A little Big East News

[Guest USF Bill]

Mitch Vingle

Big East needs to get creative about football TV money

YE OLDE notebook:

In the very near future, Big East basketball is expected to rule.

Unfortunately, on the football side, the league is waiting for a judge to do so.

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Television negotiations between the Big East and ABC/ESPN have stalled. So...

“We are in arbitration,’’ said league associate commissioner John Paquette. “We reached an impasse over the value of our [TV] package, so now we’ll go before a judge.’’

The two sides went to the negotiating table after the Atlantic Coast Conference’s successful raid of the Big East. With Miami, Virginia Tech and, next year, Boston College fleeing for the ACC, ABC/ESPN wants to slash the Big East’s $15 million package. A clause in the current contract called for talks in the event of realignment and arbitration if those talks stalled.

You may have read that NBC and the NHL have agreed to a TV package. The network will show seven regular-season games and six playoff games in a Saturday afternoon time slot.

What you might have skipped over are the terms of the deal. The partners will share advertising revenue and NBC pays no right fees.

Perhaps the Big East can be similarly creative. Accept a smaller rights fee and insert a marketing clause.

Big East officials, by the way, are gathering in Ponte Vedra, Fla., this weekend for annual league meetings. And the scenario will be much like that of Destin, Fla., where Conference USA officials just wrapped their meetings.  

Call it a time to meet and greet. Officials of Big East members-to-be Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette and South Florida will attend and meet their new peers.

[bulls96go]

if BE could work something with NBC and ESPN

that adds NBC big time to the college football mix and could shake the ABC monopoly. the basketball may be an inticing carrot

don't know how that would sit with the BCS...

[bullpen1]

NBC already has Notre Dame, and lots of people watch no matter if they are good or bad.  I think it would be good for them to have a BE game on ND road weeks or doubleheaders when ND plays at home.

[smazza]

BE needs to rethink position

not a good thing going to arbitration with partner