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Orange Sunshine's avatar

OSU/WSU lucked out with the CW/FOX partnership. CW is expanding its sports platform and the timing couldn't have been better. New Beaver uniforms dropped today. We're 50 days out til kick. Just heard Beavs are adding Super Syd. It's all good. Beaver Nation smiles.

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Kent Crawford's avatar

Love this positivity, Sunshine!! If the combination of Bray/Hayward impacting our defense does what it should we could be a very tough out!! Scott is Scott WBB will be fine. It might take a year to figure it out in the new order, but he will get us there. Hopefully his daughter will play on in orange and black in 2 years and we become the Gonzaga of WBB!!!

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pcoppe's avatar

I’m a Ducks fan, but honestly this is a great opportunity for the Beavs and the CW. Even if overall viewership numbers are lower than 2023, having the breadth of reach across the whole US injects them into the CFB landscape. So much better than having 70% of your games tucked away at 10:30pm on some obscure channel.

This kind of reach allows coaches to walk into any household and guarantee a level of visibility to recruits not before available. It can help drive alumni engagement for fans on the east coast. Even a modicum of promotion from the CW can increase exposure into ACC households. I wouldn’t be shocked if 5-10 years from now Beavs realize August 2023 was a blessing in disguise.

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Orange Sunshine's avatar

These are the numbers from last season. If OSU can improve their visibility with the CW by 30 to 40%, the future of OSU football is bright.

Week 1: OSU v SJSU 3.2M viewers

Week 2: OSU v UCD

Week 3: OSU v SDSU 420,000 viewers

Week 4: OSU v WSU 1.5M viewers

Week 5: OSU v Utah 1.3M viewers

Week 6: OSU v Cal

Week 7: OSU v UCLA 1.4M viewers

Week 8: Bye

Week 9: OSU v UA 1.4M viewers

Week10: OSU v CU 2.8M viewers

Week11: OSU v Stan

Week12: OSU v UW 4.7M viewers

Week13: OSU v UO 4.1M viewers

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BackDoor's avatar

I suspect the numbers will be more like the SDSU game. SJSU was a one game available that day as I recall. The last 3 Colorado, UW and UO ratings were driven by the opponent. BUT, kickoff times in 2024 will help in comparison to late night on Pac12Net.

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Brian M's avatar

WOW!! The difference in viewership between CW network and PAC12 network in 2023 is breathtaking! 125M (corrected) plus vs 15M?!! I knew the Larry Scott P12N was bad (I couldn’t get it on Hulu or Youtube TV) but this blows me away. CW is not ESPN. Just on this metric alone, the new PAC is off to the races.

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BackDoor's avatar

Virginia at N. Carolina got 788,000 out of 125,000,000 potential households apparently. That's about 1/2 of 1%. Not exactly big exposure/viewership. And, the Eastern Seaboard typically has higher viewership for programs than the West Coast does for West teams.

And, N. Carolina keeps in the rumor mill as an addition for the Big Ten or SEC.

OSU/WSU needs to figure out a way to "market themselves" on the CW or the numbers will be similar to the ACC.

Idaho State, Purdue, Colorado St, UNLV, San Jose St and WSU as opponents on The CW will not exactly set hearts fluttering on those 125 million households.

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Jim T's avatar

So…. What would you suggest as a practical alternative? Thousands of Beaver alums scattered in areas that formerly had no access will have it now. You may be pleasantly surprised if the two schools are effectively marketed by CW.

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John Canzano's avatar

The 100 percent distribution is a huge advantage. Think OSU and WSU will get about 30-40 percent more exposure than last season.

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BackDoor's avatar

Potential exposure vs fans actually watching will be the comparison to monitor. A vagrant standing at the roadside with a sign saying please donate gets a lot of exposure, but how many drivers roll down the window and toss out the money?

The CW is like the roadside intersection where the I-405 and I-5 meet in LA, while the Pac Network was like Hwy 217 and Hwy 26. But, unless drivers are paying attention it doesn't matter.

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Chuck's avatar

Go rain on someone else's parade.

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EA Flash's avatar

He's a Big Ten honk. He can go get off on Northwestern at Rutgers.

