menu
Logo
99+
Bobcat Attack Menu
Logo
99+
Ohio Football Topic
Topic: How much longer will the ESPN money be there for the MAC?
Page: 1 of 2
C Money
General User
Member Since: 8/28/2010
Post Count: 3,420
mail
C Money
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 9:14 AM
settings_applications edit_note
ESPN cutting 100 "on-air talent" positions today.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/espn-will-cut-100-air-perso...

If I am reading that article correctly, that label apparently applies to the talking heads and not the broadcast crews, so hopefully mid-week MACtion isn't affected...for now....
Ted Thompson
Administrator
Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: MAC Play
Post Count: 7,945
mail
Ted Thompson
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 9:20 AM
settings_applications edit_note
The ESPN/MAC contract runs through the 2026-27 season.
Alan Swank
General User
AS
Member Since: 12/12/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,375
person
mail
Alan Swank
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 10:03 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Ted Thompson wrote:expand_more
The ESPN/MAC contract runs through the 2026-27 season.
And many of us entered into contracts when we walked down the aisle and said "I do and till death do us part." So much for contracts according to the latest divorce statistics.
Last Edited: 4/26/2017 10:06:02 AM by Alan Swank
Deciduous Forest Cat
General User
DFC
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: OH
Post Count: 4,558
person
mail
Deciduous Forest Cat
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 10:05 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
The ESPN/MAC contract runs through the 2026-27 season.
And so did those of us who walked down the aisle and said "I do and till death do us part." So much for contracts.
Bitches, man.
BillyTheCat
General User
BTC
Member Since: 10/6/2012
Post Count: 10,795
person
mail
BillyTheCat
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 10:09 AM
settings_applications edit_note
C Money wrote:expand_more
ESPN cutting 100 "on-air talent" positions today.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/espn-will-cut-100-air-perso...

If I am reading that article correctly, that label apparently applies to the talking heads and not the broadcast crews, so hopefully mid-week MACtion isn't affected...for now....
Lots of the cuts will be in their move to broadcast games from remote locations like ESPN has been trying out the past few years on select games.
Pataskala
General User
P
Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,465
person
mail
Pataskala
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 10:49 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Sporting News says some of the ESPN "stars" are making $1.5 million to $3 million. I don't think anybody on that network is worth that. Some apparently are willing to take a pay cut to stay on. I imagine the people doing MAC games are making low five figures. http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/espn-layoff...

Given the fact that ESPN just shelled out an undisclosed amount of money to buy the Miami Beach Bowl and move it to Texas, I doubt that payments to conferences are going to be an issue until the contract comes up for renewal. By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc. Same for the 130 bowl games that'll be played each year.
C Money
General User
Member Since: 8/28/2010
Post Count: 3,420
mail
C Money
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 12:10 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc.

Mmmmmmmmm....$48 a month for a grainy feed, no score bar, and shotty camera work....that's the stuff dreams are made of.....
cc-cat
General User
C
Member Since: 4/5/2006
Location: matthews, NC
Post Count: 4,015
person
mail
cc-cat
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 12:11 PM
settings_applications edit_note
buying bowls, televising MACAction etc is very cheap production costs for ESPN. Expect them to want more not less. Where they are getting burned is on the talking heads and major contracts eg MLB.
Deciduous Forest Cat
General User
DFC
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: OH
Post Count: 4,558
person
mail
Deciduous Forest Cat
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 12:38 PM
settings_applications edit_note
C Money wrote:expand_more
By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc.

Mmmmmmmmm....$48 a month for a grainy feed, no score bar, and shotty camera work....that's the stuff dreams are made of.....
You've seen the Internet recently, right?
OUcats82
General User
Member Since: 1/9/2005
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 1,912
mail
OUcats82
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 2:23 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc.

Mmmmmmmmm....$48 a month for a grainy feed, no score bar, and shotty camera work....that's the stuff dreams are made of.....
You've seen the Internet recently, right?
Only when I can get my kids or the Mrs. do keep off the dadgum phone so I can get an AOL connection.
Pataskala
General User
P
Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,465
person
mail
Pataskala
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 2:51 PM
settings_applications edit_note
C Money wrote:expand_more
By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc.

Mmmmmmmmm....$48 a month for a grainy feed, no score bar, and shotty camera work....that's the stuff dreams are made of.....
Considering that MAC scores come up about four times a game amongst the NCAAF top 25, NCAAF "P"5, "Score Alert" (which usually shows up right after they show the score in rotation anyway), "Upset Alert" (ditto), NFL news, MLB/NBA/NHL, MLS, FIFA, Golf, NASCAR, Tennis, and ESPN/ABC programming info, a score bar wouldn't be missed. If you blink or it comes up during a commercial break covered by DirecTV's spots, you miss it. And by scrunching the screen to get the score bar on, you usually can't see whether the guy's toe was out of bounds on the replay. CBS does a little better, but there usually aren't any other MAC games on the nights CBS covers the MAC anyway.
mf279801
General User
M279801
Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Newark, DE
Post Count: 2,486
person
mail
mf279801
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 4:06 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:expand_more
By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc.

