What happened to college football on New Years Day?

[justthenumbers]

Or better yet, put it on the ABC television network where it belongs. Hey, I understand the media world is changing, but the biggest sporting events should be on the biggest media outlets. And, ABC is still bigger than ESPN.

Or better yet, let the marketplace work. He who ponies up the money gets to do with the product as they please to best serve their business interests.

Well said.

 

[bpatrick]

Let me make a strictly hypothetical. Let's say that
ESPN puts the Auburn-Oregon game on the ABC affiliate
in each team's home market (WTVM Columbus, GA for
Auburn, KEZI Eugene for Oregon). Next thing happens:
viewers in Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, and
Montgomery would want to see Auburn OTA; Portland-
area viewers would want to see Oregon OTA.
Don't you think ESPN would feel it was defeating its purpose
if it offered the game to OTA stations in those markets?

Ok, then put it on markets in the two school's states.

That's where these markets are.

 

[radiolives]

ESPN might have most of the college football but CBS has March Maddness with this season starting its first contract with Turner Sports. ESPN wanted to get this deal but the NCAA wanted another broadcaster to have it as they already know ESPN has NCAA football.

Give 'em time. Eventually ESPN will weasel their way into the March Madness broadcasts. You can only throw so much money at someone before they give in.

The new deal with CBS Sports and Turner Sports is set for a bunch of years not sure how many off the top of my head. It will be a good deal viewers can see all the games on TV starting this year.

 

[philosofy]

NFL Network does something similar - when the Cowboys had a game on NFLN earlier this year, it was broadcast (in HD, no less) on KDAF/33 in the Dallas market. I don't think it would hurt overall numbers if ESPN did the same thing for the (mythical) national championship game.

NFL rules say that any game broadcast on cable is made available OTA in the local market. Provided that the local team has managed to sell enough tickets to avoid a blackout.

 

[TheRob]

ESPN will also bid for four consecutive Olympics. FOX is doing the same thing, though I could not imagine a guy like Joe Buck lulling his way through the marquee events (there's the gun **ten seconds of silence** gold medal, USA).