Arizona Bowl tech experience and some commentary on costs

* I tuned into the Arizona Bowl for five minutes to check on some of the technical aspects of it.  For the most part I've stayed away from watching bowl games, but since this bowl was being presented differently using syndication for TV and digital platforms, I wanted to check it out and the execution of the technical side.  Here's some brief observations that I made using a Chromecast device, my Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and my Windows laptop:

• Sinclair's American Sports Network, as the TV partner, provided the base production, graphics, etc.  Campus Insiders provided some ancillary items that were only on the Campus Insiders feed.
• Campus Insiders, it appears, was only providing the online extras.  They were announced as the original digital partner, but it looks like their infrastructure was bypassed by 120 Sports as they had their branding on the video player at Campus Insiders.  The video feed on the ASN website did not have this branding.
• 120 Sports uses Baseball Advanced Media's video infrastructure, which is extremely solid, but when using my Chromecast, I could not natively cast it through my laptop where Campus Insiders normal infrastructure (LiveStream) is natively castable.
• When going to Campus Insiders website on my phone, I clicked on the game and was redirected to the 120 Sports website, which is fine, but a different experience than my laptop.  
• When casting on the 120 Sports website, which had a video experience that allowed for native Chromecast casting, I had to start the video feed after initializing the casting of the video, otherwise the video did not start at live action, but at the pregame show.
• For phone app usage, both 120 Sports and the go90 apps had the game.  I can't speak for the experience in the go90 app, but the 120 Sports app does have native casting and seemed to provide the best experience if you did not have a local station carrying the game, which is different than Campus Insiders, who admitted their app is not compatible with Chromecast after they had added the option last March.

To be clear, 120 Sports and Campus Insiders are both part of the Silver Chalice media company, so maybe it was simply a branding exercise with CI being focused on collegiate sports.  Personally, I found it slightly clunky to traverse through multiple websites to get to a video feed on mobile.

* Austin Karp of Sports Business Journal noted that ESPN's starting subscriber count for 2016 will be 91.4 million (my assumption is that this figure comes from Nielsen).  While ESPN and ESPN2 are typically neck and neck in terms of subscriber numbers, I would be interested to see how this affects ESPNU and ESPNEWS.  Are the people who are cutting the cord subscribers of big digital bundles?  Are they subscribing to (mostly) analog packages that often don't have ESPNU or ESPNEWS in them?  I guess what I'm getting at is whether the gap between the number of ESPN and ESPNU subscribers is constant or shrinking.

ESPN, the main channel, is where the subscriber cost is typically stuffed and costs for ESPN2, ESPNU, etc. are usually much lower, maybe as low as five percent of the cost of ESPN.  In some ways, that helps programmers spread the costs of the channel.  It can also help when a channel like FS1 or NBCSN goes to negotiate with a provider and their programming numbers are compared with ESPN2 or ESPNU instead of ESPN, where the cable company may look to negotiate a lower rate.  The website What You Pay For Sports articulates this way better than I can.

For me, it trickles down to that sports package purchase each fall.  I used to purchase it for the extra Pac-12 games and the Big 12 games that I couldn't get on FOX Sports Ohio, later because FSOhio wasn't offered full time in HD on DirecTV.  I won't deny that I probably "carried the water" for DirecTV when I subscribed to them and some of these sports networks.  I've rethought a lot of that.  Not solely because of cost but whether that cost is worth it vs. subscribing to MLB.TV or Netflix, for example.  The cost I used to willingly pay for the ability to see the Pac-12 or Big 12's No. 2 or No. 3 game each week moved to FS1 and I'm now looking at whether paying for one or two C-USA games or the ACC's fifth best game is worth it on U-Verse.

Not to mention paying HD fees on top of that.  I love the clarity of HD and sometimes I grouse over people complaining about graphics being "4:3 safe" but when providers tack on as much as a $10 fee, sometimes for providing a proper aspect ratio, it feels a bit much.  I happened to look at my U-Verse add-ons (HD Premium & Sports) and the after seeing that HD feed of MLB Network was included in HD premium and only the SD feed is standard in the U300 package, and my first thought is "can I cast it from my phone using MLB At Bat since MLBN now has an authenticated stream through the app?" (the answer is yes through casting my phone's screen, not natively through the app) because I'd really like to dump ~$17 a month from my bill for the spring and summer.

And I think many of us are getting to that point.  We're finding alternate means to do things.  We're foregoing the extras, or if you believe that ESPN is with the "basics", we're pushing back there.  In some ways, and I'll gladly admit it if its revisionist on my part, I wish we as consumers fought harder against the SEC Network like we've seem to fought against the Pac-12 Networks, now that we know what we're getting out of each channel (lump BTN in there if you want too).

But while we can push at times, but the networks shoulder some blame too, even if its our insatiable demand for product.  A interesting piece on the Longhorn Nework came out this week and it brought me back to how FOX was originally in the lead for the network through existing relationships at FOX Sports Southwest.  We can say that bidding $15 million per year is a small price (five times what FOX offered) compared to what a conference is offered, but there were other costs that ESPN had to shoulder such as production, staffing, etc.  And these were for events, that for the majority, are secondary or tertiary in nature.  We, along with advertisers, paid the freight.  But did it reset the market for every other school when it came to those events?  Does a LHN at that rate ESPN paid increase the lesser rights at every school?  Is that why we have an SEC Network?  At least with the Big Ten, we know the schools have a skin in the game through equity.  Same with the Pac-12 and the market is, in at least one case, making its choice known.

I can't say.  I really can't.  But I can say that the line items on the bill get more scrutiny each month in my home and sports is now driving that scrutiny.

Random commentary on bowls, TV contracts, etc.

* Have come across a couple responses back at me regarding the TV coverage, or lack of it, for the Arizona Bowl.   But isn't this part of hitting the saturation point for a product?

I'm fully aware that some of you will embrace and watch every bowl, and that you can't get enough of them because its college football.  That's fine, that's your prerogative.  But at the same time, what value do you put on those bowl games, or what value should be put on those games?  If you consider them strictly exhibitions, should we care that a game has went back to the syndication model & having trouble being cleared in some markets, albeit with a free streaming option?  Isn't that the market determining the value of said bowl?  Or if we stamp it with it airing on ESPN or ESPN2 does it increase the value because of its status as the go-to network for nearly every bowl game?

I remarked before that bowl season can be a time that a game that only fans of the competing schools would watch on ESPN3 in week two, yet becomes a game in mid-December that draws a 1.2 rating.  I probably took some liberties on that, but I don't believe its far off because of how there are 50-60+ games a week with probably 15-20 running at the same time, either with the same or staggered start times.

* I don't know the status of C-USA's rights agreement negotiations, but I admit that I'm not beating down the door for info because it doesn't pay to do that anymore.  I still believe that CBS Sports Network may be moving on, or drastically scaling back at least in football, with the sublicensing they've done from ESPN for other conferences' content and how those agreements feel like they would overlap with places where C-USA content resides.

I am curious if C-USA will be broadening its agreement with Sinclair's American Sports Network, maybe even taking on primary rights.  A show labeled "C-USA Spotlight" is now appearing on ASN's schedules starting in January and I assume it is similar to the show ASN produces for the Atlantic 10.  FOX Sports has aired "C-USA Showcase" over the life of its TV contract and it wouldn't be the first time a conference has had a magazine show from two separate rightsholders, with both ESPN and FOX Sports producing Big 12 shows.

ASN is also the TV rightsholder for the previously mentioned Arizona Bowl and C-USA would have provided a school to the bowl had there been enough eligible schools from the conference.  The bowl's digital rightholder, Silver Chalice's Campus Insiders, might make sense to take on C-USA's digital assets from CBS Sports' College Sports Live product, similar to their work with the Mountain West as C-USA commissioner Judy MacLeod has been open about the conference trying new distribution methods and a need to increase the conference's profile in men's basketball.

* I am also curious to see who exactly is pushing the Ivy League to add a men's basketball tournament.  FOX Sports has picked up three regular season games from the conference and will air this year's playoff game if it is needed.  Incidentally, its the same number of C-USA controlled regular season games that will air on FS1, though C-USA allows its games to air on other FOX platforms such as their regional networks.

CBS Sports Network aired Ivy League games last year and could have room if they do not keep the C-USA semifinals.  ASN aired the game in 2014 with an ESPN3 simulcast and they are also airing Ivy League basketball again this year.

One item that I wasn't aware of, or just didn't consider, is that the NIT doesn't have to take a representative from the Ivy League in the event there are two schools that are tied for first in the standings.  Suppose this makes sense though as I think other conferences are in the same boat, regardless of whether they use divisions or not, and since the Ivy League uses the playoff instead of head-to-head tiebreakers, they truly only crown an outright champion in the regular season.  By going to a tournament, the conference could potentially claim an NIT automatic bid if the regular season champion loses in a tournament.

I've always believed that the Ivy League schools have leverage with respect to money when it comes to athletics.  In short, they don't need television money to fund athletic programs because they are so self-sufficient as schools with their endowments and a perception that athletics are secondary.  If they decide to move into the realm of a conference tournament, even if its a four team tournament or just between the top two schools (maybe a best of three like the CBI?), maybe they'll reconsider their stance on playing in the FCS playoffs.  Or not.

I'm not sure I want the Ivy League to change though, at least in men's basketball.  I like the fact that conference play, the "14 game tournament", means something and that they haven't, so far, taken the money of a conference tournament or championship game.  If they do, my only hope is that if they decide on a championship is that the Palestra is the place to play it.

* When I go through the listings for men's basketball games on ESPN College Extra, I'm extremely underwhelmed.  Sure, I get that so many conferences have elected to start their own networks that it has left ESPN largely devoid of content to put on the former Game Plan & Full Court packages.  But, at least on the basketball side, the only games that are being placed on the package are games that are being televised either locally or regionally, which is different from the football side where ESPN3 exclusives did end up on College Extra.

I guess no one should complain since they're giving away the package as long as you buy the right tiered package from your TV provider, though if you were expecting a step up and hoping for HD quality, you're not getting it from most providers and might be better off investing in a Roku, Chromecast or Apple TV that can push ESPN3 content directly to your TV screen.

2015 CFB TV Facts & Figures

I've written report card-type posts on CFB at the end of the season by conference the last couple years.  To try to provide a few more details on each conference & maybe a bit more context, I've decided to break the posts into conference-specific posts.  I'll handle the independents in a single post as well.

As comparisons are made to 2014, it should be noted that 2014's regular season was played over fifteen weeks (fourteen weeks plus Championship Saturday) where 2015's was contested over fourteen weeks (thirteen weeks plus Championship Saturday).  With that said, ESPN had more telecast windows available on a weekly basis with ABC regularly showing games at 12pm ET both ESPN and ESPN2 showing three to four games per week due to NASCAR moving its 2nd half schedule to NBC Sports.

ACC
American
Big 12
Big Ten
C-USA
Independents
MAC
Mountain West
Pac-12
SEC
Sun Belt

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.

2015 CFB TV Facts & Figures - Sun Belt

I wish I more to say about the Sun Belt, but I don't.  The conference seems to be getting their appearances on weeknights and mostly at the minimum levels that ESPN requires to show the conference.  It is very dependent on ESPN3 to distribute games.

* One game was selected through the in-season selection process for linear television: NC State at South Alabama on 9/26, airing on ESPNEWS.

* The Charlotte at Georgia St. game on 9/4 was the only pre-selected Friday game.  Due to the use of the Georgia Dome for the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff, Georgia St. has had to move their opener two straight years from its originally scheduled date, though both times the games received ESPNU coverage.

* Arkansas St. and South Alabama each had three nationally televised games.

* Four schools either contracted out production or self-produced regional telecasts for at least one game: Appalachian St., Idaho, New Mexico St., Texas St.

* ESPN3 exclusively carried one Sun Belt controlled game vs. a Power Five school: Missouri at Arkansas St. on 9/12.

2015 CFB TV Facts & Figures - SEC

The 2015 season had a pair of minor changes with the SEC's TV contracts. One change was bringing back the sublicensed content from FSN back into ESPN's inventory for use on the SEC Network and ESPN's other national television platforms.

A second change appears to be due to ESPN televising the US Open, where CBS negotiated with ESPN to sublicense two games, though it should be noted that it doesn't appear that CBS was allowed to take the best available games on those Saturdays.  Since the games were sublicensed from ESPN, CBS also did not retain exclusivity over ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU for those two games (Louisville vs. Auburn on 9/5 and Georgia at Vanderbilt on 9/12)

Here's some notable items on the SEC, excluding the conference championship game:

* Alabama made six regular season appearances on CBS, which usually requires CBS to exercise a clause in their contract with the conference to get a sixth game.  It was floated out there that when CBS took the Iron Bowl, it may have been due to LSU vs. South Carolina on 10/10 being allowed to air on ESPN at 3:30pm ET during CBS's telecast window, which is supposed to be exclusive from ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.  I have not been able to confirm that, so for the moment, I'm under the assumption CBS wanted the Iron Bowl and exercised their option.

