Root Sports Buys Big Sky TV Broadcast Rights

[SactoHornetAlum]

Interesting and wonder how it will affect us since they aren't in our market at all:

http://billingsgazette.com/sports/college/big-sky-conference/root-sports-buys-broadcasting-rights-for-big-sky-conference-games/article_91d58965-129f-5439-88bb-cf61a32705ed.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The fact that they are kowtowing to the Montanas is just a shocker :roll: :thumbdown:

 

[noquestion]

The fact that they are kowtowing to the Montanas is just a shocker :roll: :thumbdown:

Why because 1 of the 18 will be Cat/Griz ? Have you seen the schedule already and know which games will be televised ? Is it because ROOT went to all venues last season and got a look at such things as attendance and atmosphere ?

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

The fact that they are kowtowing to the Montanas is just a shocker :roll: :thumbdown:

Why because 1 of the 18 will be Cat/Griz ? Have you seen the schedule already and know which games will be televised ? Is it because ROOT went to all venues last season and got a look at such things as attendance and atmosphere ?

You obviously didn't read the article, or don't understand comprehension:

"The goal, the source said, is to broadcast every Montana and Montana State football game in one market or another, as has been the norm in recent years."

 

[noquestion]

You obviously didn't read the article, or don't understand comprehension:

"The goal, the source said, is to broadcast every Montana and Montana State football game in one market or another, as has been the norm in recent years."

Your calling out my intelligence ? Not every game on ROOT will be a Cat or Griz game. What that statement says is that the games that are not televised on ROOT will be available for secondary purchase. That means that Max Media and MTN networks of MT will be able to televise those games if they decide to purchase them. If there was a TV network in Sac. that would like to televise the games(which there doesn't seem to be) of SSU that are not televised on ROOT then they would be able to.

 

[SDHornet]

You obviously didn't read the article, or don't understand comprehension:

"The goal, the source said, is to broadcast every Montana and Montana State football game in one market or another, as has been the norm in recent years."

Your calling out my intelligence ? Not every game on ROOT will be a Cat or Griz game. What that statement says is that the games that are not televised on ROOT will be available for secondary purchase. That means that Max Media and MTN networks of MT will be able to televise those games if they decide to purchase them. If there was a TV network in Sac. that would like to televise the games(which there doesn't seem to be) of SSU that are not televised on ROOT then they would be able to.

I believe the regional Comcast sports channel televised multiple Hornet games last season.

 

[SDHornet]

I’m interested to see how this impact us. SSS said they would be coming our with more details but I have poked around a few other boards and haven’t seen any details. My concerns are these:

• 1. Will free internet streaming be continued? If so will it continue for all sports (hoops, volleyball, & softball)?
  2. If a game is being televised somewhere, does this make is unavailable for internet streaming?
  3. Will televised & streamed games be in HD quality?
  4. How much is the BSC getting for this? Is it an even payout for each school?
  5. Since Root is a subsidiary of DirecTV Sports Networks, does this mean they will be selective on which networks will be allowed to broadcast non Root televised games?
  6. Does this impact the coaches show which was sponsored by Comcast?

From the article posted it sounds like games not televised by Root will be allowed (for a fee I assume) to be televised by local networks. So if for some unknown reason Root decides not to televise the Causeway (or any other Hornet game), Comcast (or any other regional network) can pick up the game. The good news is since Root Sports is a DirecTV SN, these games should be available with whatever DTV package includes the Root Sports channel. This means the potential for Hornet games on the tube at local watering holes just went way up. The bad news is how many Sac area fans/residents have DTV and how does that compare against Comcast (the network that typically televised Hornet games).

I don’t see this being a bad thing as more avenues for exposure of the conference and Sac State is always a positive. This is a big step forward for the conference and offers a platform for programs to excel and gain exposure. The bottom line is if the Hornets can win, they will be on TV somewhere (pretty much the same way it has been as Comcast has typically televised high interest Hornet games).

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

I see at as another dropped ball for not getting even an ESPNU type deal.

 

[SDHornet]

I see at as another dropped ball for not getting even an ESPNU type deal.

I don’t think every cable provider carries ESPNU. So long as there is flexibility for local networks to pick up games, it’s all good. Plus being on DTV allows for out of towners like me to see BSC games on TV.

Plus ESPN already has a weak college football conference to fill up its midweek programming, it’s called the WAC. :lol:

 

[SDHornet]

The SSS article didn’t really provide much more than what we already figured out. From a Sac State standpoint things don’t change much as local networks (Comcast) will still be able to broadcast Hornet games.

The financial terms of the deal was not released. Fullerton told a conference call that it is not about making money.
“Typically, on a deal like this, it is about broader distribution,” Big Sky commissioner Doug Fullerton said. “This is not a huge money maker for us.”

Well this isn't good to hear. I have no idea what the BSTV deal brought in the conference but this new deal should be a higher amount. For perspective the WAC TV deal was reduced to a $1M/year payout after their defections. I would hope the BSC TV deal could at least hit the half mil mark.