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SCBeav's avatar

It's linear TV and the games will have more advantageous kickoff times. What's not to like? CFB fans channel surf during timeouts of the game they are watching. They will flip through, see OSU or WSU, watch for a bit, maybe check back later. That's called exposure, and it's a lot better than 10:30 ET kicks on the Pac-12 Network. If you can't see that, you are just looking for reasons to be negative.

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DEAN COUNTS's avatar

Compared to what they did have with the Pac 12 network its a big upgrade glass half empty man.

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BackDoor's avatar

I think the big upgrade will come via kickoff times. Those night games on Pac12 Network were killers as far as viewers. Even if they had access to PacNet, how many potential viewers in the East stayed up to watch? Not reaching an early agreement with DirecTV was a major bonehead mistake.....don't exacerbate bad kickoff times by adding difficult access.

I also think OSU/WSU need to engage in some publicity over how to access The CW. It is discouraging to me the number of people I run into that don't know where The CW is on their cable or satellite channel list. I had numerous other Beavers fans contacting me when it was first announced - they thought it was a pay channel or part of a sports package, didn't know they already had it.

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EA Flash's avatar

How to access the CW: Grab remote. Put thumb on microphone key. Say, "The CW." Release thumb.

Pretty complicated.

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BackDoor's avatar

Might be too complicated for graduates of Oregon's flagship university?

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EA Flash's avatar

No problem for grads of OSU, our state's premier public university.

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DEAN COUNTS's avatar

Not surprising the CW for years was geared towards the 12-25 demographic with its shows so many had never watched it, that should change new ownership is kind of the opposite of that in their marketing direction.

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Joe Majors's avatar

I will tip my C R to her and wish her the best in getting things done in the right way and will lead the PAC BACK TOWARDS A VERY GOOD CONFERENCE.

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Chris Spence's avatar

Love that Coach Rueck is caddying for his son. Memories like that never fade. And for the record…golf is one of the hardest sports out there to play. Best of luck to young Rueck and Go Beavs.

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Bubbleburster's avatar

"Oregon State and Washington State are optimistic that they’ll get better exposure in 2024 on The CW (available in 600 million TV households) than the Beavers and Cougars did in 2023 when they were stuck playing on the Pac-12 Network (15 million TV households)."

600 million is a big number - almost twice the US population. Cannot be correct surely?

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John Canzano's avatar

The CW covers 125 million households... I was doing bad math there. My bad. It has been corrected. I won't bore you with how I ended up at 600 million.

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Deborah's avatar

Great news that Sydney Wiese will be an assistant coach for Rueck. Should provide a boost for the program.

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John-Henry Cottrell's avatar

Way for you Rueck to combat the huge defection. This is a huge win and also great rebuttal to what looked very dim

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Kent Crawford's avatar

love this this J-H C!!

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Kent Crawford's avatar

Big boost!!! Aleah was a great addition to the staff, but Sydney may even be better as a coach and recruiter.

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DEAN COUNTS's avatar

Playing as a road team at Stanford or Cal with their pathetic fan support is no comparison to playing in front of the rabid fans at Fresno St and Boise St.

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Benjamin Williams's avatar

Question for the mailbag: What are the odds the Beavs and Cougs end up in a similar position with the CW that the Atlanta Braves ended up with Turner for the MLB. I'm always amazed at the depth and breadth of Atlanta Braves fans I meet across the country who chose the team because of bored summer afternoons in their childhood and not regional or familial connections.

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509 Guy's avatar

My brother and I were both born and raised in Richland, WA. We had zero family connections in the Midwest or the South. We watched both the Cubs on WGN and the Braves on TBS nearly every day during the summer. Exposure isn’t everything but it certainly helps to promote your team.

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Jeff Erickson's avatar

As Dodger fan in New Orleans in the 80’s that was the reason I hated and still hate the Braves.

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Ed S.'s avatar

Looking forward to any good news regarding the OSU women’s basketball program, John. Any addition to the coaching ranks from prior successful years will give a boost to the players, as well as Scott Rueck (who could use more good vibes himself). I’m hoping fans will continue to rally, especially for the players who stayed rather than leave. I have total respect and gratitude for them!