Mmmmmmmmm....$48 a month for a grainy feed, no score bar, and shotty camera work....that's the stuff dreams are made of.....
You've seen the Internet recently, right?
You've seen a non-ESPN MAC stream recently, right? Like the one that used to be broadcast via stretchinternet on Ohiobobcats.com? Or the UB one that was wired through their scoreboard, so you got all of the stadium graphics mixed into the feed?
UpSan Bobcat
General User
Member Since: 8/30/2005
Location: Upper Sandusky, OH
Post Count: 3,817
mail
UpSan Bobcat
mail
Posted: 4/26/2017 9:28 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Pataskala wrote:expand_more
Sporting News says some of the ESPN "stars" are making $1.5 million to $3 million. I don't think anybody on that network is worth that. Some apparently are willing to take a pay cut to stay on. I imagine the people doing MAC games are making low five figures. http://www.sportingnews.com/other-sports/news/espn-layoff...

Given the fact that ESPN just shelled out an undisclosed amount of money to buy the Miami Beach Bowl and move it to Texas, I doubt that payments to conferences are going to be an issue until the contract comes up for renewal. By then, we'll all have dumped our cable/satellite in favor of live streaming, and the MAC will be operating its own platform with no connection to ESPN, CBS, Fox, ASN, etc. Same for the 130 bowl games that'll be played each year.
I think a lot of the guys who do the MAC games aren't even full-time employees.

What I hate most about this is that so many actual reporters were fired, leaving all of the guys (who probably make the most money in the first place) who just like to yell their opinions.
Monroe Slavin
General User
MS
Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121
person
mail
Monroe Slavin
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 12:04 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Apparently ESPN has had this type of firings...er, salary dumpings...several times over the past dozen years, happening every 2-3 years.

The MAC contract with ESPN runs thru 2026-27 or until this staff wins a MAC title. So, it likely runs thru 2026-27.
Athens
General User
A
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,454
person
mail
Athens
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 12:13 AM
settings_applications edit_note
The bubble bursting will lead to more desperation. Realignment this decade was a sign of desperation scrambling for TV money. One way they milked the system was the move to the playoff and the MAC benefited from the profit sharing. It does look ominous for ESPN when profits are tailing in an economy where the stock market is charting record highs.
Flat Tire
General User
FT
Member Since: 12/24/2006
Post Count: 141
person
mail
Flat Tire
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 8:41 AM
settings_applications edit_note
The payroll cuts are the first step to control expenses and adjust their business model. ESPN can still make money, but their revenues are down so the accountants are making the necessary adjustments. The next expense they will be review will be the contracts for broadcasting. ESPN paid way too much for the broadcasting rights, I believe they paid $2 Billion for Monday night football? They will be looking at every broadcasting fee to control their expense. Sometimes it is easier to cut the smaller fees to conferences like the MAC and keep the rights to say a conference like SEC since a major conference will draw more advertising revenues.
Last Edited: 4/27/2017 8:43:05 AM by Flat Tire
colobobcat66
General User
C66
Member Since: 9/1/2006
Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
Post Count: 4,744
person
mail
colobobcat66
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 9:53 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Flat Tire wrote:expand_more
The payroll cuts are the first step to control expenses and adjust their business model. ESPN can still make money, but their revenues are down so the accountants are making the necessary adjustments. The next expense they will be review will be the contracts for broadcasting. ESPN paid way too much for the broadcasting rights, I believe they paid $2 Billion for Monday night football? They will be looking at every broadcasting fee to control their expense. Sometimes it is easier to cut the smaller fees to conferences like the MAC and keep the rights to say a conference like SEC since a major conference will draw more advertising revenues.
Of course, they have been cutting staff now for several years. This recent cutting is certainly not the first part of that. If they are not already looking at broadcasting fees, they would be idiots. Rest assured that they are doing that.
rpbobcat
General User
R
Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
Post Count: 3,661
person
mail
rpbobcat
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 10:21 AM
settings_applications edit_note
They were talking about this on WFAN (Boomer and Carton) this morning.

From what they were saying,people in the industry expect the "landscape", as it comes to sports "broadcasting", to be very different in the next few years,especially as NBA and MLB broadcasting contracts come up.

They said that the NBA and MLB may be split into a number of different "platforms" with more "options" then there are today.

One thing that they seem to feel will happen,is the ability to "customize" sports viewing.
All of this is,of course, to optimize revenues.

