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Did Sankey and the SEC blow it?
Posted on 8/18/22 at 5:23 pm
Posted on 8/18/22 at 5:23 pm
The numbers from the Big 10 are shaking out....to the tune of about $62,500,000 per school.
This means Rutgers and company will be getting more TV and conference money than any of us in the SEC -- for now.
Right now, the SEC's locked in with Disney's $$$ for the foreseeable future unless Sankey decides to do something (or more accurately, is able to do something) about it.
While it initially appears the SEC dipped too early, it's interesting that the SEC let CBS go so easily (or was it CBS letting the SEC go so easily?), giving up one of the most recognizable sports productions in the business. Even the theme song of CBS is synonymous with the SEC, but is now bye-bye.
Was Sankey too impatient and should have waited on CBS? Or was it that CBS no longer wanted the partnership with the SEC? If they didn't, why did they turn to a lesser conference in terms of overall appeal, yet offer much more money to them to boot?
Interesting....something behind the scenes was going on that's not getting reported and I believe it had something to do with the promise of the Big 10 to CBS of getting USC & UCLA to leave the Pac-12 and bolt for the Big 10. USC & UCLA even caught each school's supporters and alumni by surprise. Already, the Big 10 Commissioner is accused of stabbing the Pac-12 and ACC conferences in the back with what he did. Did he also play the role of meddler with CBS to get them to dump the SEC and come to the Big 10 if they got USC & UCLA? Dunno. But, it's an interesting thought.
Sankey might pull a joker out of his hand, though, by insisting that Disney put the SEC Game of the Week on at 3:30pm eastern and if he does, that could effectively put a major dent into the value of what CBS is paying the Big 10.
Below are the 20 college football programs that drew the biggest average weekly viewership numbers during the 2021 season:
1. Ohio State - 5.22 million (BIG 10)
2. Michigan - 4.74M (BIG 10)
3. Alabama - 4.64M (SEC)
4. Penn State — 3.87M (BIG 10)
5. Georgia — 3.61M (SEC)
6. Oklahoma — 3.46M (SEC)
7. Auburn — 3.22M (SEC)
8. Michigan State — 2.89M (BIG 10)
9. Notre Dame — 2.84M
10. Oregon — 2.57M
11. Wisconsin — 2.41M (BIG 10)
12. Nebraska — 2.29M (BIG 10)
13. Texas — 2.26M (SEC)
14. Florida — 2.21M (SEC)
15. Arkansas — 2.03M (SEC)
16. LSU — 1.90M (SEC)
17. Texas A&M — 1.86M (SEC)
18. Mississippi — 1.81M (SEC)
19. Clemson — 1.74M
20. Iowa — 1.64M (BIG 10)
BIG 10 = 23.06 million among the top 20; average = 3.29 million
SEC = 27 million among the top 20; average = 2.7 million (included OU and Texas)
There were 41 games in 2021 that broke the 4-million viewership level:
1. Ohio State at Michigan — 15.89M
2. Alabama at Auburn — 10.37M
3. Michigan at Michigan State — 9.29M
4. Georgia at Clemson — 8.87M
5. Alabama at Texas A&M — 8.33M
6. Alabama at Florida — 7.86M
7. Notre Dame at Florida State — 7.75M
8. Oregon at Ohio State — 7.73M
9. Auburn at Penn State — 7.61M
10. Army vs. Navy — 7.57M
11. Penn State at Ohio State — 7.05M
12. Penn State at Iowa — 6.90M
13. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State — 6.49M
14. Kentucky at Georgia — 6.37M
15. Ohio State at Minnesota — 6.30M
16. Georgia at Florida — 6.12M
17. Michigan at Penn State — 5.942M
18. Oklahoma at Texas — 5.940M
19. Georgia at Tennessee — 5.78M
