still all about the money. And now, the Pac-10 has entered the building with a huge Brinks truck. Welcome the world of college sports.
Now, one more thing? When are so-called "student-athletes" going to get a piece of the pie? Shouldn't they get paid?
NOTE: I'll be a guest today, at 2: 45 PM, on the Chris Townsend Show on 95.7 FM All-Sports radio.
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"Student Athletes" are given full-ride scholarships valued, depending upon the school, between $14K and $60K per year.
ReplyDeletewow. yet another reason to avoid the Chris Townsend show.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence,Radnich topic is his supporting paid athletes. Why not? it wouldnt change who goes where by much..and athletes who value sports over education-and why not? not everybody is college degree material-but are athletes,get something besides 4 years of college and no degree.
ReplyDeleteRight now even HS is a joke,with rich parents moving into districts for their sons to play at name schools..like Joe Montana did for all his sons. America=$$$. Why be phony?
This was one of the big reason Larry Scott had targeted both Colorado and Utah. Both are in large media markets and growing. The Pac 1(2) has 5 of the largest markets (LA, SF, Seattle, PHX, Denver, SLC) in the country with teams plus Sacramento that is in the top 30. That's a lot of eyeballs!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, Rich you've missed on the launch of NBC California news on 11.2. NBC Bay Area, LA, and SD combined some of their newscasts and also will now have a 7pm newcast. It replaces the old weather plus. Brett Cannon is anchoring the 7pm newcast, which he opened up with last night by saying "Good Morning........I mean Good Evening"
Remember that the Pac-10 wanted to annex a big chunk of the Big 12, so a big TV contract was coming anyway. Besides, ESPN always wanted a piece of the Pac*10/12.
ReplyDeleteAs for paying student-athletes, does a first stringer get paid more than a second-stringer? What happens to the athlete that does like school and is doing well, but is in possible conflict because he's getting paid. W2's to fill out? Extra incentives? The NCAA may not be the organization to handle this properly.
Lets hope Comcast does not put this on one of the "Premium" channels meaning you have to pay extra to get it. like nfl nba networks etc.
ReplyDeleteOregon schools have aura and cachet?
ReplyDelete