Too early to worry about this, but really hoping ESPN and the Pac-12 avoid FRIDAY night broadcasts. High school games on those nights typically get local radio coverage. Moving college games to Fridays creates a conflict. Such a conflict already exists this season with OSU-UW.... the first weekend of state playoffs in Oregon.
Too early to worry about this, but really hoping ESPN and the Pac-12 avoid FRIDAY night broadcasts. High school games on those nights typically get local radio coverage. Moving college games to Fridays creates a conflict. Such a conflict already exists this season with OSU-UW.... the first weekend of state playoffs in Oregon.
Additionally, in a variety of Pac10L markets, simply getting to Thurs/Friday night games on time is extremely difficult, if not impossible and/or extremely undesirable, for huge swaths of fans that might normally attend a Saturday game.
I know we need money and are in a tough spot, but we'll be circling the drain on interest at a lot of schools, eventually, if we just keep making the in person experience something nobody cares about.
I grew up going to games -- that's why I became a fan. It continues to lose me as I get older with that part of it being so completely dismissed on the importance/consideration meter.
Good or not, I think we can be certain Friday night games are going to be part of the deal for the Pac, just like the 10:30pm ET games on Saturdays. ESPN and other broadcasters have no interest in how many fans attend in person. If anything, they'd prefer all those people stay home and watch on TV, just like the COVID season.
I think it's sad .. and also that it legitimately risks the long term future of the product, particularly out West where the fanbases have been evolving and eroding .. at least in terms of demonstrable passion and support
(I'm speaking in relative terms as compared to the sport in other parts of the country)
Very true, Buck. College football keeps getting further and further from its roots as a regional game where traditions were just as important as the game on the field. It really is becoming NFL-lite. I like and watch the NFL, but a big part of the allure of college football was that it was a very different product than the NFL. No more.
I think the assumption the networks are operating under, and what their data tells them, is that while there are likely fans that will tune out the new product, there will be even more who tune in because they will get more matchups featuring the handful of major brand name teams than they do now. Like you, I'm not so sure that's true. Time will tell, I suppose.
At some point, I just wonder if the connection between "Michigan" and "a roster of players, getting paid, half of whom just transferred in (their 3rd transfer in 5 years)" will be harder and harder to make.
The whole "school" and "student athlete" part of this is heading in a very disconnected direction.
Too early to worry about this, but really hoping ESPN and the Pac-12 avoid FRIDAY night broadcasts. High school games on those nights typically get local radio coverage. Moving college games to Fridays creates a conflict. Such a conflict already exists this season with OSU-UW.... the first weekend of state playoffs in Oregon.
I agree Mark
Additionally, in a variety of Pac10L markets, simply getting to Thurs/Friday night games on time is extremely difficult, if not impossible and/or extremely undesirable, for huge swaths of fans that might normally attend a Saturday game.
I know we need money and are in a tough spot, but we'll be circling the drain on interest at a lot of schools, eventually, if we just keep making the in person experience something nobody cares about.
I grew up going to games -- that's why I became a fan. It continues to lose me as I get older with that part of it being so completely dismissed on the importance/consideration meter.
Sadly, the bad time slots like Friday nights are the only leverage a PAC 10 will have in media negotiations.
Good or not, I think we can be certain Friday night games are going to be part of the deal for the Pac, just like the 10:30pm ET games on Saturdays. ESPN and other broadcasters have no interest in how many fans attend in person. If anything, they'd prefer all those people stay home and watch on TV, just like the COVID season.
I suspect you're correct Mike.
I think it's sad .. and also that it legitimately risks the long term future of the product, particularly out West where the fanbases have been evolving and eroding .. at least in terms of demonstrable passion and support
(I'm speaking in relative terms as compared to the sport in other parts of the country)
Very true, Buck. College football keeps getting further and further from its roots as a regional game where traditions were just as important as the game on the field. It really is becoming NFL-lite. I like and watch the NFL, but a big part of the allure of college football was that it was a very different product than the NFL. No more.
Right there with you Mike.
I know there seems to be no stopping this change, but it really is a fundamental change from why CFB has been so unique and popular.
I really don't believe there is long term demand for an "NFL Lite" that is sort of kind of maybe related to college branding?
I guess I should tighten that up to say that there is no demand from me and the kind of folks I know for that sort of thing.
I think the assumption the networks are operating under, and what their data tells them, is that while there are likely fans that will tune out the new product, there will be even more who tune in because they will get more matchups featuring the handful of major brand name teams than they do now. Like you, I'm not so sure that's true. Time will tell, I suppose.
For sure..
At some point, I just wonder if the connection between "Michigan" and "a roster of players, getting paid, half of whom just transferred in (their 3rd transfer in 5 years)" will be harder and harder to make.
The whole "school" and "student athlete" part of this is heading in a very disconnected direction.