I think the system he used is unsupportable. He concentrates only on “ratings” tv, without regard to actual eyeballs. The guy works for a Kansas State and admits his method favors the Big12.
I'll save time. From the article containing the table we saw above: But since games on all of these avenues (along with the Pac 12 Network, regional Fox Sports networks, syndicated ACC games, pay per view games, etc.) are not rated, it seems unfair to cherry-pick the games that warrant a broadcast on CBS, ABC, ESPN, FOX or other major networks and only count those games as an indicator of the popularity of a team. For example, Florida ranks seventh in the ratings TexAgs.com compiled, but they were only on a rated television broadcast five times this year in the eleven games. * * * To correct this bias, I assumed that there were no viewers for games that were not rated telecasts and then recalculated the average rating per team. I realize that this is an imperfect method. (Underline mine). So cherry-picked and highly manipulated ("adjusted") "ratings" . . .
I don't know where to even start on how tortured his assumptions are to come up with that list. I'll try to respond more thoroughly when I'm somewhere I can sit down for a sec.
Forget the methodology flaws for a second, let's start with the fact that this list came up with Ole Miss and Miss St as the #6 and #7 TV draws. The good folks in the magnolia state love themselves some college football, but not enough to cause those ratings, so lets take a step back for a second and think why that is... The data is from one season: 2014. FSU was defending national champs, went undefeated in 2014 and had the reigning Heisman winner Jameis before losing to the Ducks in the first playoff. So this is their ratings at their peak. Same with the Miss schools, for those who don't remember both of them started atop the first playoff rankings. Ole Miss beat Bama and started 7-0, MSU started 9-0. It was a bizarre year. That's not to say FSU isn't a big TV draw on average. They are! Definitely top 20. probably top 10. But this is a one-year sample selected during a peak FSU year.
B1G is apparently offering Washington and Oregon $35-40 mil per year. It’s trying to score them at a discount. Still no offer to the Holes. I think they will round out with Cal and Stanford.
I’ve taught television industry-related courses since 1979–since 1985 at UF. This guy has no idea what he’s talking about. All advertising-supported content gets some type of audience measurement (e.g, what are often called ratings). When he says only network shows are “rated” he’s flat out wrong. They may not be as readily available to the public as with network data, but audience data are very much out there. The local station and its advertisers need to know how to figure the cost of an ad on the 11:00 news. He just didn’t know how to find it or was too lazy to look for it. BTW, “ratings” data includes a lot more than just gross audience size. Demographics, for sure, but also such things as audience flow—the audience levels are in 15-minute increments, so there is data about whether people are tuning out, staying, or tuning in to a program as it goes along. A blowout will lose audience as it goes along, but what is reported in USA Today, etc, is the average of those 15 minute segments. Probably less relevant for sports, but data are also collected for viewing after 24 hours, 3-days, and 7-days to account for recorded playback. Of course, audience data for subscription streaming services is much more difficult to find because there are no advertisers who want that information.
BIG12 officially approved Arizona as the 14th member. The Arizona BOR is holding a closed door meeting tonight to discuss. Apple is reputedly making a last ditch effort with new numbers tomorrow morning. Utah and ASU will wait to see the numbers before making any decision. Arizona is as good as gone to the BIG12. Washington will accept the reduced B1G money, but Oregon is balking at not getting a full share. If Oregon says no, Utah is likely up next. Another reason Utah is waiting.
I’m shocked that Stanford isn’t a larger player here. Their football currently sucks but they are at the top of so many other sports they have to be worth something. And Cal……. One of the few schools to have NCs in the big 3 sports but they decided long ago sports were a nice decoration to their academics.
The strongest conferences have always done the split of money equally, if schools start signing on for less cash then in about 10 years we'll have a meltdown. Looking forward to it.
I didn’t realize it was data from one year. Lol. I stopped about halfway through when I saw some of the assumptions. Thanks for bringing that out.
Thanks! I didn't catch that at all. Probably hand-picked straight from WhoreChant. Their public bellyaching isn't going over well either: ESPN: Bubba Cunnungham (UNC AD) Critical of Comments From Hole President
I think that is FSU’s strategy - to be such a pain and malcontent that the ACC is forced to dump them. The problem is that if FSU is successful, it creates the roadmap for Clemson and Miami, and the ACC dies an inevitable death far sooner than the end of the GOR agreement.
The problem with that is the more belly aching they spew the less anybody else will want them. Kind of a who wants to deal with that at both ends.
I totally agree with that, too. I don’t think the brain trust at FSU has engaged in too much forward thinking of their strategy.