ESPN in bed with the Big X...

[GatorHunter]

Do you wonder why ESPN was/is soooo hell-bent that Michigan should be playing OSU instead of Florida? Turns out, they are "in bed" with the Big X with millions of dollars at stake. Imagine, if Mich and OSU played...the Big X would be guaranteed a MNC and ratings would skyrocket next season...lessening the blow of losing the BCS bowls to FOX...talk about a conflict of interests...here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/sports/ncaafootball/27tv.html?ex=1314331200&en=226909a8e8b6b09f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[TaySC]

anyone else see the new channel that is being started for the Big Ten????

Seriously, it is a Big Ten channel and will allegedly cover all Big Ten sports.

[shanksta13]

What's the latest on the SEC Channel? Is it gonna be given the go for next year?

[AUChamps]

Read the article I linked...ESPN is behind the Big X channel. :thumbsdow
WRONG. Fox Sports is behind the Big 10 Network. Actually the games broadcast on ESPN Plus(the Big 10's version of LF Sports) will now instead be shown on the Big 10 Network.

http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/062106aad.html

The Big Ten Network represents a 20-year partnership between the Big Ten and Fox. It will be majority-owned by the Big Ten Conference, with Fox holding a minority interest. The Network will establish its studios and headquarters in Chicago. Fox will handle the administration and daily operations of the Network. The Big Ten will establish general guidelines regarding the types of programs and advertising aired on the Big Ten Network to ensure consistency with the Big Ten's brand values. As such, no alcohol or gambling-related advertising will be accepted.

Now, the Network games will still be on ABC and ESPN.

Again, if we have an SEC Network then that means you can say bye-bye to LF Sports and to Dave Baker, Dave Rowe, and Dave Neal.

[Bburton86]

I hope we hold off on the SEC channel. We should wait and see how the Big 2 channel does.

[AUChamps]

I hope we hold off on the SEC channel. We should wait and see how the Big 2 channel does.
But don't you want The Daves and LF to go away forever?

I DO!!!!!!!

[uscrules]

But don't you want The Daves and LF to go away forever?

I DO!!!!!!!
I agree with you, they have the worse picture. In this area it is always dark, even on bright sunny days. I have never liked their broadcast.

[GatorHunter]

WRONG. Fox Sports is behind the Big 10 Network. Actually the games broadcast on ESPN Plus(the Big 10's version of LF Sports) will now instead be shown on the Big 10 Network.

http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/062106aad.html



Now, the Network games will still be on ABC and ESPN.

Again, if we have an SEC Network then that means you can say bye-bye to LF Sports and to Dave Baker, Dave Rowe, and Dave Neal.

Yep...it's FOX...but still, doesn't change the fact that ESPN/ABC would profit greatly from an all-Big X MNC game...either way you look at it, it's more about business and money than the games themselves.

[WDavE]

I agree with you, they have the worse picture. In this area it is always dark, even on bright sunny days. I have never liked their broadcast.


I won't state that LF is on par with let's say NBC/Fox/ABC/CBS technically but I see their feeds all the time. They are not that bad. Their satelite feeds are pretty good and each affiliate has set up issues to do before airing the game.

Usually, one of the weaker affiliates in each market carries those games.

My early guess is that none of the operators set the video gain on the receiver and nor does the station have any kind of automatic gain correction. One way to tell if I am correct or not. If the station replays the game later and then if it looks better. Then I am correct. It's because most of the tape machines or virtual recordes have AGC's (automatic gain control) built in on record mode (ratio of video compared to sync).

[AuburnPawnTiger]

I won't state that LF is on par with let's say NBC/Fox/ABC/CBS technically but I see their feeds all the time. They are not that bad. Their satelite feeds are pretty good and each affiliate has set up issues to do before airing the game.

Usually, one of the weaker affiliates in each market carries those games.

My early guess is that none of the operators set the video gain on the receiver and nor does the station have any kind of automatic gain correction. One way to tell if I am correct or not. If the station replays the game later and then if it looks better. Then I am correct. It's because most of the tape machines or virtual recordes have AGC's (automatic gain control) built in on record mode (ratio of video compared to sync).

I'll buy it, but what about the kanooker valve???

The picture does look darker to me though

[KillerNut]

Big 10 made that network because ESPN (especially) this year, likes to put OSU and Michigan games againist crappy opponents that they know will draw huge ratings nonetheless on ESPNU to promote that channel because it isn't a big hit. Unless you have a sports package on your Satelite dish, you cannot get ESPNU without ordering it. That is part of the reason why they are forming that Big 10 network.

[AUChamps]

Big 10 made that network because ESPN (especially) this year, likes to put OSU and Michigan games againist crappy opponents that they know will draw huge ratings nonetheless on ESPNU to promote that channel because it isn't a big hit. Unless you have a sports package on your Satelite dish, you cannot get ESPNU without ordering it. That is part of the reason why they are forming that Big 10 network.
But you guys also have ESPN Plus which rebroadcasts a lot of those lower tier games on local affiliates and those are the games that will be shifting to Big 10 Network.

Down here we have the same sort of thing, except Lincoln Financial Sports does the work and feeds it to local affiliates. And every member of the Lincoln Finanical Sports team is named Dave. 2 Daves in the booth and 1 Dave on the sideline.

[Gator2753]

I just cant wait for the Big East network! The WAC could take a while!

[AUChamps]

I just cant wait for the Big East network! The WAC could take a while!
Mountain West already has a network: themtn.cstv.com/

[WDavE]

I'll buy it, but what about the kanooker valve???

The picture does look darker to me though
LOL! I don't have any idea about the kanooker value...

I have been in the television business for 31 years. Except for the west coast there are not many TV stations nor radio stations that I have not worked for or on.

I have done NFL games, college, hockey, Nascar and prize fights (which is the hardest by the way). I even free-lanced at the Atlanta Olympics. That was extremely boring for me... They assigned me to archery. You might have heard me on the air a couple of times. "Shoot for heavens sake"

[WDavE]

It is not only ESPN... Take a look at Sagarin's Stenght of Schedule rankings.

SEC teams:
Tennessee at (11
Florida (18
LSU (28
Auburn (31

1.Stanford = 82.32
2.Southern California = 81.02
3.UCLA = 79.67
4.Arizona = 79.59
5.Washington = 79.58
6.California = 79.14
7.Oregon = 78.68
8.Washington State = 78.20
9.Arizona State = 77.49
10.Oregon State = 76.89

His computer rankings are used in the BCS. Bias at it's best!

[AuburnPawnTiger]

LOL! I don't have any idea about the kanooker value...

I have been in the television business for 31 years. Except for the west coast there are not many TV stations nor radio stations that I have not worked for or on.

I have done NFL games, college, hockey, Nascar and prize fights (which is the hardest by the way). I even free-lanced at the Atlanta Olympics. That was extremely boring for me... They assigned me to archery. You might have heard me on the air a couple of times. "Shoot for heavens sake"

Atleast it was summer olympics and you didn't have to cover the fast paced action of curling.... I would rather put money in a paper bag and set it ablaze