ESPN and the SEC

Interesting viewpoint from CFN:

" The challenge flag needs to be thrown on ESPN’s 15-year, $2.25 billion deal with the SEC. It’s one thing for a league to have its own network, like the Big Ten has, but it’s another to have one of the major media outlets be so intertwined both financially and logistically with one single college football conference. ESPN is it. This is the big bad boy on the block, and now that it has become ESPNSEC, all other leagues will be fighting a tough uphill battle to compete.

ESPN is an entertainment company, not a news service. It’s going to be all SEC football, all the time with shows, promos, and everything the big menace can do to milk every last dime out of this relationship. You can guarantee that the first three college football news items are always going to be SEC related, tied in to a slew of promos for other SEC shows, while the recruiting advantage will become even more unbalanced than most already think it is. And then there’s the money factor. $2.25 billion, when the trickle down effect occurs, means the SEC teams will have better facilities, better coaches, and better overall programs than anyone else can possibly come up with. In other words, if you’re a Big East or ACC team with national title dreams, take care of business now."

 

According to you and the talking heads for the past several years, that is already the case..

It still isn't helping you come Saturday afternoon though.

 

It certainly has the potential to give the SEC a big edge, esp vs the competition with the new, expanded and not improved ACC.

However it may lead to a level of parity that results in it being very difficult for SEC teams to make it to the BCS championship game.

Terry

edit:

or all that money could lead to more bagmen and more NCAA troubles as they newly rich lower echelon of the SEC now have money to compete in the wars.

 

How come none of these dangers apply to the Notre Dame network?

 

Something seemed to help on enough Saturdays that the SEC makes their share of appearances in the BCS Championship game, even winning a few.

 

Because were good Catholic boys, KP. Ya'll know you can trust us :wink:

 

Well good question. To me it's mainly because we aren't in a conference so we while we compete for football players, it's not quite the same as the intense competition for talent when it's conference members trying to beat each other out. That was the problem with the old SWC, and it was the problem with the Tenn/Alabama dust up that is still not over I guess.

Also we don't have to share with anybody so teams we play won't get richer and more competitive because we get a good TV deal.

Terry

 

I'd like to say... while I think the NBC contract has been a great thing for the University of Notre Dame, I don't think its helped the football program. In fact, I'd say that it has hurt it.

 

I agree with Corey 100%.

 

I agree with Corey in that the NBC affiliation has only served to set ND up for a fall because that's what people like to see when some entity, person or organization is elevated above the rest of the normal population.

Think Brittany Spears getting thrown in the slammer and losing her kids.....America loves it.....twisted as they are.

 

I think I agree with y'all, it is just that I have never heard the Notre Dame crowd worry so much about their network affiliation. I'm not sure this ESPN affiliation is good for the SEC. If it results in our games being broadcast more often then I guess I am okay with it, if not,then I don't really care. I'm not sure more money for the football program is really needed. I know it's blasphemy, but there is such a thing as enough money. :?: