Glad I'm not a huge college football fan

[spjunkies]

I understand you have to follow the $$$, but huge events like this should always be on free TV.


Fox Sports has decided to pull its bid on the next round of television rights for the Bowl Championship Series college football games.

Fox's four-year deal with the BCS ends after the 2009 season (and the games in January 2010). The Bowl Championship Series says it is close to a deal with ESPN.

"Currently, over 98 million homes receive ESPN," BCS coordinator John Swofford said in a statement. "With the ever-changing technology and as we look toward January 2011, when the first games in this package will be played, we know that the number of households that receive ESPN will only continue to grow."

SportsBusiness Daily reported that, according to sources, ESPN bid $125 million per year over four years to get the games, while Fox's top bid was $100 million per year.

A statement from Fox on Monday read, "Even with today's vast economic uncertainties, Fox Sports made a very competitive bid to keep broadcasting BCS games free to every home in America, one that included a substantial rights fee increase, and certainly as much as any over-the-air network could responsibly risk. Unfortunately, the University presidents and BCS commissioners were not satisfied and they've decided to take their jewel events to pay television."

[Toe Jam]

You've got to be effing kidding me.

First the game last night and now this?

I think I'm going to explode.

[Kosher Ham]

Simple...eliminate the BCS.

[Toe Jam]

Simple...eliminate the BCS.

It will never happen in our lifetime.

[Spaceman Spiff]

It will never happen in our lifetime.

Hopefully Obama can flex some muscle...though I'm inclined to agree with you.

But yes, I'm glad I'm not a huge college football either. It always seems like a giant drama filled cluster****.

[Kosher Ham]

It will never happen in our lifetime.

I am willing to make a wager on that.

[Kosher Ham]

Hopefully Obama can flex some muscle...though I'm inclined to agree with you.

But yes, I'm glad I'm not a huge college football either. It always seems like a giant drama filled cluster****.

I hope our future president has bigger issues to deal with besides college football. And yes, I saw the other thread. I just find it unlikely that the BCS is a priority.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I hope our future president has bigger issues to deal with besides college football. And yes, I saw the other thread. I just find it unlikely that the BCS is a priority.

I agree. He certainly does have bigger issues.

But if he could do something like fix the BCS while on vacation, it'd be worth it.

[DCSaints_fan]

ESPN is owned by ABC, I'd bet that most of the games will be aired on ABC.

[LeesburgSkinFan]

ESPN is owned by ABC, I'd bet that most of the games will be aired on ABC.

They'll make a bigger profit on ESPN. They can raise subscriber rates to cover the cost and make money on the advertising.

They've already moved the British Open completely to cable starting in 2010 (ESPN carrying all four rounds, TNT is out). The BCS is next.

[Major Harris]

i don't know anyone who doesn't have espn.

[spjunkies]

i don't know anyone who doesn't have espn.

I don't.... I just downgraded to limited basic.

[Major Harris]

I don't.... I just downgraded to limited basic.

i only know one person that doesn't have espn.

[Elessar78]

About Obama's comment about the college football playoff.

Did anyone see the interview? I did. His tone for this part of the interview wasn't really serious, wasn't really "presidential". He wasn't talking about the playoff as part of his policy. It was a casual question at best.

He was sincere about wanting a college playoff system, but his comment about putting "weight" behind the idea was tongue and cheek for the most part.

[Bang]

After February all television is going to be cable or satellite anyway. ESPN is practically 'regular TV' now as it is.

~Bang