AAC Media Contract

[Lobot]

Memphis pres let it out that the Media contract renogotiations with ESPN have concluded and the contract details should be announced next week.

I’ve seen anything from 4M per school to 10M. Rumor has it that they asked for 10 and then couldn’t get it because they have no Grant of Rights deal. ESPN supposedly came back with 8. anything over 2 is an improvement.

[Lobot]

Breakdown on the UC angle of the contract by Justin WIlliams this morning $

https://theathletic.com/990831/2019/...-the-bearcats/


Short version: We're sort of getting screwed because the distribution is equal between schools.

[Lobot]

I’ve since found that the ESPN+ broadcasts will be done by the schools with assistance from ESPN. Looks like the Crew from BearcatsTV will be doing the production. Matt Noonan’s going to be busy.

[swilsonsp4]

They preempted their own press conference at 1:00

https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...hts-extension/

What this doesn't address are the financial ties; just the array of platforms to be utilized.

Twelve years is a long time in this day of shifting media outlets. I seriously doubt that the makeup of the conference members will look close to what it does now by the midpoint of this contract, since no GOR agreement was included.

[Lobot]

They preempted their own press conference at 1:00

https://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...hts-extension/

[Lobot]

The deal will be officially announced tomorrow

[Lobot]

Our current contract allowed for the home team to determine the game time if it was put on ESPN3. Do we know if this will be the case for the new contract?

That's a really good question. I haven't seen enough of the details to answer that one. I'm going to guess yes because ESPN was able to operate this way for ESPN3 with regards to broadast crew assignments. At the same time I can definitely see ESPN trying to control those windows for logistics reasons. That's one to ask Ryan Koslen when UC is able to talk about it.

[Gilenerm]

Our current contract allowed for the home team to determine the game time if it was put on ESPN3. Do we know if this will be the case for the new contract?

[made_hand]

Honestly we should have seen the ESPN+ move coming from miles away. I predict ESPN3/WatchESPN will die a quick death very soon. They're going to push all the non premium content to streaming because it's a big revenue source for them going forward. That's the only way they're going to dig ESPN out of the hole left by cord cutters ditching the cable business model they relied on for so long.

Disney is about to add a bunch of streaming options to the media pool beyond ESPN+ and Apple is getting into the streaming market on Monday as a competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. I'm guessing that everyone will need a fast internet connection and a Live TV streaming service, Live Sports service and Movie/TV show service going forward plus premium add-ons like HBO, etc if you want them.

Very true; this move was inevitable as it is the only way ESPN can dig themselves out of debt.. As an out of state alumni, I would gladly pay $5/month to know I would get all basketball and football game. "Majority" is what they are offering, so who knows how this will play out.

Either way, the increase of revenue without the Grant-of-Rights has to be viewed as a win-win for the school\conference.

[Lobot]

Honestly we should have seen the ESPN+ move coming from miles away. I predict ESPN3/WatchESPN will die a quick death very soon. They're going to push all the non premium content to streaming because it's a big revenue source for them going forward. That's the only way they're going to dig ESPN out of the hole left by cord cutters ditching the cable business model they relied on for so long.

Disney is about to add a bunch of streaming options to the media pool beyond ESPN+ and Apple is getting into the streaming market on Monday as a competitor to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. I'm guessing that everyone will need a fast internet connection and a Live TV streaming service, Live Sports service and Movie/TV show service going forward plus premium add-ons like HBO, etc if you want them.

[longtimefan]

Sports Business Daily is reporting the total deal is 1B and runs through 2032. Avg intake per school over the life of the deal is 6.9M per year. Year 1 starts at 5M per school.

"but the majority of basketball games and a significant number of the football games will go to ESPN+"


https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...03/19/AAC.aspx

[Lobot]

Sports Business Daily is reporting the total deal is 1B and runs through 2032. Avg intake per school over the life of the deal is 6.9M per year. Year 1 starts at 5M per school.

[swilsonsp4]

I ponied up the fees so that I could watch other games of interest to me. At least ESPN+ includes premium article content that used to be in ESPN Insider, so there's that (not much, but beats a blank).

[Lobot]

Details are rolling out now. 5M raise for UC in 2020. ESPN will have all but a few games in basketball and football including non rev sports.

Here’s the bad part. Games which do not land ABC, ESPN, 2, and U or a small package of games on CBS(Navy) will be pushed to ESPN+. This is a subscription streaming service currently at 4.99/month. So for those game that might have been on ESPN3 or CBSSN in the past, you now have to pay for.

[Lobot]

It's not done. Will be released somewhere around the end of the month.