Champions Bowl $80 million payout from ESPN

[BobKerley]

New Champions Bowl in line for $80 million payout from ESPN (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/big12/2012/07/new-champions-bowl-in-line-for-80-million-payout-from-espn/)

The Big 12′s new partnership with the Southeastern Conference for the new Champions Bowl will make both conferences a lot of money.

The Sports Business Daily reported today that ESPN has reached an agreement with both conferences to telecast the new Champions Bowl beginning in 2015.

Industry sources told the Daily that the two conferences will receive about $80 million per year. That total will play it with roughly the same rights that ESPN currently pays to the Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences for the Rose Bowl.

The report clearly shows that ESPN is determined to get a stranglehold on properties that could make up the major post season games in the new era where a four-team playoff will conclude the FBS season.

And it also shows some respect for the Big 12, less than a year after the conference was thought to be on its last legs as other conferences appeared ready to pick apart its membership for new members.

The leading candidate for the Champions Bowl appears to be the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, where a bid would be backed by the Dallas Cowboys and the Cotton Bowl.

Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said last week at the Big 12′s Media Days that he expects details of the Champions Bowl to be ironed out over the next few weeks.

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ESPN Reportedly Acquires Rights to the ‘Champions’ Bowl (http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2012/07/espn-reportedly-acquires-rights-to-the-champions-bowl/)

ESPN has reportedly locked up rights to the new ‘Champions’ Bowl for the duration of the new college football playoff system.

ESPN has taken another step toward owning college football’s new postseason by striking a deal to broadcast the Champions Bowl from 2015 through 2026. Even though the Champions Bowl is just two months old, industry sources say it will receive roughly the same rights fee that ESPN ...

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If true, this is quite impressive.

[CenTexDave]

Makes sense for both conferences to have this bowl game.
# 1 - the way the Big 12 is lately, they won't be sending anyone to the BCS or new national championship playoffs.
# 2 - the SEC finds another way to put a high profile in a big paying game.

[BobKerley]

I dont know about #1. In spite of the fact that the SEC sent two teams to the national championships, the Big12 actually had the highest power rankings of all the conferences and added two more ranked teams this year. Of course, this year doesnt make any difference to the "Champions" bowl since that is a couple of years away. However, Year-in and year-out, the Big12 is a top power conference and will probably get even tougher as they likely add two more regularly ranked teams by 2014. As in the past, if a team in the Big12 finishes undefeated or with one loss, they will be in the 4 team national title picture. As an example, last year oSu would have been in the 4 team playoff even with a loss to Iowa State.

I dont think an actual plan has been released yet but the Champions bowl could have the same effect as the Rose bowl does right now with tie-ins for Big10 and Pac12. If that is the case, the Champions bowl could be used in the national playoff picture most years since both the Big12 and sec will likely have at least one team out of the top four in the national title playoff.

[CenTexDave]

That was last year. Don't expect Baylor to be nearly as good without Griffin. Missouri is gone. Added TCU and West Virginia, but too early to tell about them. TCU had a big drug scandal and lost some excellent players. West Virginia had a romp in their bowl game, but is there anything left in the tank?
You're right about the bowl - big payout.

[BobKerley]

That was last year. Don't expect Baylor to be nearly as good without Griffin. Missouri is gone. Added TCU and West Virginia, but too early to tell about them. TCU had a big drug scandal and lost some excellent players. West Virginia had a romp in their bowl game, but is there anything left in the tank?

agree on all points...

Mizzu and aTm were both non-issues last year and between them only accounted for one conference championship during their whole time in the Big 12. Both were mediocre in the Big 12 and both will likely be mediocre in the sec.

While both TCU and WVA come into the Big12 ranked, I doubt either will live up to the hype. Getting 10 or 11 wins while being in the MWC (TCU) and getting up for a bowl game is one thing but doing it week-in and week-out will be another. And as you state, losing four players to a drug scandal will not help playing a tougher schedule slate when quality roster depth is vitally important to be successful.

WVA had a very good offense last year and will again this year. Their head coach, Holgorsen, came from the Big12 after running Mike Leach's "air raid" offense at Texas Tech and then Oklahoma State's high powered offense as offensive coordinator. The Big East hadnt seen a Big12 offense on a regular basis and were shocked; whereas, the Big 12 teams have seen Holgorsen's type of offense regularly and for a long time. Even so, WVA's defense was horrible and still lost games to unranked Louisville and 'Cuse and had very close games against Pitt, USF, and Cincy that were all 3 point or less wins. I could be wrong but I think WVA will be brought down to earth.

