Large Contract, Many Bullet Points
As was rumored for weeks, the Big Ten has signed a landmark new rights deal with FOX, CBS, and NBC. Let's break out the bullets.
Money. The full deal takes a little bit to kick in, and the numbers are somewhat fuzzy because some people appear to be talking about just the money coming from the three networks mentioned above and some people are including CFP, NCAA tournament, and other rights. This is the discrepancy between 75 million (deal-related money) and 100 million (expected per-school conference distribution in a few years).
This is a lot of money. Please do not accept any requests for understanding when and if the school serves up another nonconference schedule like this one.
Oh God, the commercials. There was a time way back in the long ago when this site was enthused about exploding rights fees. It's hard to remember why, but it was probably some combination of tribalism and hilariously naïve beliefs that some of this money would result in positive changes for anyone other than the people drawing salaries from the athletic department.
After years of bludgeoning in the courts of public opinion and, you know, actual courts, the NCAA has budged on some things—cost of living stipends, free food—but these athlete-supporting changes are peripheral. The money is still going to the coaching/administrator class. I see no reason that would change, so the main takeaway here for people who watch the sports is to prepare for an even heavier inundation of ads. I would expect the powers that be to push for more NFL style rules to reduce the number of plays, literally replacing football with ads.
The windows. The way the deal is structured takes a lot of uncertainty out of scheduling. FOX has a noon game, CBS has a 3:30 game, and NBC has an 8:00 game. Big Noon has been a ratings success, so they're going to three blades. I don't speak MBA but this does seem plausible:
“The Big Ten is going to be on three major television networks from noon until 11 o’clock at night every Saturday — that is unprecedented,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus told The Athletic. “That’s never happened before. The way that each of the three broadcast partners are going to feed into each other and cross-promote each other throughout the day is going to be very beneficial for all.”
Notably there is no mention of #BigTenAfterDark. It's possible we'll see some West Coast games start at 11, but I imagine that would be a distant possibility indeed. UCLA-USC is going to be too pretty to put in the late night spot and every other conference game would be throwing away central and eastern time viewership.
That's how they get you. It's 2022 so any new media deal is going to come with an attempt to force you to sign up for a streaming service. (FWIW, Frank The Tank points out that there's no way out of this for SEC fans, who are now obligated to sign up for ESPN+. )
This one:
Probably the part that Illini fans will care about the most:
— Robert Rosenthal (@ALionEye) August 18, 2022
Starting in 2024, 47 Big Ten basketball games (32 conference, 15 non-conference) will be on Peacock. https://t.co/jLgp94VNvY
Michigan will have basketball games on Peacock annually. There will also be eight football games; no doubt Peacock will endeavor to hit every team in the conference ASAP. They could hypothetically do it every year if they get lucky. At least it has Frasier on it?
One other potential silver lining of Peacock. It's another outlet that non-revenue sports can use:
“…over the lifetime of the deal, we will work with the Big Ten on Olympic sports that make sense for them and for us on Peacock.”
I'm a little skeptical that we're going to see significant numbers of Big Ten sports on Peacock, but you know me so what I am about to say is that Peacock's production of Notre Dame hockey is truly impressive and if they start streaming hockey games at Penn State not produced by students with malfunctioning inner ears I will be delighted. BTN is always going to be the main place to go for those things, but there are a lot of things with a potential audience (wrestling, softball, gymnastics, hockey) that could get better coverage as a result of the deal.
The money grabs have evolved. When the Big Ten added Maryland and Rutgers it was to dig into the pockets of old ladies in Yonkers who couldn't care less about college football. Now it's going into actual fans' pockets to get them to sign up for a streaming service. This is fairer, but more annoying to me personally.
more soon? [Bryan Fuller]
Wither Notre Dame? Brett McMurphy's reporting on this touches on further Big Ten expansion:
The contract includes an escalator clause, meaning the deal could approach nearly $10 billion if the Big Ten’s membership increases, network sources said. Even after adding USC and UCLA, the Big Ten “is not done” expanding, sources told Action Network.
Last month, Action Network reported the Big Ten would expand beyond 16 schools and was targeting Notre Dame, along with Oregon, Washington, Stanford and Cal from the Pac-12. Those plans have not changed, sources said this week.
The Sports Business Journal speculates that ND could fetch 60-75 million when their contract is up in 2025, but the way this is worded is pretty confusing:
Sources say the school should expect around $60 million per year from a new contract -- though it’s hard to predict how the media business will look three years from now.
There had been speculation that Notre Dame could command a rights fee upward of $75 million per year when it renegotiates its new contract. That’s because it fills its schedule with games -- like its long-standing rivalry with Navy -- that traditionally bring in lower ratings.