20. Alabama at Miami — 5.67M
21. Arkansas at Alabama — 5.46M
22. Penn State at Wisconsin — 5.41M
23. Notre Dame at Wisconsin — 5.37M
24. Ohio State at Nebraska — 5.33M
25. Michigan State at Ohio State — 5.29M
26. Wisconsin at Minnesota — 5.05M
27. LSU at Alabama — 5.00M
28. Oregon at Utah — 4.82M
29. Mississippi at Alabama — 4.79M
30. Washington at Michigan — 4.75M
31. Purdue at Ohio State — 4.74M
32. Tennessee at Alabama — 4.68M
33. Michigan at Nebraska — 4.63M
34. Georgia at Auburn — 4.58M
35. Texas A&M at Colorado — 4.50M
36. West Virginia at Oklahoma —4.50M
37. Michigan State at Purdue — 4.40M
38. Michigan at Wisconsin — 4.31M
39. Nebraska at Oklahoma — 4.21M
40. Texas A&M at Arkansas — 4.07M
41. Indiana at Penn State — 4.00M
BIG 10 = 124.2 million among top 41 (20 games involving at least 1 Big 10 team); average = 6.21 million/game
SEC = 121.20 million among top 41 (20 games involving at least 1 SEC team, including OU & Texas); average = 6.06 million/game
There were 34 teams that played in at least one game that cracked 4 million viewers:
8 — Alabama
7 — Ohio State
6 — Michigan, Penn State
5 — Georgia
4 — Oklahoma, Wisconsin
3 — Auburn, Michigan State, Nebraska, Texas A&M
2 — Arkansas, Florida, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Oregon, Purdue, Tennessee
1 — Army, Clemson, Colorado, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Mississippi, Navy, Oklahoma State, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia
BIG 10 - 10 teams
SEC - 12 teams (including OU & Texas)
BOTTOM LINE: The Big 10 is absolutely competitive with the SEC for overall viewership and market numbers. USC & UCLA being added to the Big 10 is a MAJOR COUP for the Big 10. We'll see down the road how this will be countered by Sankey & the SEC.
This means Rutgers and company will be getting more TV and conference money than any of us in the SEC -- for now.
Right now, the SEC's locked in with Disney's $$$ for the foreseeable future unless Sankey decides to do something (or more accurately, is able to do something) about it.
While it initially appears the SEC dipped too early, it's interesting that the SEC let CBS go so easily (or was it CBS letting the SEC go so easily?), giving up one of the most recognizable sports productions in the business. Even the theme song of CBS is synonymous with the SEC, but is now bye-bye.
Was Sankey too impatient and should have waited on CBS? Or was it that CBS no longer wanted the partnership with the SEC? If they didn't, why did they turn to a lesser conference in terms of overall appeal, yet offer much more money to them to boot?
Interesting....something behind the scenes was going on that's not getting reported and I believe it had something to do with the promise of the Big 10 to CBS of getting USC & UCLA to leave the Pac-12 and bolt for the Big 10. USC & UCLA even caught each school's supporters and alumni by surprise. Already, the Big 10 Commissioner is accused of stabbing the Pac-12 and ACC conferences in the back with what he did. Did he also play the role of meddler with CBS to get them to dump the SEC and come to the Big 10 if they got USC & UCLA? Dunno. But, it's an interesting thought.
Sankey might pull a joker out of his hand, though, by insisting that Disney put the SEC Game of the Week on at 3:30pm eastern and if he does, that could effectively put a major dent into the value of what CBS is paying the Big 10.