* Georgia appeared on CBS five times, second only to Alabama, though it should be noted that the two games ESPN sublicensed to CBS (Louisville vs. Auburn & Georgia at Vanderbilt) did not count towards CBS's appearance maximums, meaning Georgia had only four of those games count towards their CBS number.

* South Carolina & Kentucky were the only schools not to appear on CBS, regardless of whether a game was sublicensed from ESPN or not.

* East Division winner Florida made two appearances on CBS.  Overall, the SEC West schools accounted for 22 appearances on the broadcast network, while East schools made just eleven appearances.

* After the Florida vs. Georgia game on 10/31, CBS carried seven games.  Only one of those games, the Black Friday matchup of Missouri and Arkansas selected in May by CBS, involved a school from the Eastern Division.

* It is a bit unfair to compare game counts to 2014 on ESPN due to re-absorbing of the FSN sublicensed games and then sending CBS a couple games.  Here's the breakdown of games by network:

• ESPN: 21
• ESPN2: 7
• ESPNU: 10
• SEC Network: 49

* 68% of the games on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU started at 6pm ET or later (26 of 38).  In an interesting twist, the conference also had the most noon ET starts on ESPN (five), with a six game originally scheduled for 12pm but moved due to flooding in South Carolina (LSU vs. South Carolina on 10/10).

* Arkansas & Ole Miss made the most appearances on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU with seven games for both schools.  LSU, Florida and South Carolina each made six appearances.

* For games on the SEC Network, Kentucky had the most appearances by far with ten games.  Missouri was the runner up with seven appearances, with South Carolina and Vanderbilt each with six games on the network, regardless of whether the game was on the alternate channel or the main feed.

2015 CFB TV Facts & Figures - Pac-12

The Pac-12 entered into the fourth year of their rights agreements with ESPN and FOX.  There seemed to be more planning on FOX's part when it came to issues around baseball postseason coverage compared to past years (no game moved to FS2, no worries about a game on FS1), but each week seemed to be a mixed bag when it came who came out with a particular game and complaints continued from coaches with respect to start times and travel, which is due to the nature of their TV deals with mid-afternoon west coast games (east coast primetime), in most cases, requiring exclusivity for a period of time

Here's a report card, excluding the conference championship game:

* Thirteen games aired on broadcast networks, down three from 2014.  FOX's total of ten games remained flat from last season, while the number of games on ABC dropped by 50%.  It should be noted that the conference's location hurts as they are really only available for around 2/3rd of the available windows.

* UCLA made the most appearances on broadcast TV with five games, followed by Utah and USC each appearing four times.  Colorado and Oregon St. were the two schools who did not appear on either broadcast network.

* Utah was the last school to fulfill its Pac-12 Networks requirements.  The Utes game vs. Colorado was required to air on Pac-12 Networks because they had appeared in the two primary packages a total of nine times, which is the maximum.

* Since the Pac-12 is zero-sum for its two primary packages with respect to cable/broadcast splits, the 31 games on pay television was an increase of three over 2014.  Since FOX's count for broadcast TV was flat vs. 2014, the same is true for the pay TV count and ESPN's side accounted for the increase in pay TV games.

* In terms of Saturday selections, there was a fairly even distribution for the schools.  Arizona St. was a popular choice for the primary pay TV networks as their games were selected five times.  For overall games on pay TV on an specific TV partner's networks, Arizona was selected five times for games airing on FS1 and Oregon made five appearances on ESPN Networks, the most for each party.  Stanford made a combined six total appearances, followed by California and USC appearing five times between FS1 and ESPN Networks.

* Here's the breakdown of games by the two primary packages, with the number of Saturday games in parenthesis:

• FOX: 10 (9)
• ABC: 3 (3)
• ESPN: 14 (10)
• ESPN2: 5 (3)
• FS1: 12 (9)

* For the first time, ESPNU did not air any Pac-12 games.

* Here's a breakdown of each properties' Saturday start equalized to local start time:

ABC & ESPN Networks

• Noon-3:29pm: 2
• 3:30pm-6:59pm: 2
• 7pm and later: 12

FOX & FS1

• Noon-3:29pm: 6
• 3:30pm-6:59pm: 6
• 7pm and later: 6

Pac-12 Networks

• Pre-Noon: 5 (four telecast windows)
• Noon-3:29pm: 12
• 3:30-6:59pm: 5 (four telecast windows)
• 7pm and later: 7