ESPN using "Big 6" term

[Django]

Over on the AAC board they're saying that ESPN used the term "Big 6" conferences and AAC wasn't one of them. The AAC fans seem to feel they are downgrading their conference to lower their payout next year... I watched FS1s hoops kickoff show (which was awesome) and not ESPNs BS gameday from Lexington on Saturday. Anybody catch that "Big 6" talk and apparently graphics?

https://www.csnbbs.com/thread-869301.html

[MullinMayhem]

Well, was the Big East included?

[Django]

Well, was the Big East included?

Yeah they didn't come out and say it was the Big East on the AAC board because they hate us but who the hell else would be the 6th if the American wasn't?

[adoraz]

Yeah, having Nova and Marquette at the top of the conference is really important. Fans/analysts primarily judge conferences by their top teams. You think ACC, you think Duke/UVA for instance. This is crucial especially for March, because when analysts ask "which team from each power conference could make a run", you don't want to give ESPN a reason to exclude your conference.

Odd that ESPN would use the term Big 6 since AAC is having a far better year than the PAC. This makes me think there are two possible reasons:

1. They are lobbying for the BE's T2 package
2. They are trying to devalue the AAC during contract negotiations

Knowing how ESPN operates, it is probably the latter. As recently as a couple months ago (when we had zero Top 25 teams), they used the term "Power 5" in some instances. Last year they sometimes used the term "Power 6" (including BE). "Big 6" is interesting in that it's a totally new term. Maybe they don't want to give the AAC's ridiculous marketing name (Power 6) any credibility?

"Major conferences" seems like the simplest non-exclusionary term to use, given there are also mid-majors and low-majors. As always with ESPN, there is probably a reason they created a new term.

[adoraz]

Also, apparently this isn't a one-off commentary remark made during a broadcast, people in that thread are claiming ESPN made graphics for Big 6. I haven't seen any of them (haven't watched stuff like SportsCenter in years), so take with a grain of salt.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Judging from a number of their respective personalities, I think ESPN - in hindsight - really regrets letting go of the Big East property and content. It obviously made smart decisions in moving Syracuse and Pittsburgh over to the ACC (and getting Notre Dame and Louisville in the process), but I do not think that they ever imagined that the Big East would have remained a power basketball conference like they have (and been incredibly successful in the process). The Big East was their baby, and they essentially eliminated it. Watching Fox get to televise the BET, in front of a sold-out MSG crowd regularly, must really sting the NE contingent within the network. Similarly, I believe that they thought the ACC would just continue the same markets and fan interest from the Northern schools; unfortunately, the attempts at duplicating the BET at Barclays (and continued resistance from the Tobacco Road schools) have made those attempts fruitless.

One of the biggest reasons I think the BE will be getting a bump in its next TV deal, other than inevitable expansion, is the fact that there will be a market for its services - specifically by ESPN. It offers (cheaper) costs for high-level value that is not a true P5 conference, has a strong anchor in the Northeast, has great fan support, and has a built-in relationship with the power conferences. Don't get me wrong, I love Fox - and I think their marketing and branding of our conference has been phenomenal. However, it certainly never hurts to be pursued.

I've written on the topic a number of times, but I do not think the AAC will be getting (what some predict) $10-$12 million per year per school. You can reference ratings, on-field results, budgets, etc., but the reality is that the comes a strong inflation of ratings when on ESPN. I always get confused when people reference the ratings on FS1 compared to ESPN; those will never be close (at least not in near-term), and if one were to swap events on those two channels, there would be a minor change in viewership. The AAC is artificially inflating its athletic budgets by heavily subsidizing their departments via unnatural streams (students, state, etc.) in order to keep up the spending with the P5. That is simply not sustainable, whether it is $1.7 million per year, $5 million per year or $10 million per year. This cycle has already widened the gap with the B1G and SEC earning $50 million to their $1.7 million annually, and the PAC, ACC and Big 12 are not far off. UCF and USF are #4 and #5 in their own state (UF/FSU/Miami); Houston and SMU are #6 and #7 (UT, A&M, TT, Baylor, TCU) in Texas; Cincinnati is behind Ohio State; Memphis is behind Tennessee; ECU is behind Tobacco Road. The hill is simply too great to ever level-off, and fan support/attendance at many of their respective programs is far too weak to ever be considered a "power conference". Most importantly, the AAC lacks a power program to drive up its value. If Texas/OU ever left the Big 12, the value of the remaining programs plummet; but they are each earning high payouts by being part of the status quo.

I think the $5-$6 million range is still in line with that ESPN will ultimately offer, and I do not see CBS, Fox or NBC making a play for the content. ESPN will not give the AAC a 500% increase in pay out of the goodness of its hearts. The AAC provides them with cheap content filler, and they will offer it as such.

[ecasadoSBU]

I don't want the Big East back in ESPN. Am I the only one?

The Big East will have to compete for slots against the major football-playing schools. That's an uphill battle man. Its just the way it is. The Alumni base of these schools is huge. Unless we get guaranteed Big Monday/Super Tuesday Slots on ESPN/2 I don't want anything to with ESPN. Big East is doing just fine in Fox Sports and being the prime CBB college basketball property of a major outlet is great!

[Letsgonova]

Love being the big dog on Fox. If I never have to watch another Villanova game on ESPN+ or ESPN3 on my laptop, that'd be great.

[adoraz]

I prefer Fox as well, though I wouldn't mind our T2 rights moving from CBS to ESPN.

[scoscox]

I wouldn't mind our T2 rights moving from CBS to ESPN.

I think we can all agree with this