What we do know is that Sacramento can get Root Sports networks, with a little bit of effort. Both Root Northwest and Root Denver are available on the expanded sports packages from DirecT, Dish Network and AT&T U-verse.

This answers some of the availability of the channels, but...

However, that footprint doesn’t include schools like Sac State, Cal Poly, UC Davis and Northern Arizona. The key to bringing Big Sky games to those areas will be convincing regional networks like CSN to carry Big Sky games.

NAU has a TV deal with a regional Fox sports channel. Basically it sounds like nothing changes for us. The new contract allowed flexibility for local channels to pick up games and Comcast has shown interest in broadcasting games when they feel there is enough fan interest. I would expect things to continue as they are which is fine by me. Based on our schedule, I would say the Causeway and CP games are probably a lock to be picked up by Comcast. Our games at EWU and at home against MSU will probably be picked up by a Root Sports channel making it available on satellite. Our WSU & UND matchups also have a good shot at satellite as well. Half of our schedule (not counting the 2 FBS games) will probably be televised in one way or another. I think we had 4 games televised last season (SUU, WSU, UM & Causeway).

http://sacstatesports.com/2012/01/1...enefit-from-new-big-sky-tv-deal/#comment-3022

My concern is there is no mention of internet streaming so I don’t know if this will still be available under the new package or not. Hopefully this question is answered at somepoint.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

As somebody who lives 2,000 miles away, the internet streaming is the only way for me to watch the games. If there is no internet streaming in this new deal, my exposure as a fan will be greatly reduced.

As I have said in the past, I would be willing to pay, say $9.99 per game, if it provided every game on the internet in reliable quality and consistency.

 

[SDHornet]

An even better article containing details of the TV deal can be found here:

This article says Comcast carries the Root Sports channels. I have no idea if that is true.

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.co...cle_d9cb6d62-415c-11e1-8f83-0019bb2963f4.html

The Big Sky announced Root will televise up to 18 Big Sky Conference football games each season, including the annual "Brawl of the Wild" rivalry game between MSU and UM. Only conference games will be included in the broadcasting contract. Non-conference games are open to broadcast negotiations with the host school.
Also under the contract, the networks will broadcast up to 12 regular season men's basketball games as well as the BSC tournament quarterfinals and semifinals.

Big Sky Conference games will be primarily distributed to the Northwest and Rocky Mountain Root Sports networks. Most basic cable packages, including those offered by Optimum and Comcast, Montana's main providers, carry Root, as does DirecTV and Dish Network.

Crumb declined to release any financial details of the agreement.
"The Big Sky Conference directors haven't voted on the revenue split completely yet, but the increase in revenue is significant for the Big Sky Conference," Fields said.

The schedule for Root's slate of games is set to be released in mid-March and approved by mid-April. Any game not appearing on the Root schedule will be available for syndication from local or regional television affiliates.
Crumb said Root wants to have a "consistent time slot for Big Sky games". Every Saturday once the Big Sky Conference slate begins, a 1:30 p.m. game will air on the network. With an opportunity to air up to 18 Big Sky games, double headers with a nightcap kickoff at 5 p.m. are an option as well.

Still no mention of internet streaming. I'd like to assume it will continue as it has been but I would think Root would want any televised games cut off streaming so you have to buy their channel in a cable/satellite package.

BSC press release:
http://www.bigskyconf.com/news/2012/1/17/GEN_0117125944.aspx

Fullerton on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wxx9235zRs&feature=player_embedded

 

[SDHornet]

Just as I suspected, per this article any games televised by Root will not be available for streaming :x :

Games broadcast on Root will not be streamed on BigSkyTv.org.

http://missoulian.com/college/griz/...cle_0a680bda-418d-11e1-b186-001871e3ce6c.html

However, this just means people need to get to a bar with DirecTV and have them put the game on the tube.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Just as I suspected, per this article any games televised by Root will not be available for streaming :x :

Games broadcast on Root will not be streamed on BigSkyTv.org.

http://missoulian.com/college/griz/...cle_0a680bda-418d-11e1-b186-001871e3ce6c.html

However, this just means people need to get to a bar with DirecTV and have them put the game on the tube.

That is lame/ridiculous. Fullerton could have stipulated that in the contract, but no. He is such weak sauce :thumbdown:

 

[SDHornet]

HD satellite broadcast >>> crappy non-HD BSTV broadcast. But don’t worry, you’ll still get to enjoy those wonderful soundless BSTV broadcasts that include cameras staring off into space or at the crowd and zoomed into the QB’s ass when Root Sports isn’t broadcasting a Hornet game. As a fail safe there is always the wonderful and always knowledgeable Steve McElroy to give you the color commentary via radio broadcasts. :roll:

 

[SDHornet]

More answers:

http://bigskyconference.blogspot.com/2012/01/answers-to-tv-questions.html

 

[SDHornet]

SSS finally posted Wanless' view of the TV deal. The deal isn't lucrative but apparently last season the BSC paid Altitude to broadcast a few BSC games. That is completely reversed now that the BSC will be getting paid for broadcasted games.

http://sacstatesports.com/2012/01/19/sac-states-wanless-tv-deal-will-save-athletics-money/

Wanless, who is part of the league’s TV committee, told SacStateSports.com on Wednesday night that the conference’s nine schools paid $100,000 to have games televised on Altitude, their previous television partner. That came to about $11,000 a school. Now Root Sports will pay the Big Sky televise about as 30 events a year.