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Kent Crawford's avatar

I think we should make it a BIG point to rally behind Kennedie Shuler! She is a young woman from Barlow High in Gresham, Oregon. All state in both basketball and Soccer. I sat behind her this spring at the Friday night UCLA/OSU baseball game. I introduced myself and thanked her for staying. I told her she made a GREAT decision to stay. She looked me in the eye and said I think so to!! She is excited for this coming season!!! Very nice young woman and really appreciates the positive support for deciding to remain with the program she is receiving!!!

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Ed S.'s avatar

Totally agree, Kent. Not afraid to admit I got a little emotional when AJ and Kennedie posted they were staying to “finish what they started”. A relief after such a mass exodus!

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Ben's avatar

Will the P12 partnership with the CW mean that network will show P12 basketball and baseball games?

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John Canzano's avatar

I am asking. But not part of the current deal.

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Ben's avatar

Thank you for checking on this :-)

I think the P12 networks helped wbb more than any other sport. It would be a shame if those ladies lose their tv exposure.

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John-Henry Cottrell's avatar

Could you ask if nonrevenue sports will be on the pac12 Now app? Other plans?

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John Canzano's avatar

Will ask.

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Peter Baker Jr's avatar

It sounds from your reporting that the CW is ascendant. If they successfully muscle their way into the college football broadcast landscape, the relationship between the CW and OSU might be one worth cultivating for the long term. Absolutely worth keeping an eye on…

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Jim Burns's avatar

Keep in mind the CW is owned by Fox. They won't be allowed to ascend too far. They will always be 3rd string below Fox and Fox Sports. Still better than what we had, but certainly not a secret gold mine OSU, WSU and a rebuilt Pacc12 could excavate. There is a definite firm ceiling on how much Fox will pay for third tier programming. The big key is if OSU and WSU can prove their worth on the CW, it "could" lead to Fox forcing the Big 12 into adding them.

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Daniel P.'s avatar

CW Network is not owned by Fox at all. It’s 75% Nexstar Media Group, 12.5% Paramount, 12.5% Warner Bros. Discovery.

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Daniel P.'s avatar

CW is going to keep adding to their sports broadcast portfolio, because it is bringing eye balls to their network.

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SCBeav's avatar

Exactly. CW has an affiliate agreement with FOX, which means it is shown on many FOX channels, but that's far from ownership. All this negativity about the CW is short-sighted. People were negative about FOX getting into the NFL, about TBS, TNT, ESPN 2 and any number of networks that have become sports broadcasting behemoths. Why not the CW?

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Brian M's avatar

" Idaho-Oregon (Aug. 31), Utah State-USC (Sept. 7), and Northern Iowa-Nebraska (Sept. 14)".....now THERE are some must-watch games. Were these on the schedule before the collapse of the PAC12? These are your typical SEC non-conf games to guarantee wins. Actually, Northern Iowa has the occasional tough team. Given Nebraska's recent history, that one might even be close

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Chuck's avatar

Whaaat? No Wofford game

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Kent Crawford's avatar

L-O-V-E this!!!

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EA Flash's avatar

Don't forget UW-Eastern Michigan and UW-Weber State, on the huge and mighty Big Ten Network. Then the Apple Cup is on Peacock. Must-watch TV indeed, I'm sure those games will draw huge numbers back in real Big Ten country.

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Drew's avatar

Glad Yogi got a lifeline. He’s always done a good job on the broadcasts.

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Donna  Mason's avatar

1) Glad to hear Yogi Roth landed a good gig.

2) Will you be going to Indie for the Big 10 Media Days Extravaganza?

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John Canzano's avatar

I will be at Big Ten Media Day.

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Kent Crawford's avatar

Ask J. Smith the tough questions JC!!!

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BackDoor's avatar

"Days?" 3 days, but UW/UO both on the third day.

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John-Henry Cottrell's avatar

I love Yogi, sad he chose the B1G... Can't blame him, but his past tweets said he was only interested in west coast teams

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Donna  Mason's avatar

But BIG10 now includes Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC...right?:-)

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BlueDas's avatar

Google might help you with that

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EA Flash's avatar

Guys named Yogo still gotta eat. There's a limited number of pic-a-nic baskets out there to plunder and Ranger Smith is always on the prowl.

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Michael Bishop's avatar

I don’t care who you are whether you can win the members only championship tournament or anything at Riveria CC your a player. I always pull fir the amateurs first. I’ll never forget Jean Van de Velde either. ☮️

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Dan Ohlson's avatar

Can't wait!

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