I don't get why lower-rated games against Navy would be associated with the higher number. I imagine that has to mean "ND's schedule sucks and we don't want to pay for those games." FWIW, it seems like the 75 million number is a target that's coming from ND and not a projection from an industry insider.
One way to fix that schedule is with more Big Ten games, which are in the offing. One Big Ten school in particular:
…its association with NBC -- and NBC’s new association with the Big Ten -- make it likely that the Fighting Irish would add more Big Ten games to its schedule.
In other words, expect a return of Notre Dame’s rivalry with Michigan before 2033, which is when they are next scheduled to meet.
ND's viewership numbers collapsed this year because there was not a showdown against #1 Clemson that went to double OT on the schedule; their best game was their loss to Cincinnati, which only drew 3.8 million viewers. This is bad. Wisconsin/Minnesota drew 5 million; Nebraska/Wisconsin drew 3.5; Purdue-Iowa drew 3.5.
Note that the Big Ten's media deal should mean that ND never has a home night game again: NBC will be broadcasting an 8 PM Big Ten game weekly. I'm not sure that makes a big difference, but it is an interesting side effect.
Product: worse? This is probably a blogger-exclusive complaint, but having one place to go for game replays was convenient. Having games split over two or more streaming services is going to make organizing libraries more of a pain.
Close to perfection. Please someone make a version of this where the only football teams to appear are Rutgers, Maryland, Nebraska, and Northwestern. TIA.
Hello, @B1Gfootball.
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 18, 2022
Hit the music. pic.twitter.com/PbMHPql1Cz
Grimace dot emoji. I have not partaken of many Ohio State games in recent years for the same reasons the condemned don't watch axe sharpenings, so maybe this won't affect me much. But just imagining this makes my skin crawl:
thinking of how mad all my friends from big ten schools get listening to gary talk about alabama and then thinking of how he's gonna start doing that with ohio state
— Bill DiFilippo (@billdifilippo) August 18, 2022
Gross.
What about The Game? There's a "draft selection mosaic" for the networks, per Kevin Warren, so they'll rotate picks. Adam Rittenberg reports that you should still expect Michigan-OSU on FOX "pretty much every year." Richard Deitsch has some more detail:
Based on my understanding, Fox will get the No. 1 overall football pick each year, and that pick is for a week rather than for a game (so Fox’s top pick will undoubtedly always be for Michigan-Ohio State week).
I can get behind Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt doing The Game at noon for the next seven years.
What about the Big Ten/ACC challenge? There's been speculation that the challenge—an ESPN-driven event—will bite the dust in the new landscape. Kevin Warren's saying there's a chance, though:
"Life is long. They're professionals. Inherent in our scheduling we're going to play schools from the ACC, SEC, Big 12 and Pac-12. We still have to address the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. … ESPN is such a prominent partner in college athletics. We'll always have a partnership with them."
Hopefully they can preserve it.
Finally. Zach Shaw:
Same headline energy pic.twitter.com/ewiHkFf4QC
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) August 18, 2022
August 18th, 2022 at 2:43 PM ^
Too complicated. I'm exhausted. Maybe it's time to listen to the radio broadcast (while getting something useful done) and later watch full game highlights on YouTube.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
Or just attend all in person. At some point it might be cheaper than all the streaming services.
August 18th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Attending in person is only going to get worse though with more commercials.
August 18th, 2022 at 6:57 PM ^
As I think about it, I believe I was happier listing to the games on the radio in the 80s while I mowed my grandfather's field on a big tractor. I'm not sure which is worse: The incessant ads or the modern announcers who have no concept of the value of silence and cannot stop running their self-aggrandizing pie-holes.
August 18th, 2022 at 9:27 PM ^
They actually made it super simple.
FOX at noon, CBS at 3:30, NBC at 8:00pm.
Late in the season when we are past the bye weeks, you'll obviously have 8 conference games (16/2).
So you've got those 3 that always remain the same, I'm guessing BTN will get 3, that leaves one game for FS1 and one for Peacock.
It'll be more confusing when you're playing @Washington or something like that and it's on ESPN or ABC.
August 18th, 2022 at 10:13 PM ^
To cover regular season and bowls/CFP, we only need to worry about FOX, CBS, NBC, BTN, FS1, Peacock, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, and probably a couple other streaming services like Amazon Prime or Apple TV.
What could be simpler?
