Could baseball deal land BYU football in Big East?

[Bulls1181]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/55044585-77/east-byu-deal-espn.html.csp?utm_source=twitterfeed

Sports on TV » Would a big television contract tempt Cougars? Or maybe a scheduling agreement?

By Scott D. Pierce

| | Tribune Columnist

First Published 1 minute ago • Updated 1 minute ago

Could Major League Baseball’s new $12.4 billion TV contracts result in BYU joining the Big East in football? It sounds sort of crazy, but the answer is — maybe. Because there could be a domino effect involving TV networks, baseball and football.

Despite declining TV ratings, MLB extended deals with Fox and Turner that more than double its take to an average of $845 million per year. Add the $700 million per year (up from $360 million) it will get from ESPN, and MLB will rake in $12.4 billion total from 2014-2021.

How does this, in any way, relate to the Big East?

Since Comcast took over NBC last year, it has been pushing to get back into sports in a big way. Not just on the broadcast network, but on the NBC Sports Network, which it would like to transform into a rival to ESPN.

The hard part is obtaining programming. Something more than the NHL and MLS. Something besides baseball, which NBC struck out on.

At the moment, there aren’t a lot of sports properties in play. That includes the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12, which are all in the midst of longterm contracts.

The Big East, on the other hand, is in the midst of an exclusive negotiations period with ESPN.

Maybe ESPN pays big bucks to keep another property out of NBC’s hands. That might simplify some sort of agreement between BYU — in Year 2 of an eight-year deal with ESPN — and the Big East.

If ESPN and the Big East don’t reach a deal in the next couple of weeks, the league is free to deal with any network. NBCSN is reportedly very interested, and there may be other options.

[Bulls1181]

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/10/09/Colleges/Big-East-Future.aspx

Big East Commissioner Aresco Says Renewal Talks With ESPN "Not Anywhere Near Done"

Published October 9, 2012

Aresco would not rule out creating a Big East TV networkBig East Commissioner Mike Aresco said a deal between the conference and ESPN during the two sides' exclusive negotiating window that runs through October is “not anywhere near done," according to Brian Hamilton of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Aresco said there has been "a lot of interest expressed to us by other networks.†Hamilton notes that means “things will truly ramp up as the deadline approaches.†Aresco: "We have two sports that are equally important, and they can help each other. The basketball-only schools derive great benefit from being with our football-basketball schools. The football-basketball schools benefit from the wonderful, strong heritage of the basketball schools. That, together, will mean a lot as we talk to the various networks." Meanwhile, Aresco said of the possibility of a seventh bowl game added to the top tier of the new college football postseason, "You've read about the seventh bowl that commissioners are considering that we think eventually will happen. That'll give the Big East needed access to the highest level of the new system. ... It would be a contract bowl where you'd have to put the bowl together but would have obviously semifinal games. I really can't talk about it any more than that. Nothing finalized yet. But we're reasonably sure it will afford the Big East a path to the postseason system, which is so important for your champion." Aresco said of the possibility of a Big East TV network, “We’ll also be very creative. We’re not ruling anything out at this point†(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/6).

CHANGE ISN'T EASY: Georgetown Univ. men’s basketball coach John Thompson III said the Big East has gone from “unquestionably the best basketball conference in the country to now we’re just arguably the best basketball conference in the county.†But in DC, Liz Clarke notes Thompson “insists reports of the Big East’s demise are grossly exaggerated.†Thompson said, “Intercollegiate athletics is going through an evolution. We’re in the midst of it. It’s not close to being over.†Thompson added, "We have lost what have been traditionally key members. But the Big East still has New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas and Houston. We’re going through change. We’re going to look different tomorrow than we did yesterday. But there’s no need to cry for us†(WASHINGTON POST, 10/5).

[BDYZR]

"...That, together, will mean a lot as we talk to the various networks."

I like it!

[88Alum]

All my faith and hope in Aresco.

[bulls phanatic]

There may not be a better commissioner to have than him with these TV negotiations going on right now

[BullFan98]

There may not be a better commissioner to have than him with these TV negotiations going on right now

Exactly. This was the main reason for hiring him as Commish.

[Hem]

Please God...I could use some good news these days....at least 3 BE teams are still ranked going into next week! GB and Go BE!

[hm101]

Hoping we escape from ESPN, especially if it means more money, a network that supports us rather than fights us, and a BCS landscape that still gives us a shot.

[Bulls1181]

Only a few more weeks until open market! Buck ESPN...they are the reason why we keep losing.

[MikeG]

I would also like to see us get a deal from NBC -- really tired of the monopoly ESPN has on sports