Thank you, Twist. Your pro-bono work helps all the emotionally-abused, ill-tempered, win-starved hoi palloi at Write for California. [Sarah McLachlan's 'Angel' plays]
My impression that is that ACC and ESPN wins, in the short term, by hanging onto this contract...and that the current cast of schools does not have the same value as the SEC and B1G. However, I would think that the potential demise of the ACC is not good business for ESPN and that, at some point, it would make sense to toss some more bucks in to placate the likes of FSU, Clemson, and UNC. Or is the potential in the SEC and B1G that much better that they will never be satisfied with an ACC deal (probably true), even if a move to the SEC or B1G will result in much fiercer competition?
Well, dang, I guess I am going to have to disagree with you again. There will not be a tiered distribution system in the ACC. That notion is DOA. And the bad blood between FSU and the ACC is an untenable situation that will end sooner rather than later. And, no, it will not cost FSU $400m to get out.
The playoff distribution money is $10m higher per school for SEC/B1G than ACC/B1G. And the payout for the B1G is projected to grow to close to a $100m per member. The difference between the two is going to be over $40m per year. FSU can’t compete with the fellow Big Boys in that position. Also, FSU generates like $81m for the ACC per year but would generate over a $100m easily in the B1G.
As you so cogently noted in your piece on the Clemson suit, the risk to the ACC in the court in SC is that the judge could rule that the ACC contract with the member institutions and the ESPN Multimedia Agreement with the ACC are not separate, stand alone entities but, instead, are interrelated and intertwined. The latter is not much of a legal stretch as the ACC contract specifically denotes ESPN as the sole media partner and that the ACC contract serves to fulfill the requirements as set forth by ESPN. As the ESPN Agreement clearly and unambiguously states that a program is covered as long as it is a member of the ACC and not after, a judge may well rule that the ACC contract operates solely to fulfill its obligations to ESPN and nothing more. Be that the case, Clemson (and by extension, Florida State) retains their media rights after leaving the conference. The ACC might well be advised to enter into a settlement rather than roll the dice. We shall see.
Look forward to your next piece on this unfolding drama.
The issue should come to a head soon in SC. Clemson has filed a motion to try to win on the issue of the rights ownership after they leave. If they win on that, a settlement could come quickly after
Well written and concise. Generally agree with your assessment. However, you do not appear to know much about the CFB snub and attribute it to the lack of the starting quarterback. Nothing could be further from the truth. The microsecond that Alabama upset Georgia in the SEC championship game, FSU’s fate was sealed. The ESPN College Football Invitational Tournament and SEC Showcase has to include at least one SEC team. As Georgia lost, that permanent slot went to Alabama as the SEC champion. But there was a fly in the ointment because Texas beat Alabama by double digits in Alabama and won their conference championship game, too. So, you couldn’t take one without the other, hence both being selected. That, and that alone, was the reason that FSU got pushed out.
As far as the CFB snub, I watched everything go down live last year. Multiple things can exist at once. There can be issues with QB and a lust for having Alabama in the playoff.
Thank you, Twist. Your pro-bono work helps all the emotionally-abused, ill-tempered, win-starved hoi palloi at Write for California. [Sarah McLachlan's 'Angel' plays]
Thanks for your kind words, but uou don't have to say "emotionally-abused, ill-tempered, win-starved," we're Cal fans, it's implied!
My impression that is that ACC and ESPN wins, in the short term, by hanging onto this contract...and that the current cast of schools does not have the same value as the SEC and B1G. However, I would think that the potential demise of the ACC is not good business for ESPN and that, at some point, it would make sense to toss some more bucks in to placate the likes of FSU, Clemson, and UNC. Or is the potential in the SEC and B1G that much better that they will never be satisfied with an ACC deal (probably true), even if a move to the SEC or B1G will result in much fiercer competition?
I do think that a reasonable settlement here might be Clemson/FSU making more of the ACC pie than others. Fair, no, but its a likely end game
Well, dang, I guess I am going to have to disagree with you again. There will not be a tiered distribution system in the ACC. That notion is DOA. And the bad blood between FSU and the ACC is an untenable situation that will end sooner rather than later. And, no, it will not cost FSU $400m to get out.
The playoff distribution money is $10m higher per school for SEC/B1G than ACC/B1G. And the payout for the B1G is projected to grow to close to a $100m per member. The difference between the two is going to be over $40m per year. FSU can’t compete with the fellow Big Boys in that position. Also, FSU generates like $81m for the ACC per year but would generate over a $100m easily in the B1G.
I agree with you that by the 2030s, the differences in #s can be huge, but if FSU has to pay out 400-500 mil, Im not sure they break even
As you so cogently noted in your piece on the Clemson suit, the risk to the ACC in the court in SC is that the judge could rule that the ACC contract with the member institutions and the ESPN Multimedia Agreement with the ACC are not separate, stand alone entities but, instead, are interrelated and intertwined. The latter is not much of a legal stretch as the ACC contract specifically denotes ESPN as the sole media partner and that the ACC contract serves to fulfill the requirements as set forth by ESPN. As the ESPN Agreement clearly and unambiguously states that a program is covered as long as it is a member of the ACC and not after, a judge may well rule that the ACC contract operates solely to fulfill its obligations to ESPN and nothing more. Be that the case, Clemson (and by extension, Florida State) retains their media rights after leaving the conference. The ACC might well be advised to enter into a settlement rather than roll the dice. We shall see.
Look forward to your next piece on this unfolding drama.
The issue should come to a head soon in SC. Clemson has filed a motion to try to win on the issue of the rights ownership after they leave. If they win on that, a settlement could come quickly after
I don't usually comment on these, but I always read them. I appreciate all these breakdowns, it has to be a ton of work!
Thank you very much. It has been a bit of work, especially with 4 cases ongoing and appeals etc. I'm trying to keep up as much as I can!!!
Well written and concise. Generally agree with your assessment. However, you do not appear to know much about the CFB snub and attribute it to the lack of the starting quarterback. Nothing could be further from the truth. The microsecond that Alabama upset Georgia in the SEC championship game, FSU’s fate was sealed. The ESPN College Football Invitational Tournament and SEC Showcase has to include at least one SEC team. As Georgia lost, that permanent slot went to Alabama as the SEC champion. But there was a fly in the ointment because Texas beat Alabama by double digits in Alabama and won their conference championship game, too. So, you couldn’t take one without the other, hence both being selected. That, and that alone, was the reason that FSU got pushed out.
Thank you for your kind words.
As far as the CFB snub, I watched everything go down live last year. Multiple things can exist at once. There can be issues with QB and a lust for having Alabama in the playoff.
"The ESPN College Football Invitational Tournament and SEC Showcase has to include at least one SEC team."
LOL. Hence the SEC President's speech loaded with foreshadow and warning. "What's wrong with this picture?" Wrong, indeed.