They don't seem to feel that the NFL or college football will change much.
They do feel that ESPN will have to do something about the number of bowls they keep the rights too.

One thing that they also pointed out was that ESPN didn't seem to realize just how much sports viewing was going change,before it was too late.
C Money
General User
Member Since: 8/28/2010
Post Count: 3,420
mail
C Money
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 10:44 AM
settings_applications edit_note
rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
From what they were saying,people in the industry expect the "landscape", as it comes to sports "broadcasting", to be very different in the next few years,especially as NBA and MLB broadcasting contracts come up.

They said that the NBA and MLB may be split into a number of different "platforms" with more "options" then there are today.

One thing that they seem to feel will happen,is the ability to "customize" sports viewing.
All of this is,of course, to optimize revenues.

Yes. It's all going to go streaming, one way or another.

I think the question is whether the leagues themselves handle the streaming, or ESPN abandons the cable model, or a new player like Netflix or Amazon incorporates live sports.
OhioCatFan
General User
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 15,682
mail
OhioCatFan
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 10:50 AM
settings_applications edit_note
C Money wrote:expand_more
I think the question is whether the leagues themselves handle the streaming, or ESPN abandons the cable model, or a new player like Netflix or Amazon incorporates live sports.
IMHO, if ESPN doesn't abandon the cable model they will not survive. For the next several years they need to be in a transition mode where they are still in cable but are putting increasing emphasis on streaming.
C Money
General User
Member Since: 8/28/2010
Post Count: 3,420
mail
C Money
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 11:01 AM
settings_applications edit_note
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I think the question is whether the leagues themselves handle the streaming, or ESPN abandons the cable model, or a new player like Netflix or Amazon incorporates live sports.
IMHO, if ESPN doesn't abandon the cable model they will not survive. For the next several years they need to be in a transition mode where they are still in cable but are putting increasing emphasis on streaming.
I have a friend who works in content development at Netflix. He's told me they are absolutely trying to get into sports, but right now they're looking less at mainstream sports and more into things like MMA. But as these major contracts come up for renegotiation, who knows what might happen?

A Disney/Netflix merger--with a new ESPN streaming sports add-on for Netflix subscribers--would make a lot of sense to me.
Pataskala
General User
P
Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,465
person
mail
Pataskala
mail
Posted: 4/27/2017 12:30 PM
settings_applications edit_note
ESPN's financial problems may eventually lead to a "Group of Five" playoff. ESPN owns/operates 13 of the 18 bowl games with G5 teams. If they can't find a way to stop hemorrhaging money, most -- or all -- of these games will cease to exist. Some may fold anyway. But the G5 conferences will still want some kind of post-season, and the "P"s won't cooperate because they want to lock us out. A G5 playoff is already being discussed, with a modicum of support. If ESPN's bowl games disappear, the discussion will get more serious.
Last Edited: 4/27/2017 12:31:13 PM by Pataskala
Athens
General User
A
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,454
person
mail
Athens
mail
Posted: 4/28/2017 7:04 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Flat Tire wrote:expand_more
They will be looking at every broadcasting fee to control their expense. Sometimes it is easier to cut the smaller fees to conferences like the MAC and keep the rights to say a conference like SEC since a major conference will draw more advertising revenues.
After years of telling us how grandiose CUSA's TV deal was and how much the per school payout made a big difference now since you can't do that anymore your suggesting the MAC's TV deal will be cut. It's CUSA's TV deal ESPN decided to give up on not the MAC.
Monroe Slavin
General User
MS
Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Oxnard, CA
Post Count: 9,121
person
mail
Monroe Slavin
mail
Posted: 4/28/2017 10:05 AM
settings_applications edit_note
I hear...well, actually I'm 100%, totally making up..that OHIO may change conferences, probably going to, at least, ACC level.

Why not? We always have these thoughts and haven't had it for a while.


Heck, with Zaire transferring in to OHIO, we're hot attractive!
colobobcat66
General User
C66
Member Since: 9/1/2006
Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
Post Count: 4,744
person
mail
colobobcat66
mail
Posted: 4/28/2017 11:40 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Monroe Slavin wrote:expand_more
I hear...well, actually I'm 100%, totally making up..that OHIO may change conferences, probably going to, at least, ACC level.

Why not? We always have these thoughts and haven't had it for a while.


Heck, with Zaire transferring in to OHIO, we're hot attractive!
I hear it's a sure thing since an anonymous donor from California who sells doggie bags had donated $100,000,000 to build a new football field-Monroe Stadium.
Showing Messages: 1 - 25 of 43
reply
vertical_align_top
vertical_align_center
vertical_align_bottom
add_comment
chevron_forward
MAC News Links



extra small (< 576px)
small (>= 576px)
medium (>= 768px)
large (>= 992px)
x-large (>= 1200px)
xx-large (>= 1400px)