Re: SEC Network on DirecTV
I haven't seen real numbers on the current deals though, I just know that the SEC had to sell their soul for a lot longer and might very well have had to double down on a bad deal. I do hope they can leverage their way into big bucks for the network deal, primarily because they'll need it just to offset what Alabama will be losing from the PPV game.
Mainly though, I dislike ESPN's tactics, because they've demonstrated a willingness to harm a product if it helps them corner the market. The choice to show the BCSCG on ESPN instead of ABC was a perfect example. Why on earth would you do that other than to simply demand higher subscription rates? It hurt the ratings, we all know that (although ESPN blamed that on the BCSCG itself, not moving it to pay TV). I've said this before, but if the SEC programs are not getting in the neighborhood of 30 million annually from their TV deals, then Slive wasn't a very good negotiator.
I'm not yet blown away by the revenue that the SEC is getting from the ESPN. Remember, even the Big 12 while falling into pieces was able to match the Slive negotiated ESPN deal. The SEC should blow away revenue that all other schools are producing, you take that deal you cited, it only comes out to 10 million per school per year. That's a very unimpressive number at the moment and the ACC and Big-12 were able to get similar deals.Just remember that the "scare tactics" allow ESPN to pay Alabama and the rest of the SEC the $2.25 billion dollars over the next 15 years.
That being said, I would feel a whole lot better if they got Comcast (my provider) to sign up.
I haven't seen real numbers on the current deals though, I just know that the SEC had to sell their soul for a lot longer and might very well have had to double down on a bad deal. I do hope they can leverage their way into big bucks for the network deal, primarily because they'll need it just to offset what Alabama will be losing from the PPV game.
Mainly though, I dislike ESPN's tactics, because they've demonstrated a willingness to harm a product if it helps them corner the market. The choice to show the BCSCG on ESPN instead of ABC was a perfect example. Why on earth would you do that other than to simply demand higher subscription rates? It hurt the ratings, we all know that (although ESPN blamed that on the BCSCG itself, not moving it to pay TV). I've said this before, but if the SEC programs are not getting in the neighborhood of 30 million annually from their TV deals, then Slive wasn't a very good negotiator.