reverse mirror for next Saturday or ESPN only?
osu is going to stomp minnesota (probably)
anyone know how far out advertising blocks for these segments are booked?
unless abc has the $ in advance, I'd be looking to spend my ad dollars on a more competitive game. having it on abc would yield greater exposure
October 24th, 2010 at 1:17 PM ^
The Michigan game is on ESPN only. The OSU game and the Oregon-USC game are on ABC/ESPN2 with the reverse mirror. So we'll have no problems with SD only feeds.
I don't think there is that much of a difference between exposure on ABC and ESPN. As for ABC, I imagine they sell ad rates for the whole season not on a game by game basis.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
you are right about ESPN only, but there will be no reverse mirror next week. Colorado-Oklahoma will be the late espn2 game, and the abc games will also be available on espn3.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^
Interesting. I had not seen the Colorado-Oklahoma game on ESPN2 there.
It is in the Big Ten's contract with ABC/ESPN that all Big Ten games are televised nationally. So, the OSU game is required to be on a reverse mirror. Here's my guess of what will happen (it sounds super-weird but I can't think of a better solution):
At 6 pm ESPN2 airs Auburn-Mississippi nationwide
At 8 pm, ESPN airs Michigan-Penn St. nationwide and ABC airs the Oregon and Ohio State games on a regional basis. ESPN2 switches to the Ohio State game wherever that is not on ABC.
At 9:15 pm (or slightly later), the Auburn game finishes so ESPN2 starts airing the Oklahoma game wherever the Ohio State game is on ABC.
At 11:30 pm (or slightly later) the Ohio State game finishes, so ESPN2 airs the end of the Oklahoma game wherever Ohio State was on ESPN2.
After typing it out, that sounds way more stupid than I originally thought. I honestly don't know what else they would do. ESPN3.com does not count as airing the game nationally for the purposes of the Big Ten contract. I don't think ESPN2 will want to switch between games though.
Maybe that TV schedule isn't finalized yet. I think it doesn't have to be completely determined until the Sunday/Monday before the game. That might just be the current guess.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:14 PM ^
Unless the Big Ten's contract with ABC/ESPN changed this year, ABC is only required to reverse mirror 3:30 pm ABC televised regional games; there is no requirement to reverse mirror prime time Big Ten games. Of course, ABC/ESPN can reverse mirror or us the standard def feeds to reverse mirror if it so chooses, but they are not contractually obligated to do.
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<br>Michigan will be fine on ESPN. However, you may not get the Ohio State game depending on where you live.
October 24th, 2010 at 4:39 PM ^
Okay, if that's true then it makes so much more sense. I didn't realize that there was a difference for night games as opposed to day games.
Yes, Michigan was never going to be affected. The Big Ten states (and maybe a couple more markets) will get the Ohio State game on ABC. Most of the country will get Oregon-USC on ABC since that should be a much better game. I guess the Ohio State game will be on espn3.com since it looks like it will not be available on ESPN Gameplan.
October 24th, 2010 at 5:41 PM ^
Big Ten no longer has a carriage agreement with ESPN Gameplan. ESPN3 or a bar with satellite channels it will be for those who do not get the Big Ten prime time game on ABC. Don't be surprised if only Ohio and Minnesota markets get that game this weekend. A Michigan State-Iowa night game was unavailable a few years back in much of the Big Ten footprint (including Chicago) outside those two states when matched up against a game with far more national interest. We'll just have to wait for the regional coverage maps to come out to see. I'm certainly hoping my market (NY) gets Oregon.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:22 PM ^
Will satellite actually help? It's either on ABC in your market or it's not.
For you, I would be shocked if NY doesn't get the Oregon game.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:08 PM ^
DirecTV and Dish won't help you in the home, but commercial satellite packages should be able to get ABC feeds from various regions. At least I think so; not 100% sure. I imagine we can find out this weekend.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:40 PM ^
As long as I get it in HD, I will be happy. Give me Ron Franklin and Ed Cunningham (the guys who called the Michigan-Iowa game) as the crew, I will be estatic. They are by far the best team ESPN has calling games.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:27 PM ^
We get Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge. Solid crew.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:41 PM ^
Thank you, and you're right. They are easily number two at ESPN in my book. No Matt Millen. No Mike Patrick. No Pam Ward. No Andre Ware. No Brent Musburger overzealousness. Sounds great to me.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:33 PM ^
That's what I predicted would happen 2 weeks ago. I'm glad I was right, they are a good announcing crew.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
Here's a fucking cookie, congrats.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:59 PM ^
That looks pretty tasty. Do you have the link to the cookie?
October 24th, 2010 at 1:49 PM ^
Solid back-to-back set of games. MSU@Iowa followed by Michigan @ PSU on what will essentially be celebrated as Halloween. It's gonna be extremely drunk out.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:30 PM ^
I may have to hold off on the serious drinking until about 11:15PM. Either way, I will need a few stiff drinks to celebrate or sulk.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:52 PM ^
Yeah, I'm spoiled......at least my wife has finally come around to loving the 63" screen for watching.......Mad Men?
October 24th, 2010 at 3:07 PM ^
(uhhh...I meant Christina Hendricks...yeah, that's the ticket...)
Really...
:-)
October 24th, 2010 at 2:39 PM ^
Can somebody explain the concept of "reverse mirror" in regards to television coverage? I tried to get my head around that, but it just didn't take.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^
The TV contract the Big Ten has with ABC/ESPN says that all Big Ten games must be televised nationally. ABC usually does regional broadcasts for its games. This means that the Big Ten game will be on ABC in Big Ten states, but a PAC-10 game might be on ABC out on the west coast.
In order for the Big Ten game to be televised nationally, the "reverse mirror" means that wherever the Big Ten game is not on ABC it is on ESPN2. Sometimes they do the reverse mirror with ESPN but usually it's ESPN2. If there are more than 2 games on regional ABC, then the Big Ten game is still on ESPN2 in all the markets that it's not on ABC. One of the other games gets put on ESPN2 in the Big Ten market, and the other game(s) is(are) only available on ESPN Gameplan and/or espn3.com
October 24th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
Muchas gracias, Jeff.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:34 PM ^
ZOMG.......!
October 24th, 2010 at 6:00 PM ^
I will be without ESPN for the evening of the game. Does anyone know if ESPN3 is subject to blackout? I have internet delivered through Comcast in the Chicago area, if it makes a difference.
October 24th, 2010 at 6:04 PM ^
This past weekend, ESPN3 only blocked out the games that were on ABC. The ESPN games were still available. So you might not be able to watch OSU, which I assume is the ABC game here in Chicago.