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Newest Realignment "Rumor"
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:06 pm
Found this "insider" post Orangebloods by way of the Scout WVU board:
Now, I'm dubious about quite a bit of this, but I'm not such a homer as to think the SEC would have NO interest in UTx.
But to think that the SEC/ESPN/CBS estimates adding UTx would "probably at least triple the revenue [from Texas]" just sounds insane. No doubt adding UTx would increase the price we could charge in Texas, but by a factor of three? Given the epic failure of the LHN, and the fact the the ratings for UTx have been very mediocre, this supposed windfall from adding UTx sounds like more horn arrogance.
Nevertheless, it's the off-season, so I thought I'd throw this out there for comment, or if anyone has any rumors of their own.
quote:
Been sitting on this information for a few months but finally have the balls to post it. I have someone who I will just call a "business associate". He is very prominent and well known in the Southeast. He is actually based in Atlanta but does a ton of business in Nashville, Miami, Orlando, New Orleans, and Birmingham. One of "those guys" who knows everyone. A Good ole boy so to speak. He has a ton of relationships and has been doing business with the SEC office, their vendors, sponsors, everyone you can think of for over 20 years.
I've been able to forge a working relationship with him over the past two years and for some reason, he has taken to me. He knows I'm a die hard longhorn fan and we banter back and forth. He went to a big time basketball school in another conference and gives me **** all the time about Barnes. Real cool guy once you get to know him.
He's heard that some of the items sitting on the new SEC commissioners desk once Slive officially retires will be the continued investment in the SEC network as well as working with CBS. They are also looking to enhance their basketball profile. Apparently, to accomplish these goals the SEC is going to pursue Texas and Kansas.
The SEC network is doing well but they feel they can do a lot better. The Texas market is already one of the most profitable for ESPN for the SEC but if Texas was added, that could probably at least triple the revenue. There is a feeling Charlie Strong is going get Texas back to a powerhouse in the next three or so years. There is a feeling Texas basketball will also be on an uptick. So the thought is to strike while the iron is hot and both CBS and ESPN can cash in on this new upswing from Texas.
CBS: Wants more Tier 1 inventory. If the divisions were structured in a certain way, CBS could add a nationally televised game involving Texas in September (Arky/LSU?), October (OU), and November (Aggy) to their portfolio. The SEC could restructure the divisions and put both Texas and Kansas with aggy, lsu, arky, lsu, ole miss, miss state. This will move Bama and Auburn to the East.
ESPN: They will get more Texas games on their family of networks, including the SEC network and LHN. LHN might absorb into the SEC network one day if this should happen.
KU: Adds an elite basketball reputation to go with UK and Florida. I was told Kansas has a "LHN Light" arrangement with ESPN 3 that is very profitable. The Kansas profile for basketball would be felt from the Texas markets, the Kansas City/St. Louis/Chicago markets, all the way up the Eastern Seaboard.
KU/TExas: Very tight relationship from an AD standpoint. At least they did when Dodds was AD.
So apparently the SEC, ESPN, CBS are going to put their heads together and try to convince both schools to make a jump via back channels. it won't play out publicly. They know this will be a longshot because we are very happy in the Big 12, there is some anti-SEC sentiment among both UT and Kansas, and there are some huge political and legal hurdles that include the eventual dismantling of the big 12 as it stands today and the collateral damage that could be done to other state schools for both parties as well as the shakeup of college football. But, they feel the economics would back up such a move.
Was told that Jeremy Foley was among at least a half dozen candidates as next SEC commissioner.
The overall sentiment is this: The SEC feels they can leverage a the resurgence of the UT brand into heights never before seen with a new leadership structure who might be open to new ideas to set up a power conference for the ages that will make it possible to change up the college football landscape.
The window of time is in the next three to five years.
I'm sure I will get tomoatoes thrown at me but I have thick skin.
Now, I'm dubious about quite a bit of this, but I'm not such a homer as to think the SEC would have NO interest in UTx.
