The estimated value of BYU's Independent TV package

[KillerDog]

Ever since I was told only 3 people at BYU know the actual number for the contract value with ESPN (Holmoe, Sandberg, and Samuelson) I have wanted to get a picture of what the number would look like. I've had it confirmed again that the original demand from BYU to ESPN was $20mm. I've heard that from a couple of places. Now, through various conversations, I believe I have cobbled together an estimation of what the annual revenue from the ESPN package is for BYU. It is between $8mm and $8.5mm. I know Ute fans on this board will believe this is impossible because it is substantially more than their net will be for a number of years after they join the Pac-12 but I'm very confident in this number.

Interestingly, I keep hearing that this was not the best monetary offer on the table but it was the best offer on the table. That's a pretty interesting comment. All in all, it just goes to show you that product on the field isn't the main thing for measuring program strength. Product on the field is the driving factor but butts in the seats weigh more heavily.

[Superdeluxe]

Ever since I was told only 3 people at BYU know the actual number for the contract value with ESPN (Holmoe, Sandberg, and Samuelson) I have wanted to get a picture of what the number would look like. I've had it confirmed again that the original demand from BYU to ESPN was $20mm. I've heard that from a couple of places. Now, through various conversations, I believe I have cobbled together an estimation of what the annual revenue from the ESPN package is for BYU. It is between $8mm and $8.5mm. I know Ute fans on this board will believe this is impossible because it is substantially more than their net will be for a number of years after they join the Pac-12 but I'm very confident in this number.

Interestingly, I keep hearing that this was not the best monetary offer on the table but it was the best offer on the table. That's a pretty interesting comment. All in all, it just goes to show you that product on the field isn't the main thing for measuring program strength. Product on the field is the driving factor but butts in the seats weigh more heavily.

Wouldn't it depend on how many times BYU is on major abc/ESPN channel? I've read that BYU is only guaranteed 3 games, with options for more games..but it is possible that games would appear on ESPNU or ESPN3

[Mormon Red Death]

Ever since I was told only 3 people at BYU know the actual number for the contract value with ESPN (Holmoe, Sandberg, and Samuelson) I have wanted to get a picture of what the number would look like. I've had it confirmed again that the original demand from BYU to ESPN was $20mm. I've heard that from a couple of places. Now, through various conversations, I believe I have cobbled together an estimation of what the annual revenue from the ESPN package is for BYU. It is between $8mm and $8.5mm. I know Ute fans on this board will believe this is impossible because it is substantially more than their net will be for a number of years after they join the Pac-12 but I'm very confident in this number.

Interestingly, I keep hearing that this was not the best monetary offer on the table but it was the best offer on the table. That's a pretty interesting comment. All in all, it just goes to show you that product on the field isn't the main thing for measuring program strength. Product on the field is the driving factor but butts in the seats weigh more heavily.

Since we are throwing out numbers I am going with 3.5 - 4 million. ESPN knew how much BYU was making from the mtn and I doubt they would go 5 times that amount. Like I said, its just a number I am throwing out there.

[KillerDog]

Since we are throwing out numbers I am going with 3.5 - 4 million. ESPN knew how much BYU was making from the mtn and I doubt they would go 5 times that amount. Like I said, its just a number I am throwing out there.

I specifically asked about that range for the same reasons you have stated. It was the range that made the most sense to me. I was told that it was substantially more than that. Then in a different conversation I was told that "absent other provisions" BYU wouldn't have agreed to twice that much.

[KillerDog]

Wouldn't it depend on how many times BYU is on major abc/ESPN channel? I've read that BYU is only guaranteed 3 games, with options for more games..but it is possible that games would appear on ESPNU or ESPN3

To some degree, yes. My understanding is that access to BYU's opponents and control over some scheduling issues is a major portion of what ESPN got. They know who they are helping BYU schedule (that's why there is a minimum). Regardless of how well BYU is doing, it is unlikely many of BYU's homegames will be televised on ESPN's big boy networks for BYU's sake. The compensation for televising these games on the baby networks is minimal.

[pelagius]

Scott Pierce reported 8 mil in the Trib the other day:

And swapping BYU for Fresno (No. 55) and Nevada (No. 108) isn’t even close. BYU will get $8 million from ESPN for its football telecasts — two-thirds of what the entire league gets for a full year of all sports from its current TV deal.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/...eague.html.csp

It was discussed on CUF the other day.

[KillerDog]

Scott Pierce reported 8 mil in the Trib the other day:



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/...eague.html.csp

It was discussed on CUF the other day.

I wasn't on when it was discussed but he must have gotten his information the same way I did.

[Spicy McHaggis]

I'm skeptical that ESPN pays byu more per game than they pay for bowl games.

[Jacob]

I'm skeptical that ESPN pays byu more per game than they pay for bowl games.

The payout for the BYU-WV game in 2016 is $4.5 million. That includes ticket sales, but at $8m per year, we are only talking about a $2m payout for BYU/game.

It could be that ESPN neutral site games like that one could be part of the figure that gets BYU to $8m per year, which means that ESPN would be paying less for the 3-4 games in Provo.

[cougjunkie]

I'm skeptical that ESPN pays byu more per game than they pay for bowl games.

You are skeptical when West Virginia announced that the payout for the game vs BYU was $2.25 million each? That is way more than most bowl games.

[Indy Coug]

You are skeptical when West Virginia announced that the payout for the game vs BYU was $2.25 million each? That is way more than most bowl games.

There's 6 years of cumulative sports inflation built in that figure. The sports rate of inflation is outpacing the CPI by a far margin, I'd dare say.

[LA Ute]

I have the distinct impression that BYU's success in negotiating its ESPN contract will be measured by whether it equals or exceeds Utah's TV revenue from the PAC12. I will also wager that the notion that BYU has already bested Utah in this regard, and not by a small margin, has already become a deeply embedded part of Cougar lore.

Then again, I could be completely wrong. I am sure someone here will explain how I am.

[SloanHater]

I only buy your figure if it includes basketball games.

[jay santos]

I'm skeptical that ESPN pays byu more per game than they pay for bowl games.

Pay out for bowl games is split between both schools plus the bowl makes a profit. Pay out for a regular season goes 100% to home team.

[Indy Coug]

I only buy your figure if it includes basketball games.

Sadly, I agree with SloanHater.