Below are the 20 college football programs that drew the biggest average weekly viewership numbers during the 2021 season:
1. Ohio State - 5.22 million (BIG 10)
2. Michigan - 4.74M (BIG 10)
3. Alabama - 4.64M (SEC)
4. Penn State — 3.87M (BIG 10)
5. Georgia — 3.61M (SEC)
6. Oklahoma — 3.46M (SEC)
7. Auburn — 3.22M (SEC)
8. Michigan State — 2.89M (BIG 10)
9. Notre Dame — 2.84M
10. Oregon — 2.57M
11. Wisconsin — 2.41M (BIG 10)
12. Nebraska — 2.29M (BIG 10)
13. Texas — 2.26M (SEC)
14. Florida — 2.21M (SEC)
15. Arkansas — 2.03M (SEC)
16. LSU — 1.90M (SEC)
17. Texas A&M — 1.86M (SEC)
18. Mississippi — 1.81M (SEC)
19. Clemson — 1.74M
20. Iowa — 1.64M (BIG 10)
BIG 10 = 23.06 million among the top 20; average = 3.29 million
SEC = 27 million among the top 20; average = 2.7 million (included OU and Texas)
There were 41 games in 2021 that broke the 4-million viewership level:
1. Ohio State at Michigan — 15.89M
2. Alabama at Auburn — 10.37M
3. Michigan at Michigan State — 9.29M
4. Georgia at Clemson — 8.87M
5. Alabama at Texas A&M — 8.33M
6. Alabama at Florida — 7.86M
7. Notre Dame at Florida State — 7.75M
8. Oregon at Ohio State — 7.73M
9. Auburn at Penn State — 7.61M
10. Army vs. Navy — 7.57M
11. Penn State at Ohio State — 7.05M
12. Penn State at Iowa — 6.90M
13. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State — 6.49M
14. Kentucky at Georgia — 6.37M
15. Ohio State at Minnesota — 6.30M
16. Georgia at Florida — 6.12M
17. Michigan at Penn State — 5.942M
18. Oklahoma at Texas — 5.940M
19. Georgia at Tennessee — 5.78M
20. Alabama at Miami — 5.67M
21. Arkansas at Alabama — 5.46M
22. Penn State at Wisconsin — 5.41M
23. Notre Dame at Wisconsin — 5.37M
24. Ohio State at Nebraska — 5.33M
25. Michigan State at Ohio State — 5.29M
26. Wisconsin at Minnesota — 5.05M
27. LSU at Alabama — 5.00M
28. Oregon at Utah — 4.82M
29. Mississippi at Alabama — 4.79M
30. Washington at Michigan — 4.75M
31. Purdue at Ohio State — 4.74M
32. Tennessee at Alabama — 4.68M
33. Michigan at Nebraska — 4.63M
34. Georgia at Auburn — 4.58M
35. Texas A&M at Colorado — 4.50M
36. West Virginia at Oklahoma —4.50M
37. Michigan State at Purdue — 4.40M
38. Michigan at Wisconsin — 4.31M
39. Nebraska at Oklahoma — 4.21M
40. Texas A&M at Arkansas — 4.07M
41. Indiana at Penn State — 4.00M
BIG 10 = 124.2 million among top 41 (20 games involving at least 1 Big 10 team); average = 6.21 million/game
SEC = 121.20 million among top 41 (20 games involving at least 1 SEC team, including OU & Texas); average = 6.06 million/game
There were 34 teams that played in at least one game that cracked 4 million viewers:
8 — Alabama
7 — Ohio State
6 — Michigan, Penn State
5 — Georgia
4 — Oklahoma, Wisconsin
3 — Auburn, Michigan State, Nebraska, Texas A&M
2 — Arkansas, Florida, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Oregon, Purdue, Tennessee
1 — Army, Clemson, Colorado, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Mississippi, Navy, Oklahoma State, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia
BIG 10 - 10 teams
SEC - 12 teams (including OU & Texas)
BOTTOM LINE: The Big 10 is absolutely competitive with the SEC for overall viewership and market numbers. USC & UCLA being added to the Big 10 is a MAJOR COUP for the Big 10. We'll see down the road how this will be countered by Sankey & the SEC.
14
Posted on 8/18/22 at 5:26 pm to JetDawg
This is before the SEC renegotiates the additions of OU & UT, a 9th conference game and streaming partnership.
This post was edited on 8/18/22 at 5:31 pm
Posted on 8/18/22 at 5:30 pm to JetDawg
He blew it when he added Oklahoma and Texas.
I don't really care how much money the schools get paid.
I don't really care how much money the schools get paid.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 5:30 pm to JetDawg
quote:
While it initially appears the SEC dipped too early, it's interesting that the SEC let CBS go so easily (or was it CBS letting the SEC go so easily?), giving up one of the most recognizable sports productions in the business. Even the theme song of CBS is synonymous with the SEC, but is now bye-bye.
