2018 OT Tourney (1st Round) - Conference Networks vs. Facilities Arms Race

[ELA]

SYSTEMIC CHANGES

End of TV monopoly

Recruiting coverage

Early NFL Draft entry

SYSTEM RULE CHANGES

Academic ineligibility

CFP

Conference championship games

GAME RULE CHANGES

OT

Narrower hashmarks

Tearaway jerseys banned

GAME PLAY CHANGES

Wishbone

SEC integration

Read option

[ELA]

I'll vote for the one that at least sort of helps even the playing field.

[utee94]

I like conference networks (and single-school networks  ) because they bring more sports to my television.

I dislike the resulting realignment moves that are made solely for the money-grab at television revenue.  That has harmed the sport severely over the last decade.

[ELA]

I like conference networks (and single-school networks ) because they bring more sports to my television.

I dislike the resulting realignment moves that are made solely for the money-grab at television revenue.  That has harmed the sport severely over the last decade.

On one hand yes, but I don't know how much of that is due to the conference networks.  In fact, had conference networks been there earlier, I think we would have seen less realignment, jockeying for space in the conferences with the best national tv contracts.

Hell, the Big XII may only still exist because of the LHN

[FearlessF]

I like conference networks

[utee94]

On one hand yes, but I don't know how much of that is due to the conference networks.  In fact, had conference networks been there earlier, I think we would have seen less realignment, jockeying for space in the conferences with the best national tv contracts.

Hell, the Big XII may only still exist because of the LHN

The combination of the conference networks and the cable subscriber model drove the B1G's desire for Rutgers and Maryland.  And it drove the SEC's desire for Texas A&M and Missouri.  In those cases, conference networks are the direct cause of the realignment activity that followed.

[ELA]

The combination of the conference networks and the cable subscriber model drove the B1G's desire for Rutgers and Maryland.  And it drove the SEC's desire for Texas A&M and Missouri.  In those cases, conference networks are the direct cause of the realignment activity that followed.

I think they certainly drove which schools were targeted.  But I think had all conferences had networks earlier, you wouldn't have seen the same type of shuffle.  The Big Ten and then the SEC got the jump on everyone there.

[utee94]

I think they certainly drove which schools were targeted.  But I think had all conferences had networks earlier, you wouldn't have seen the same type of shuffle.  The Big Ten and then the SEC got the jump on everyone there.

You're speculating, when all we know for certain is what actually happened.  I directly blame the conference networks and the money-grubbing conference executives for the choices that have ruined many things I liked about the sport.
But I still voted for it over the facilities arms race, because while conference (and individual school) networks have brought more content to the fans, the facilities arms race has done nothing but force the cost of attending live events to skyrocket.

[847badgerfan]

On one hand yes, but I don't know how much of that is due to the conference networks.  In fact, had conference networks been there earlier, I think we would have seen less realignment, jockeying for space in the conferences with the best national tv contracts.

Hell, the Big XII may only still exist because of the LHN

That is for sure speculation. It could also be speculated that the Big 12 would exist as it did in 2010 if it had a full conference network, and no LHN.

[FearlessF]

TV revenue is TV revenue

regardless of who owns the network

the grabbing of high demand content to drive up revenue was going to happen regardless what network the conference is negotiating with for a new contract

[847badgerfan]

If Nebraska ever tried to get its own network, the presidents would see to it that they were booted from the partnership known as the Big Ten.

[FearlessF]

true, but what if the Buckeyes or the Wolverines wanted their own network?

[847badgerfan]

Same thing. No school is greater than the whole. It works.

Do M and O get some advantages (as in TV coverage and ass kissing from Big Jim)?? Sure they do. But at the table of 14, they have no more of a vote than 1/14.

[utee94]

TV revenue is TV revenue

regardless of who owns the network

the grabbing of high demand content to drive up revenue was going to happen regardless what network the conference is negotiating with for a new contract

The "in-footprint" cable subscriber model changed the calculus significantly.  Some of the B1G fans on this very site (and on this very thread) are some of the biggest opponents to what happened with Maryland and Rutgers.  My point is obvious, self-evident, substantiated, and vindicated by several long-time B1G fans around here.
Conference networks were directly responsible for many of the very bad things happening in college football in the past decade.  Anyone that's going to argue against me on that is... well... delusional, I guess.