Friday, December 4, 2015

2015 CFB TV Facts & Figures - Independents

Army, BYU and Notre Dame are the remaining independents in college football.  Army and Notre Dame started new television contracts with their existing television partners and have all of their home games set in advance, where BYU does participate in the in-season television selection process for their home games.

Because there are limits on where these schools can place their games, I'm going list notable items instead about 2015:

* BYU had their first season with two games on BYUtv, though the second game (Fresno St. on 11/21) was simulcast on ESPN3.  BYU's TV contract has some leeway after ESPN meets its minimums of three home games on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, one game on ESPNU and BYUtv carrying a game.  Usually ESPN took on every game after BYUtv reserved their sole game.

* Army signed a new TV deal with CBS Sports Network to continue their partnership.  Staying true to one of the key items within the press release was that each Saturday home game started at 12pm ET, which is the goal of the TV deal.

* The Black Knights once again moved their opener to a Friday night instead of playing during Labor Day Weekend.  They also elected to do this in 2013.

* Notre Dame had their first regularly scheduled "home" game on NBCSN with the Boston College game from Fenway Park.  NBCSN noted that the game provided their highest rated college football game.

* Two games in South Bend were played at night (9/3 vs. Texas, 10/17 vs. USC).  NBC will work with the school to schedule up to three home games at night on a rolling two year basis, which means one game in 2016 should be available to be played under the lights.

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