quote:

The SEC's plan is based on giving people something they want to see. The B1G's plan is based on getting cable providers to sneak charges into cable packages for something most of the viewers aren't going to care to watch. I like our model better.

I too think that the SEC will get the most TV money in ten years but not because of ratings, or footprint or any of that. I think ESPN- who is battling Fox for control of college football- will be willing to pay the SEC (via the SEC Network or whatever) whatever it takes to keep the SEC happy.

The best leverage the SEC has is to tell ESPN "Either make us the highest paid league, or when our contract is up we are going to Fox like the B1G." ESPN can't afford to let its biggest competitor get the best college football property out there. I don't care how much smarter the B1G was in all of this, ESPN is going to subsidize our stupidity to keep us happy.

So despite our crappy TV deal (and it was crappy and short sighted), and whatever scheme the B1G has, we will make the most because the most expensive thing for ESPN would be to lose control of college ball. Then all their bowl games, and channels like ESPN U, are worth a fraction of what they are worth today. Rights for the Big 12 and ACC aren't enough to float the whole boat.