“If I can save the athletic department $11,000 and possibly bring in about $5,000-$10,000, then that’s a big win for us,” Wanless said. “Now that’s not huge dollars compared to some of the BCS leagues, but for us it’s about exposure and bringing the product into a bigger region.”

This gives a little insight into the value of the TV contract. Depending on how you read it, the contract could be worth about $130k-$275k.

“We’re still working on finalizing some details,” he said. “A good part of this deal too is that we will retain the rights to the secondary market games. If Root takes our Davis game to televise, our Cal Poly game is very attractive and it may be still available for us to sell on our own. We will work with the local vendors to get as many games televised as possible.”

Since the Causeway and the MSU-UM rivalry fall on the same weekend, I'm a little surprised that Root will consider televising the Causeway. Unless it’s a double header broadcast, I have a hard time seeing that game picked up given that the Root contract guarantees them the MSU-UM rivalry and Root has no regional presence in CA. I have a hard time seeing a game between two CA schools being televised in the Pac Northwest and Mountain regions. Frankly I’d rather see this game televised by Comcast which allows for more regional recruits to see the Hornets on TV, same goes for the CP game.

So far, midweek football games, like some smaller FBS leagues play in order to get more TV exposure, have not been discussed. That said, Wanless said he would enjoy a Thursday night game at Sac State.

“I’d liked to stay away from Friday nights because that belongs to the high schools,” he said. “But I would love to do a Thursday night game on our campus sometime. I think that would go over well with out student body.”

A midweek Hornet game is a terrible idea. No tailgating, fans with kids probably won't go; since it's during the week people will probably have to pay for parking. This idea reeks of stupidity. It also contradicts what Fullerton said that Root cannot dictate the creation of midweek games and that the two participating schools have to mutually agree to do them. Hopefully no other AD is as stupid as Wanless is wrt this idea.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

There would not be a charge for parking, just like there isnt for basketball games during the week now.

 

[OldGreen67]

So far, midweek football games, like some smaller FBS leagues play in order to get more TV exposure, have not been discussed. That said, Wanless said he would enjoy a Thursday night game at Sac State.

“I’d liked to stay away from Friday nights because that belongs to the high schools,” he said. “But I would love to do a Thursday night game on our campus sometime. I think that would go over well with out student body.”

A midweek Hornet game is a terrible idea. No tailgating, fans with kids probably won't go; since it's during the week people will probably have to pay for parking. This idea reeks of stupidity. It also contradicts what Fullerton said that Root cannot dictate the creation of midweek games and that the two participating schools have to mutually agree to do them. Hopefully no other AD is as stupid as Wanless is wrt this idea.[/quote]

I actually think the correct Thur night game would do fairly well...for example an Idaho St home game that doesn't draw well on the weekends would likely do better on a Thur as far as attendance goes...the reasons being.

1 - you would get more students going since it would be televised and be one of only a couple games in the nation being played on that day.
2 - Since students will already be their on campus for class they will likely stay and go to a 7PM game. Since many of the sac students live off campus they don't come back on Sat for games

-OG67 :twocents:

 

[SDHornet]

There would not be a charge for parking, just like there isnt for basketball games during the week now.

That's good to know.

 

[SDHornet]

I actually think the correct Thur night game would do fairly well...for example an Idaho St home game that doesn't draw well on the weekends would likely do better on a Thur as far as attendance goes...the reasons being.

1 - you would get more students going since it would be televised and be one of only a couple games in the nation being played on that day.
2 - Since students will already be their on campus for class they will likely stay and go to a 7PM game. Since many of the sac students live off campus they don't come back on Sat for games

-OG67 :twocents:

Yeah I can see the reasoning, but I don’t see droves of commuting students sticking around campus for another 3 hours to show up at games because they are on a Thursday. The on-campus students are the ones that need to be targeted and encouraged to show up, and a game being on a Thursday night or Saturday wouldn’t make a difference for them attending.

Anyone outside of an hour away won’t show up to these midweek games (work, traffic, family reasons, etc). The program needs to focus on selling tickets and I don’t see a draw for a Thursday night game being there to increase sales. Having said that, I guess I am ok with the department trying this on an opponent that doesn’t draw well (basically anyone without Montana in their name and located outside of CA). If Comcast or some other network steps up and offers up a pile of cash to do this, well than that could be another reason to try it out as well. :|