Was Sankey too impatient and should have waited on CBS? Or was it that CBS no longer wanted the partnership with the SEC?
CBS underestimated the CFB market 2 years ago and waited too late to finally realize it. Now they're stuck paying more for the 2nd best conference.
Not exactly Einsteins those CBS executives.
Also, it was ESPN who didn't see the value in paying more for the B1G and stepped away from the table.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 5:43 pm to JetDawg
Nobody has the full story on the negotiation of the Tier 1 deal with ESPN that was announced in December 2020. Did ESPN actually outbid CBS? We don't know. Clay Travis was saying for a couple of years leading up to it that the SEC would not extend the deal with CBS under any scenario because CBS refused to increase the compensation at all when A&M and Missouri joined in 2012. Did they follow through on that threat and just give Tier 1 to ESPN without really giving CBS a shot? I think they may have, and if they did, then Sankey is largely to blame for that.
On the rest, the timing has just been bad for the SEC, and that largely can be traced back, one way or another, to the 15 year deal that the league signed with ESPN in 2008. Now, that was a stupid move, and the league has been paying for it ever since. The only way they are going to get out of this trap is to let the current deals expire in 2034 without another early extension so that they can go to the market as a free agent.
On the rest, the timing has just been bad for the SEC, and that largely can be traced back, one way or another, to the 15 year deal that the league signed with ESPN in 2008. Now, that was a stupid move, and the league has been paying for it ever since. The only way they are going to get out of this trap is to let the current deals expire in 2034 without another early extension so that they can go to the market as a free agent.
This post was edited on 8/18/22 at 5:47 pm
Posted on 8/18/22 at 7:11 pm to JetDawg
Basically Texas and OU bring nothing .
Posted on 8/18/22 at 7:36 pm to JetDawg
quote:
The numbers from the Big 10 are shaking out....to the tune of about $62,500,000 per school.
Plus $20,000,000 from the BTN per school per year. So, 82,500,000 per school and the deal could go up another $3,000,000,000 total.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 8:09 pm to JetDawg
I get ridiculed on here for praising Warren but he continues to live up to everything I have said.
Whoever is negotiating the SEC's deals is incompetent.
Whoever is negotiating the SEC's deals is incompetent.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 8:13 pm to twk
What concerns me is ESPN's long term viability. I foresee espn trying to get out or going bankrupt before any of these contracts expire, especially if something like LIV Golf comes along for college football.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 8:18 pm to BuckI
Has the SEC ESPN deal even been finalized?
Posted on 8/18/22 at 8:19 pm to deeprig9
quote:
What concerns me is ESPN's long term viability. I foresee espn trying to get out or going bankrupt before any of these contracts expire, especially if something like LIV Golf comes along for college football.
There are activist investors pushing for Disney to spin off ESPN. That would be the death knell of that network, and that status would be well earned.
Posted on 8/18/22 at 8:50 pm to JetDawg
CBS hates conservative America
it loves fricking 2 percenter rich tyrannical virtue signaling Nazis up north
it loves fricking 2 percenter rich tyrannical virtue signaling Nazis up north
This post was edited on 8/18/22 at 8:52 pm
Posted on 8/18/22 at 9:00 pm to deeprig9
quote:
What concerns me is ESPN's long term viability
That’s another benefit of the Big10’s deal. They split their deal between three major media companies. That gives them more power, control, independence, and security moving forward.
The SEC sold their soul to ESPN. If that relationship sours, then the SEC doesn’t have any alternatives or leverage.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 1:53 am to Ghost of Colby
SEC blew it by having such a long contract what dumbass agreed to that. Millions of dollars left on the table.
Big 10 certainly bringing home the bacon while SEC is trying to just hold off the ACC and Pac 12 this is some high level frick up.
Big 10 certainly bringing home the bacon while SEC is trying to just hold off the ACC and Pac 12 this is some high level frick up.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 5:46 am to JetDawg
The huge jump in price for CBS leads me to believe it was the SEC that walked away. CBS went from paying us $55M a year to paying the Big 10 $350M a year
The wildest part is they’re paying that for the 2nd or 3rd best Big 10 game, FOX is going to retain the rights to the top Big 10 game of the week.