But to think that the SEC/ESPN/CBS estimates adding UTx would "probably at least triple the revenue [from Texas]" just sounds insane. No doubt adding UTx would increase the price we could charge in Texas, but by a factor of three? Given the epic failure of the LHN, and the fact the the ratings for UTx have been very mediocre, this supposed windfall from adding UTx sounds like more horn arrogance.
Nevertheless, it's the off-season, so I thought I'd throw this out there for comment, or if anyone has any rumors of their own.
13
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:11 pm to Mirthomatic
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NO
Not on tArk. I will start posting longcat if a realignment thread takes off.
NO
Not on tArk. I will start posting longcat if a realignment thread takes off.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:16 pm to WhiskerBiscuitSlayer
Sorry amigo, but this is the only place there might be serious discussion of the issue. Posting this on tRant would be worse than pointless.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:35 pm to Mirthomatic
When does their GOR end?
If they're going after basketball profile they aren't going after Texas. Also his source sounds made up.
ETA after going back and reading it instead of skimming there's a lot of tard in that post. Moving both Bama and Auburn to the East? Kill this with fire
If they're going after basketball profile they aren't going after Texas. Also his source sounds made up.
ETA after going back and reading it instead of skimming there's a lot of tard in that post. Moving both Bama and Auburn to the East? Kill this with fire
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 12:41 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:36 pm to Mirthomatic
You want to have a "serious" discussion about adding texas to the SEC on an Aggie forum, is that what you're saying?
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:45 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler
Their GOR ends in 2025.
Bama and Auburn in the East would definitely suck for us, though I can see at least some appeal for them. Being in the East would mean Bama/UT and Auburn/UGA are safe.
Bama and Auburn in the East would definitely suck for us, though I can see at least some appeal for them. Being in the East would mean Bama/UT and Auburn/UGA are safe.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:48 pm to Mirthomatic
Mizzou is going to fight Kansas tooth and nail like we would Texas. I just don't think something like that would ever go through.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:50 pm to WhiskerBiscuitSlayer
I'm saying that we have a couple of insiders, or at least guys w/ some connections, who might have heard something that would tend to support/disprove this rumor, and I was curious about what they have to say.
Also thought others might have some interesting thoughts from a non-insider perspective.
I fully realize that UTx being allowed into the SEC is just about the LAST thing any of us want, but I think we can still have a rational discussion about that possibility, or any other realignment scenarios.
...at least rational compared to tRant.
Also thought others might have some interesting thoughts from a non-insider perspective.
I fully realize that UTx being allowed into the SEC is just about the LAST thing any of us want, but I think we can still have a rational discussion about that possibility, or any other realignment scenarios.
...at least rational compared to tRant.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 12:52 pm to Mirthomatic
quote:it's like they don't understand this real basic concept. If this is somehow true, someone please explain it to me
The Texas market is already one of the most profitable for ESPN for the SEC but if Texas was added, that could probably at least triple the revenue.
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:00 pm to Mirthomatic
The LHN issue is kind of glossed over in there as well. I don't see any of the SEC schools being cool with Texas having their own network. And if it is "absorbed" aka the LHN just goes away, I don't see ESPN being okay with eating their investment in it while also dishing out more money to the SEC via renegotiations. All in the name of "putting their heads together" with CBS. CBS would stand to gain a whole lot more in this fictional scenario it seems like
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 1:01 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:06 pm to Mirthomatic
Any basketball schools would come from the ACC. Texas Tech, Baylor, and TCU now have Texas by its balls politically speaking. Also, Texas isn't a big basketball name.
Besides, the SEC wouldn't get any more money from from adding Texas or Kansas from its network (Every Texas cable provider already pays and Kansas doesn't have any appealing markets to add). As far as CBS, they could see a bump, but if the current trend continues, major networks' "Game of the week" will go by the wayside as networks start expanding their own networks. As soon as commissioners realize that taking money from both subscribers and advertising could become very profitable with nationally appealing games, all bets are off.