August 18th, 2022 at 2:44 PM ^
Peacock's worth it's cost just for WWE content (current and historical). This sounds fine to me.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:02 PM ^
From my limited experience with it, Peacock is considerably better than Big Ten Plus, so hopefully Peacock replaces BTN+ entirely
August 18th, 2022 at 3:43 PM ^
It’s not the best-rounded service but it has some good niche stuff and does it pretty well. I enjoy some EPL, Indycar, and IMSA, which makes it great.
Literally every streaming service I’ve ever used is better than BTN+.
August 18th, 2022 at 6:09 PM ^
Just that they have the JV team doing it. They built their own to reduce the broadcast and production costs to give the schools more money, however, the viewer suffers.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:07 PM ^
Folks with Xfinity internet can get a Flex box for free, which then provides Peacock Premium for free.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:46 PM ^
And unsurprisingly, Peacock Premium is also included if you're a Xfinity cable subscriber as well.
Peacock has gotten a lot better at sports streaming in the last year-plus. It's easy to find the game you are looking for and you can rewind live sports. This is not the case on every streamer (ahem, Paramount+)
August 18th, 2022 at 11:15 PM ^
Is it only available to watch via the Flex box, then? Or do you get a full Peacock Premium account you can stream anywhere? Asking because I don't actually own a TV, so the Flex box itself would be kind of useless to me.
August 19th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
You get an account to stream anywhere. I have it set up on a Roku.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:58 PM ^
Peacock is also free for American Express Platinum card holders.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:55 PM ^
Nice humblebrag.
August 19th, 2022 at 5:16 AM ^
Really should have gone with "flex" here given the context.
August 18th, 2022 at 5:55 PM ^
Don't leave home without it(Peacock).
August 18th, 2022 at 4:19 PM ^
Funny thing is, two Saturdays ago I finally broke down and ordered Peacock when I saw that 8 of the 9 opening weekend (Sat/Sun) Premier League games were all on the ‘Cock. So now this news just further justifies my $4.99 a month. (But as Giannis sagely observed, that’s almost $5 a month.)
August 18th, 2022 at 4:29 PM ^
I've been watching all the old RAW shows and PPV from my days of watching.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:38 PM ^
I don't mind paying 5 or 10 bucks a month during football and basketball seasons for a new service. What I DO care about is how that service functions. If it doesn't allow me to join a game in progress, and START IT FROM THE BEGINNING, then I will burn something down. Why the fuck ESPN+ makes you either watch it live from the beginning or wait until it's completely over to watch the replay is bonkers.
August 18th, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^
Isn’t that to stop you from jumping in 2 hours late and skipping the ads so you end up watching the end live? Gotta think they’re trying to satisfy sponsors who want live viewers watching the ads.
August 18th, 2022 at 6:49 PM ^
Username checks out.
August 18th, 2022 at 2:48 PM ^
Yes, when USC and UCLA were announced, it was obvious they would have no conference "night" games, ie nothing starting later than 5pm PT. Just no reason to ever start a B1G game that late.
They might play an occasional non-conference night game, but they'll not play any conference games after 5pm local.
August 18th, 2022 at 2:59 PM ^
Wither ND or Whither ND? I'm all for ND withering away to irrelevance!
August 18th, 2022 at 8:25 PM ^
Sorry double post
August 18th, 2022 at 8:27 PM ^
Exactly. How does ND with very few, high-profile HOME games get anywhere near $75M? Even $40M? The only way is if the B1G teams help them by scheduling them. Unless I’m misinterpreting.
Why would the B1G do that when they’re not part of the conference and will only take eyes away from 2 B1G teams playing at the same time, while padding ND coffers?
No ND vs Michigan.
No ND vs Purdue.
No ND vs MSU.
No ND vs USC.
No ND vs Ohio State.
Wish we didn’t expend so much energy talking about that school, but if the B1G knows what’s good for them, they make ND join the conference or just stop helping them
August 19th, 2022 at 3:59 AM ^
It would not bother me if we never scheduled another Michigan - Notre Dame game again. But our NBC network "partner" may determine otherwise.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:01 PM ^
As always, prepare yourselves for an onslaught of stupid commercials and just awful announcing.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
Fox noon game will be Gus and Joel: good play by play (though I know Gus has his detractors) and excellent analysis.
CBS 3:30 is Nessler and Danielson. Nessler's always been good, Danielson is annoying at best.
NBC 8 is going to be an abomination. NBC employs one good announcer and he's got the Sunday Night NFL game.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:42 PM ^
Gary Danielson will be 72 years old when CBS starts doing B1G games. So if you're like me and you don't think much of his ability as a color guy, you'd have to figure at most you'd have to endure him for 5-6 years before he goes off to Keith Jackson-land (by that, I mean retirement due to old age, not entering an endless cycle of death-resurrection-death).
