Information on the ESPN deal.

[FMCoug]

Have you not seen our HD truck?

[Green Monstah]

You negotiate deals with multi-billion-dollar, publicly trade media companies?

Maybe not media companies (don't mean to speak for you Nikuman)...

To be the voice of reason, here. Top Ute is right...I think you risk some credibility if your starting number is too far afield, but if you don't start negotiations by asking for considerably more than you're willing to accept, you're setting yourself up to get low-balled. $20MM a year is way above market, but I suspect BYU was hoping for settle somewhere in the ballpark of $10MM best case and ended up reasonably south of that number. $20MM is not so ridiculous as to send ESPN packing. It may have made their execs chuckle a bit, but it's not the first time a party went overboard on an opening bid (if, in fact, that is what even happened).

[beefytee]

With Disney being a public company, is there any point in which they will have to disclose how much the deal really is?

Why does NBC and ND disclose their amount?

[FMCoug]

With Disney being a public company, is there any point in which they will have to disclose how much the deal really is?

Why does NBC and ND disclose their amount?

I can't imagine a scenario where a public company would have to disclose the details of an individual deal. They have to report rolled up numbers on financial statements but nothing this detailed (or even close).

[myboynoah]

Wasn't part of the draw for ESPN working with BYU gaining access to BYU broadcasting technologies (that spectacular HD truck)? Hence, any negotiations would not be limited to broadcasting games, but also how much that access would be worth. I have no idea of what those numbers should be, but perhaps that plays into BYU's offer.

I can see why some Ute Fans would be disturbed by all of this.

[Sizzle]

Don't underestimate the fact that ESPN is basically going to be using BYU as well. There are more than a few conferences with contracts not affiliated with ESPN. What better way to get those teams (USC, SEC teams, etc) on ESPN than to have a respectable yet beatable team with essentially an open schedule and a desire to play anywhere. It is as much about who BYU will be playing as it is about BYU IMO. And as a Coug fan, I'm okay with that.

[Green Monstah]

Wasn't part of the draw for ESPN working with BYU gaining access to BYU broadcasting technologies (that spectacular HD truck)? Hence, any negotiations would not be limited to broadcasting games, but also how much that access would be worth. I have no idea of what those numbers should be, but perhaps that plays into BYU's offer.

I can see why some Ute Fans would be disturbed by all of this.

Don't take me the wrong way, but I'm pretty sure BYU has nothing that ESPN desires by way of broadcasting technology.

[Tim]

Don't take me the wrong way, but I'm pretty sure BYU has nothing that ESPN desires by way of broadcasting technology.

It's hard not to take you the wrong way when you're so wrong. Clearly you didn't watch the press conference at BYU last week in which the ESPN VP working the deal specifically mentioned ESPN's interest in working with BYU's new technical capabilities.

[Surfah]

Don't take me the wrong way, but I'm pretty sure BYU has nothing that ESPN desires by way of broadcasting technology.

This is may or may not be true. But I know that ESPN solicits business and lease of technology and equipment on a contractual basis. I know for a fact that they are doing this with their 3D venture. It would not surprise me at all if the use of BYU's facilities and equipment is desirable to ESPN. In fact I'd argue that it is.

And Sizzle brought up the best point yet. BYU is attractive to ESPN because it provides them with someone who can play any other one of their contracted teams if/when needed. I am persuaded to believe that ESPN has just as much to do with our future scheduling if not more than Holmoe's efforts.

[statman]

Have you not seen our HD truck?

Y'all are really hung-up on the truck thing. But actually...

BYU is getting good $$$ from ESPN in large part because of the truck and the broadcasting center. BYU's technical capabilities mean that ESPN doesn't have much in the way of expenses to televise a BYU game. If they're televising a game at BYU, they don't need to bring any of their own equipment. Fly a few people in for the game, and they're done. They'll bring play-by-play, color and sideline commentators, plus probably a producer and director for the broadcast, and maybe a couple other people. But besides that, they could probably use all BYU staff. And they're free to have their truck go somewhere else - meaning more potential revenue for them.

Pushing ESPN's cost curve way down means they can afford to pay BYU considerably more. And that's not even utilizing the truck. That's just fixed facilities at BYU. The truck is a nice little side benefit for ESPN - that the athletic department likely won't be directly benefiting from. But right now, what makes ESPN happy, makes BYU football happy...

[Art Vandelay]

Don't underestimate the fact that ESPN is basically going to be using BYU as well. There are more than a few conferences with contracts not affiliated with ESPN. What better way to get those teams (USC, SEC teams, etc) on ESPN than to have a respectable yet beatable team with essentially an open schedule and a desire to play anywhere. It is as much about who BYU will be playing as it is about BYU IMO. And as a Coug fan, I'm okay with that.

Wouldn't that only apply to BYU home games?

[Surfah]

Wouldn't that only apply to BYU home games?

No. ESPN has contractual obligations to these other schools as well. Besides few teams and no BCS team is going to come to Provo without a return game.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

The Pac 10 could end up on FSN Medford, the WAC is basically done and Boise is going to the MWC to be broadcast on Zapruder Sports. BYU could end up being one of ESPN's only college football broadcasting options in the two western time zones.

[LA Ute]

The Pac 10 could end up on FSN Medford, the WAC is basically done and Boise is going to the MWC to be broadcast on Zapruder Sports. BYU could end up being one of ESPN's only college football broadcasting options in the two western time zones.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

What part of my post is incorrect (maybe I was stretching it with FSN Medford, perhaps FSN Redding would be more apt?).

Boise State has become an ESPN staple over the past 4-5 years. When FSN Modesto isn't carrying USC v. Oregon (the biggest Pac 10 game of the season), ESPN also gets some Pac 10 games. There's a good chance that could come to an end if/when Pac 10 creates its own network and/or signs on with FSN Pasco.

Does BYU not fill in nicely for Boise State/mid-range Pac 10 schools, especially considering that it will eventually have a far superior schedule to Boise's? ESPN doesn't want to lose too much ground in the west to FSN Walla Walla.