Besides, the SEC wouldn't get any more money from from adding Texas or Kansas from its network (Every Texas cable provider already pays and Kansas doesn't have any appealing markets to add). As far as CBS, they could see a bump, but if the current trend continues, major networks' "Game of the week" will go by the wayside as networks start expanding their own networks. As soon as commissioners realize that taking money from both subscribers and advertising could become very profitable with nationally appealing games, all bets are off.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:10 pm to Mirthomatic
No football conference is realigning "for basketball." End of story.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:23 pm to Mirthomatic
They would go for UNC before anyone else in that scenario. None of that sounds plausible.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:31 pm to greenbastard
quote:
(Every Texas cable provider already pays and Kansas doesn't have any appealing markets to add).
Kansas would add about the same amount of subscribers to the SECN as Arkansas or Mississippi.
It wouldn't be a huge increase in money but there are still nearly 3 million people in that state.
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 1:37 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:36 pm to Projectpat
ESPN already gets the In State pricing for SECn in Texas, so there's no change really. Kansas adds nothing. Any one of Duke, UNC, Virginia, VT would add more value.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:38 pm to Nguyening
Again, Kansas doesn't have a huge population but it still is very close to other SEC states.
To say it adds nothing is simply false.
Of course those schools in NC or VA would be larger populated areas to add but I highly doubt that ESPN is going to cannibalize the only other P5 conference they essentially own lock stock and barrel in the ACC.
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 1:40 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:45 pm to Dr RC
North Carolina is 9th (10 mill) most populated state, Virginia is 12th (8 mill). Kansas is 34th with 2.9 mill.
All with no connection, culturally dissimilar, and no fans in the SEC footprint.
Virginia and NC are historically southern states, with 3x the population. Better recruiting, better academics, better football.
Kansas literally adds nothing.
Both of the Oklahoma schools would be better fits as well.
All with no connection, culturally dissimilar, and no fans in the SEC footprint.
Virginia and NC are historically southern states, with 3x the population. Better recruiting, better academics, better football.
Kansas literally adds nothing.
Both of the Oklahoma schools would be better fits as well.
This post was edited on 3/4/15 at 1:46 pm
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:50 pm to Dr RC
quote:
It wouldn't be a huge increase in money but there are still nearly 3 million people in that state.
Which is why adding a North Carolina school makes better sense. North Carolina has a total population of almost 10 Million. The next logical state is Virginia with over 8 million people. There's more potential for subscriber fees in both of those states than there is in adding Kansas or Texas.
Even Oklahoma would make a better case over Kansas with almost 4 million people.
I'm not denying that Texas would add to the image of SEC football, but for basketball? No way. Football is the money maker and I highly doubt the SEC is actively seeking to fix its basketball image via expansion. Maybe this "insider" is mistaking one of the many contingency plans the SEC has for an actual goal. I'm sure the SEC even has contingency plans to add Big East schools in case it implodes.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:53 pm to Nguyening
Damn you! I didn't see your post. Took my info and made it into a TL:DR version.
Posted on 3/4/15 at 1:54 pm to Mirthomatic
They love their fan-fiction. There are so many fundamental misunderstandings of the issues that it isn't even slightly credible.
This is my favorite part though, the all-encompassing butt-covering at the end
Translation: "I just wrote a complete fairytale but when it doesn't happen it's because WE didn't want it to happen."
Let's be clear on some things. The SEC likely has a docket on every single expansion candidate. Despite how Ags feel or what they say, Texas is certainly among those. Kansas may well be. There may even be a doomsday scenario on the breakup of the Big 12 where this has been discussed. But this is fan fiction and it shouldn't be taken seriously - at all
This is my favorite part though, the all-encompassing butt-covering at the end
quote:
They know this will be a longshot because we are very happy in the Big 12,
Translation: "I just wrote a complete fairytale but when it doesn't happen it's because WE didn't want it to happen." Let's be clear on some things. The SEC likely has a docket on every single expansion candidate. Despite how Ags feel or what they say, Texas is certainly among those. Kansas may well be. There may even be a doomsday scenario on the breakup of the Big 12 where this has been discussed. But this is fan fiction and it shouldn't be taken seriously - at all
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