August 18th, 2022 at 5:33 PM ^
Danielson returning to Big Ten country (Divine Child HS, Purdue, Lions) will be too hard to turn down. College football is nothing if not nostalgic for old players as color commentators.
August 19th, 2022 at 4:03 AM ^
The SEC slappy that put down the Big Ten for more than a decade is now going to do Big Ten games? That will be . . . awkward.
August 19th, 2022 at 2:39 PM ^
Come on, man. If you think Danielson is a lifelong, committed "SEC slappy" you haven't been paying attention for very long. He was just as much of a Big Ten fan when he was an ESPN commentator and did their top Saturday games for a while. He switched networks and conferences, so now he talks up the team he covers. If/when he comes back to B1G games, he'll be just as annoying, only in our favor. Announcers, like everyone else, pander to their primary audience.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:07 PM ^
I like Gus. Yeah he gets excited, but that's why I always liked Gary Thorne on ESPN National Hockey Night. I agree on the analysis, outstanding.
Nessler has long been in my Top 3-5 sports voices. Danielson is indeed terrible.
August 18th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
"The WORLD FAMOUS Ohio State Buckeyes!"
Please, Gus, STOP SAYING THAT! They are much less famous than us world wide.
Here's a phrase of yours, however, that you should consistently repeat:
" Touchdown Wol-ve-RINES!"
August 18th, 2022 at 6:26 PM ^
Gus has grown on me. He does not seem biased toward any one team and I think he genuine;y loves college football. Every big play he's like a kid opening a Christmas present - and every one of those presents is a radio controlled car. "Radio contoleed RACE CAR!!! Radio controlled MONSTER TRUCK!!! MONSTER TRUCK!!!"
August 19th, 2022 at 4:04 AM ^
He had me at O-Ja-BO!!
August 18th, 2022 at 4:14 PM ^
I liked Gary when he was on ESPN (pre-CBS era). I don't know if he still maintains a home in the Detroit area, but I think people will be pleasantly surprised if he's still calling games in a couple years. I can't fault the guy for slobbering over the conference he's covering when it's winning dang near every title.
August 19th, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
Yeah, hard to get on Danielson for saying Alabama is the best football team in the nation constantly, when Alabama is the best college football team constantly.
I don't watch enough SEC games to know if he crows Vanderbilt is good because SEC. That would be obnoxious.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:12 PM ^
All I take from this is that Red Hat Commercial Timeout guy is going to be camping on the field.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:48 PM ^
The advertising people at the major insurance companies are staring at this announcement and rubbing their temples
August 18th, 2022 at 7:00 PM ^
I’ve always thought Kevin James should do a movie where he plays a red hat guy who just gets shit on all over his life. Or maybe Adam Sandler.
August 18th, 2022 at 3:15 PM ^
So I need to now have:
Cable or YouTube TV to get all the basic stations + ESPN. Plust at least 2 streaming services with Peacock and Paramount+. Awesome!
August 18th, 2022 at 3:43 PM ^
I don't think you'll need paramount if you get CBS. But peacock is a must apparently. If you get xfinity for your internet, then peacock may be free.
If you don't need ESPN, it's possible to do sling blue+sports extra, and peacock. With a good antenna you could then get the CBS games. Otherwise, you'll need to get paramount plus - but the combo would be less than YTTV, and you wouldn't miss Big Ten games, just ESPN.
August 19th, 2022 at 4:07 AM ^
2020's TV has devolved into 1940s TV.
You have to wire a bunch of stuff together yourself just to watch it.
August 19th, 2022 at 12:52 PM ^
I'll be stunned if as a Michigan fan you won't be able to get every game on YTTV.
And if FOX ever comes out with a Peacock/Paramount analog, would could just do those 3 streamers rather than YTTV.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:00 PM ^
With the right effort you can pretty much get all of it for free.
You may find you feel "against" this, that's fine.
I'm not paying someone to watch 40 minutes of football mixed in between 3.5-4 hours of commercials.
August 19th, 2022 at 7:48 AM ^
Did you know there's only about 13 minutes of game action in all that time?
Watching play on the field actually occupies about 5% of the time spent watching a game.
August 18th, 2022 at 4:40 PM ^
No, you really just need Comcast / Xfinity if that's an option because then you get all the networks, ESPN, and Peacock included. If you happen to have a Verizon unlimited plan, you get the Disney+ bundle which includes ESPN+. I get not wanting to be tied to cable or the main phone companies, but it's a lot easier.
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