Conference realignment "Rumors" "tweets" "etc"

[Who'sYourData?]

15 hours ago, Rocky Style said:

Yes Disney is rumored to be fire saleing all of their failing businesses.

Fascinating side conversation here about "failing business".  ESPN is still making boatloads of money.  Their problem is they are running out of ways to *grow* the business, so that impacts stock prices.  Investors don't like companies that merely are profitable.  There is something fundamentally wrong with some of our economic models.

They also have to transition from assuming linear and streaming services will carry the networks and pay them X money per subscriber.  If they stream on their own they need to charge more to make up for those paying that don't use the network.  While challenging, that is hardly insurmountable and they will figure that out.

In all, they really just need to figure out the international market gold mine to allow for future growth and investors will be happy again.

[BDYZR]

23 minutes ago, Who'sYourData? said:

There is something fundamentally wrong with some of our economic models.

Certainly NOT the thread for this discussion, but 100% agree.

[macphisto]

On 8/19/2023 at 10:11 PM, Ghostbuster said:

Sure he'll regurgitate that nonsense but take potshots at USF's chances moving up....  Come on, the PAC does not have a viable path for option 3.  Their TV deal ends this year and no team from MWC/AAC can leave in less than a year to join them.

MWC - "Per conference bylaws, the $16.5 million buyout jumps to $34 million if notice is given later than July 1".  That's from a recent article about SDSU's quick 180, when they tried to leave the MWC for the PAC only to turn tail and say they wanted to stick with MWC.

AAC- Just made Cincy/UCF/Houston pay 18 million to leave sooner than the required 27 month notice.  Fee would be higher for a (now) quicker exit; and what idiot would pay that much to join a 4 team conference that doesn't have a media deal?  

Even SDSU saw the writing on the wall and noped back to the MWC.  So the PAC is only pretending like they have an option to expand.  That ship sailed.

Depends on how many teams want to go and if part of the deal involves dissolving the AAC.  ESPN has said they are willing to release the conference from the contract.  The leave fees do not apply if the conference dissolves. Those are the rumors now because if the PAC expands, it retains its Power 5 status.  

Apple has said they will still pay $15M per school if the PAC expands.  I would assume the PAC would then stand for Pan American Conference to make it logical for it to be nationwide.

[macphisto]

2 hours ago, Who'sYourData? said:

Fascinating side conversation here about "failing business".  ESPN is still making boatloads of money.  Their problem is they are running out of ways to *grow* the business, so that impacts stock prices.  Investors don't like companies that merely are profitable.  There is something fundamentally wrong with some of our economic models.

They also have to transition from assuming linear and streaming services will carry the networks and pay them X money per subscriber.  If they stream on their own they need to charge more to make up for those paying that don't use the network.  While challenging, that is hardly insurmountable and they will figure that out.

In all, they really just need to figure out the international market gold mine to allow for future growth and investors will be happy again.

Disney is not selling ESPN.  Iger has said as much.  They are looking for strategic partners - and I could see Apple taking an interest if that means they can get more sports programming on Apple TV+.  They did not win the Sunday Ticket bid and are seeing good success with MLS.  That said, the deal with the PAC may have made them less interested in a partnership with ESPN.

This could get fascinating if the PAC does add USF and others - ESPN may enter the fray to pay more in the hope that it will make Apple more likely to invest money as a strategic partner.  ESPN is valued at over $50B, so a $20B investment from Apple is something Disney would love.  It's just a matter of what rights it gives Apple - because they will demand that some ESPN content be funneled exclusively to their platform - an ESPN on AppleTV+ feature. They may also offer Apple TV+ as part of the bundle with ESPN, Disney+, and Hulu.  

[Jim Johnson]

42 minutes ago, macphisto said:

  They did not win the Sunday Ticket bid and are seeing good success with MLS.

Apple didn't get the Sunday Ticket bid because Apple wanted to give it away for free to some of their customers... the NFL wanted it to be an add-on service.

[Bull Matrix]

Now it looks like USF will be heading to ACC???? So basically USF is caught in a tug of war between the power conferences….

[flsportsfan83]

1 minute ago, Bull Matrix said:

Now it looks like USF will be heading to ACC???? So basically USF is caught in a tug of war between the power conferences….

according to some nobodies on twitter. Don't bet your house on it.

[2000bull]

[Gat-Rat Bull]

1 hour ago, macphisto said:

Disney is not selling ESPN.  Iger has said as much.  They are looking for strategic partners

Verizon is apparently one potential partner. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/cordcuttersnews.com/disney-verizon-are-reportedly-in-talks-about-an-espn-partnership/%3famp=1

[Bull Gooner]

3 minutes ago, flsportsfan83 said:

according to some nobodies on twitter. Don't bet your house on it.

If we can't believe Cayden's Dad and DudeBro, then who can we believe in this topsy-turvy world?