News Corp Buys 49% of YES Network

The Jedi Master of Pimp Hands. 

Gary Bettman won when he announced new franchises in Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa Nashville and Charlotte. 

Short sighted money grabs do not always turn into long term "wins"

Yeah but to be fair messageboard posters are better at complaining and sportswriters are better at relating everything to Tim Tebow so everyone is equal. 

In the short-term, yes. But, just as Brian said, the way people consume TV is changing and will continue to change. The parallels to newspapers are obvious. I didn't have a TV the last 2 years I lived in America, nor for the last 2 years abroad because I don't need to. I only care about .5% of the programming on TV and I can watch that easily enough via the internet. Some of it I pay for, some of it I simply can't so I download it (the idiots in charge prefer to stay in their old ways instead of getting some money that I actually tried to find a way to give them out of fairness), and some of it I simply don't. One that I pay for is the Big Ten international package.  And if they were to raise those rates because of more content like Maryland lacrosse, they can kiss my subscription goodbye.

This was a Venture Capitalist like activity. We basically bought two programs that have been haven't had much past success but have a lot of potential in them and are now injecting cash into them and hoping they grow with increased resources and association with the B1G. 

Would you prefer the BigTen be reactive and be left in shambles like the ACC and the BigEast?  Delaney has done a heck of a job keeping the BigTen ahead of the curve even among it's worst time of on the field performance.  He is positioning the league to remain relevant as others fail.  I understand tradition but that would go away as well if the league didnt make moves to protect itself and help secure it's future.  

Thanks for the setup

What are the odds of OSU going to a bowl game this year?

YES generated $224 million last year. I would think BTN would bring 1/3 to 1/4 of that easy just from the same market.

I'm starting to think that the end game is 18 or 20-

UConn, Cuse, UVa, VaTech, Duke, UNC are the 6 to go for. Maybe NC St.

UNC, Duke Get the Cakalackies and of course have national (and VERY strong Eastern appeal)

UVa & VT get Verginny

Cuse & Uconn lock up the Eastern market, brings in the Conn population, solidifies the NYC market.

Even if we get 4 of those 6, that's your market footprint. Then you have the East and West divisions that are something like

M, MSU, OSU, Minn, NW, NU, W, PU, IU, Iowa

PSU, Mary, RU, UConn, Cuse, UVa, VaTech, Duke, UNC

Play 8-9 in your division +1-3 in the other, expand to 13 reg season games + Conf title + playoff.

the ACC could be viable with ND and Uconn, but I could see FSU & Clemson bailing for the SEC, even VaTech and NC St. I know UNC and Duke and to a lesser extent UVa may be stubborn about hoops and controlling their tradition, but the ACC could be in big trouble without FSU, VT, NCSt. I think ACC stability will determine the outcome, much like the B12 did 2 years ago. Will the ACC keep enough schools and be willing to pick up some smaller ones? or will they crumble completely?

I would vote for UVa and UNC.  They are the flagship schools in the next two states south from Maryland, as well as two of the fastest growing states in the country.  All in all, their sports are good to great, depending on the sport. 

However, Duke-UNC would be a good second choice.

all four of those fit together nicely.