Also agree about Baylor... without RG3 to escape the rush and sacks that would happen to virtually any other QB and then complete 50 yd passing on the run is not going to happen this year.

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[BobKerley]

You're right about the bowl - big payout.

And what's even better about this for the Big12 is that each team gets a better cut. The Rose bowl also got an $80mil deal between the Big10 and the Pac12 but the Rose bowl operates as a middle man and will take a good chunk so the end result is that the take home per team will be smaller than what the Big12 team will take home per team. A bowl committee did not make the deal for the Champions bowl - the two conferences did. That means, since they dont have a middle man, they will be able to bid out the game to cities / stadiums and, therefore, they will keep a larger portion of the revenue to split it between the teams.

This will probably change but, as of right now, the Big12 teams will get a bigger piece of the pie per team compared to the sec. The Big12 will only have to divide it up 10 ways, as compared to the 14 ways the sec will have to divide the revenue.

[CenTexDave]

The thing with just about all conferences is now that all bowl money is added up and divided equally among all the conference's schools - even if they don't play in a bowl game, even if they go 0-12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's why Notre Dame has remained independent. They makes vault fulls of money with their independent TV contract with NBC and don't have to share any bowl money. Of course, they haven't gone to much a bowl game lately. Their last BCS bowl was the Fiesta and Ohio State blew them out of the stadium. :))

[BobKerley]

The thing with just about all conferences is now that all bowl money is added up and divided equally among all the conference's schools - even if they don't play in a bowl game, even if they go 0-12!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That's why Notre Dame has remained independent. They makes vault fulls of money with their independent TV contract with NBC and don't have to share any bowl money. Of course, they haven't gone to much a bowl game lately. Their last BCS bowl was the Fiesta and Ohio State blew them out of the stadium. :))

yeppers... with revenue sharing of the conference contracts, ISU and TTU make as much as Texas or 0U and a lot more than Notre Dame for that matter.

Notre Dame is falling behind and they know it; even if their fan base doesnt want to concede that fact. Notre Dame's contract 25 years ago was HUGE in relation to the other big schools such as Texas. But conferences have pushed well ahead of Notre Dame in the last 10 years or so; to the point now where a school like Texas, or Ohio State, or even Kansas will make probably triple what Notre Dame makes in TV revenue. If Notre Dames doesnt make a BCS bowl in any particular year, then they fall further and further behind regional schools in the mid-west such as Purdue who will probably double Notre Dame's tv revenue being part of the BTN this year.

I dont see the BCS completely blocking Notre Dame out of the national title picture, esp while the BCS committee overseeing the new national playoff is ran by their athletic director, Jack Swarbrick. I do see, however, it getting harder for ND to get a top 4 playoff spot if they are not part of a major conference while covering their down side. They would have to go undefeated in my opinion even to have a shot. It's also going to be hard for them to keep a lot of the traditional rivalries as conferences change to 9 game schedules leaving only a couple of open slots to schedule a team like Notre Dame. Notre Dame's tv ratings last year were an abysmal 1.6 and if that doesnt improve soon, then teams may start dropping ND for a more schedule friendly opponent with not much a dropoff in ratings.

Additionally, Comcast recently bought NBC and an article last year noted that Comcast is not pleased with NBC's college football product (Notre Dame) and what they bring to the table. Notre Dame's Comcast problem is also complicated by the retirement of several very key executives at NBC that were instrumental in creating and maintaining the Notre Dame and NBC contract. Of course, all things could work out for Notre Dame in the end but they are also wise in looking for a landing spot if it doesnt. Coincidently, Notre Dame's contract with NBC is up in 2015 as is the Big 12's contract with ESPN the same year and the Champions bowl starts in 2014... so a lot is happening about the same time.

On a different note, Florida State believes they could triple their revenues if they join the Big12 rather than stay with the new but bad ACC media deal. The new ACC-ESPN contract gives an ACC team probably about what Notre Dame makes from NBC. If that is true, I believe there is absolutely no reason why Notre Dame couldnt do as well or better than FSU in the Big12 with regards to media revenue.
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