The new streaming situation for Big 10 fans is going to be completely fricked, but as far as the revenue to the schools goes, this deal is monstrous and Sankey got outmaneuvered by Warren.
The wildest part is they’re paying that for the 2nd or 3rd best Big 10 game, FOX is going to retain the rights to the top Big 10 game of the week.
The new streaming situation for Big 10 fans is going to be completely fricked, but as far as the revenue to the schools goes, this deal is monstrous and Sankey got outmaneuvered by Warren.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 6:04 am to deeprig9
quote:
What concerns me is ESPN's long term viability.
CBS, FOX and NBC will be sucking wind re; their B1G contract. Three networks trying to split a 1 team league isn't going to do well. OSU is the only accomplished team in the league. Michigan draws viewers but is a mediocre product. Other than OSU vs Ped U or OSU vs Michigan, what other marquee games will there be in the B1G ? USC hasn't done squat and is located smack dab in the middle of "no one cares ville".
The SEC owns the first round in the NFL draft. More SEC teams finish top 10 in recruiting. Better players. Better product. Those are facts.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 6:36 am to BuckI
Like I have said, the Big Ten is the highest paid losers. Even with all that money they will not be able to win NCs in the big sports.
Recruits know that, and they know it is the SEC that gets them to the big leagues.
However I am sure the SEC will have a deal close to what the Big Ten is making. It might not be as much, but it really does not matter.
edit to add-
The numbers from the Big 10 are shaking out....to the tune of about $62,500,000 per school.
Plus $20,000,000 from the BTN per school per year. So, 82,500,000 per school and the deal could go up another $3,000,000,000
Recruits know that, and they know it is the SEC that gets them to the big leagues.
However I am sure the SEC will have a deal close to what the Big Ten is making. It might not be as much, but it really does not matter.
edit to add-
The numbers from the Big 10 are shaking out....to the tune of about $62,500,000 per school.
Plus $20,000,000 from the BTN per school per year. So, 82,500,000 per school and the deal could go up another $3,000,000,000
This post was edited on 8/19/22 at 6:59 am
Posted on 8/19/22 at 9:32 am to deeprig9
quote:As long as ESPN remains part of Disney (assuming wokeness doesn't kill the Mouse), I'm not worried about that. Now, there is an activist investor group (leaches that try to squeeze every nickel out of a stock's short term value with no regard to the bigger picture) that is arguing Disney needs to spin off ESPN, and that would be a problem, but from what I've read, it doesn't seem likely to happen in the near future.
What concerns me is ESPN's long term viability. I foresee espn trying to get out or going bankrupt before any of these contracts expire, especially if something like LIV Golf comes along for college football.
Posted on 8/19/22 at 10:10 am to JetDawg
The one thing I heard yesterday that I thought was interesting is the new B10 deal will expire before the new SEC deal that got extended. If so the B10 would be able to redo another large media deal before the SEC can.
In the end though no matter the deal the B10 has, it will not improve their product. Outside of OSU it is not a great conference in regards to the playoffs and winning a NC. The best players in the country are continuing to stay in the south and I doubt west coast recruits are going to flock to schools to play in a frozen tundra half the season.
The only way the B10 might be able to capitalize in regards to recruits is if CJ Stroud and other players get organized enough to get the profit sharing on this new tv deal.
If that were to happen another ball game in regards to recruiting.
In the end though no matter the deal the B10 has, it will not improve their product. Outside of OSU it is not a great conference in regards to the playoffs and winning a NC. The best players in the country are continuing to stay in the south and I doubt west coast recruits are going to flock to schools to play in a frozen tundra half the season.
The only way the B10 might be able to capitalize in regards to recruits is if CJ Stroud and other players get organized enough to get the profit sharing on this new tv deal.
quote:
Ohio State star quarterback C.J. Stroud expressed support for the idea of players receiving a portion of the revenue. “I definitely think it should be shared,” Stroud said
If that were to happen another ball game in regards to recruiting.
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