Panther247 Board

It is a lot better than last year, but all that matters is that they have their internet streaming service already established. If upgrades need to be made, that can be addressed down the line.

they have no incentive to offer a la carte programming - of course. But that's the problem. As Google, Netflix and new OTT players emerge, the days of the bundled TV will be over...and Comcast / Verizon / AT&T will mainly be reduced to providing fast packets....Comcast will still have a stake in Content though due to its ownership of NBC.

I think its great revenue for the BTN for now. But there will be a day when the good times will end and people just wont buy / consume TV like this. And the B1G will be stuck with MD and RU.

Its only a matter of time until the model changes.

Louisville will get better ratings. That was my point. Anyone think UMD is more interesting in athletics? Obviously more TV sets is great but then why not add Temple?

The BTN is already on Comcast in the Philly TV market based on PSU. Temple adds nothing to the equation.

Seriously? you are asking that? I get your point about new TV markets but Rutgers and MD were the AAU schools adjacement to the B1G footprint that were the new TV markets that made the most sense right now.

Perhaps Boston and someday Charlotte (UNC) will be targets for further B1G expansion. Seems possible. Not sure if UMASS would be the top Boston target though.

Verizon and AT&T have all the good bands so thats why they limit the data. Sprint has the crappy bands and offer it on an unlimited basis.

So I'm not sure Verizon or AT&T will ever go back to the unlimited data plan.

They only took Rutgers and MD to block the ACC from getting PSU to switch. PSU feels like the B1G treated them poorly and many wanted to leave for their eastern roots.

The kicker to blocking a PSU move was that they could capitalize on the TV sets via the basic cable base. This whole thing was a big risk. Sure they will make money in those markets if they get on basic packages, until the rest catch up or the model changes. The B1G has to be banking on the landscape changing in those markets that increases interest in Rutgers & MD or these two will be anchors around the necks of the rest. They already have a few anchors sucking of the teet who are longtime members.

All in all the was Jim Delaney being PO'd that ND turned them down and wanting to make a spiteful move to block a PSU exit.

It's not going to come from the cable companies, necessarily. Just like ala carte music services that turned that industry on its head didn't emanate from the music industry or its distributors.

There is a big difference between TV and music. One is basically static (music) while the other is dynamic (TV).

The only way a la carte will be a reality is if pirating runs wild. That is what caused the music industry to reluctantly sign on to iTunes and like services... they decided that getting a piece of the pie was better than giving it away. But, again, that was based on the pirating of static files that never changed and could be distributed rather easily. That's not the case with TV.

There is a reason that internet TV hasn't yet become a serious player. The content is controlled by the channels (HBO, TBS, ESPN, ect) and their best option is to be on TV as part of a complete package of programs. Very, very few channels would be able to make as a stand alone product on an a la carte menu and none would be better off than they are now.

Again, what's the incentive?

UVA Isn't moving anywhere though, that is the problem. Neither is UNC. Both are tightly bound together and both are tightly bound to the ACC.

It is yet to be seen if YES will be bundled. Again, the issue is that Yankees/Nets still own 51%. If the Yankees help the BTN get on cable, they are going to be compensated for doing so. It is more complicated than just bundling things together as if it has no effect on the value of the components, particularly important because different groups own parts of all this stuff. If YES is carrying the BTN, that means that the BTN is being overvalued, and YES is being undervalued; particularly the BTN is being overvalued by the amount that YES is being undervalued. The point YES is leaving money on the table (in the form of reducing their carriage fees) so that the BTN can get it (i.e. get increased rates by being picked up on basic cable at an artificially high carriage rate).

I'm going to copy the following example from nzmorange because it isn't worth the time to construct my own example...
If:
1. having YES doesn't make the BTN more enjoyable, and visa versa (i.e. they don't add value to each other)
2. they are packaged together
3. YES is worth $1.00 per subscriber in carriage rates
4. and the BTN is worth $0.50 in per subscriber carriage rates

Then:
They are worth $1.50 per subscriber in carriage rates, when combined.

If:
1. the BTN demands $0.60 in carriage rates per subscriber
2. and cable companies won't pay more than something is worth

Then:
YES' rates will have to be $0.90, so the package's overall price is not mroe than what it is worth

That means that YES is essentially paying the BTN $0.10 per subscriber in lost carriage rates.

Assuming that the BTN doesn't reimburse YES, then YES only makes $0.90, when it could have made $1.00. That $0.90 is then divided between the Yankees and FOX, so the Yankees make $0.45, which $0.05 less than they could have, and FOX makes $0.45, which $0.05 less than they could have. However, the BTN makes $0.60, when it should have made $0.50. That $0.60 is divided between the B1G and FOX, which means that the B1G makes $0.30, which is $0.05 more than it should have made, and FOX makes, $0.30, which is $0.05 more than it should have made.

In the end, the Yankees lose $0.05, FOX loses $0.05, but then they gain $0.05, so they break even, and the B1G gains $0.05. That's why the Yankees are going to want money back from the B1G, but Fox's participation is an accounting wash.

Totally agree...I've argued this for the past 3 years on TOS on deaf ears.

Its not a shoe-in....in fact, its a big gamble. I live here and people whine about the smallest increases - especially for sports.

Forcing people to buy college sports - in a bundle - is even bigger slap in the face to the residents of this area.

People see 10MM people in NYC and think - they must all be sports fans. NOT!

There are huge amounts of diverse / liberal / intellectual groups around here that could give a ratt's butt about sports - particularly college sports.

Come on now Paco, you know that the ACCIAC isn't on the level of the CIC.