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BBC 08
04-22-2011, 01:13 PM
Really good breakdown over at Deadspin on baseball and the TV contract. Well worth the time to read: link (http://deadspin.com/#!5789875/no-ones-going-to-baseball-games-but-heres-why-mlb-isnt-concerned)
SixFig
04-22-2011, 01:55 PM
Attendance wise, I think baseball is ok. Look at football, America's golden sport. The Jags, Raiders, Bengals and probably others have problems selling out their stadiums for a mere eight games, yet no one in the business cares because TV supersedes and ticket revenue.

Let's all focus on the real problem with baseball: Joe Buck. Damn I hate that guy. I want to punch him in the throat so he can't announce anymore.
BBC 08
04-22-2011, 02:02 PM
Let's all focus on the real problem with baseball: Joe Buck. Damn I hate that guy. I want to punch him in the throat so he can't announce anymore.

He ruins the Buck name. I lived in St. Louis from the ages of 3 to 6. I feel asleep to the sound of Jack calling games. Joe Buck is a terrible announcer and human being.
CinciX12
04-22-2011, 02:11 PM
Baseball is so unfairly biased towards the teams from New York and Boston it is literally sickening.
BBC 08
04-22-2011, 02:21 PM
Baseball is so unfairly biased towards the teams from New York and Boston it is literally sickening.

Do you truly mean baseball? You may think baseball but the word you are looking for is espn.

espn is so unfairly biased towards the teams from NYC and Boston that it is literally sickening.

There, that's how that sentence should read.
CinciX12
04-22-2011, 02:24 PM
Do you truly mean baseball? You may think baseball but the word you are looking for is espn.

espn is so unfairly biased towards the teams from NYC and Boston that it is literally sickening.

There, that's how that sentence should read.

Fair enough. But the part where YES and NESN are directly giving profits to the Yankees is ridiculous. Forcing cable subscribers into paying to get those channels is ludicrous.

The Reds could never do that. Ever.
GoMuskies
04-22-2011, 02:25 PM
NESN isn't the same thing as YES. NESN is essentially just lilke FSO.
CinciX12
04-22-2011, 02:29 PM
According to the article, the Red Sox own 80% of NESN.

The Reds own what of FSN?

Thats what I'm saying that profit the 'tv company' makes goes right to the team. Commercials during things that are not even Red Sox games are going to the Boston Red Sox.
BBC 08
04-22-2011, 02:31 PM
Fair enough. But the part where YES and NESN are directly giving profits to the Yankees is ridiculous.

Why? YES is a network that was setup and is operated by the Yankees. Who would/should get the profits then if not the Yankees?

I may hate the Yankees but that is a brilliant move. A constant revenue stream that will never change is something most teams would kill for. Don't hate because the Reds can't get it done.
GoMuskies
04-22-2011, 02:33 PM
Red Sox own 80% of NESN.


Did not know. You'd think living in Boston for 8 years I'd have picked up on that.
CinciX12
04-22-2011, 02:37 PM
Why? YES is a network that was setup and is operated by the Yankees. Who would/should get the profits then if not the Yankees?

I may hate the Yankees but that is a brilliant move. A constant revenue stream that will never change is something most teams would kill for. Don't hate because the Reds can't get it done.

How does that create an equal playing field though? Don't get me wrong I think it is a great business move and I would have done the same if I was NY or Bos owners.

But I don't think you could call it anything but unfair to other teams.
BBC 08
04-22-2011, 02:46 PM
How does that create an equal playing field though? Don't get me wrong I think it is a great business move and I would have done the same if I was NY or Bos owners.

But I don't think you could call it anything but unfair to other teams.

I agree that it doesn't create an equal playing field and it's not fair to smaller market teams but them's the breaks. The only thing we can hope is that baseball changes its rules so that revenue stream can be taxed and put into the pot.
X-band '01
04-22-2011, 02:50 PM
If the Indians can start a network, the Reds have no excuse.
CinciX12
04-22-2011, 02:52 PM
If the Indians can start a network, the Reds have no excuse.

Lets not pretend that the STO network is even a significant portion of YES or NESN. I can watch a Yankees game any night of the week sitting in Cincinnati on my basic cable. Thats remarkable.
dc_x
04-22-2011, 03:03 PM
The same TV economics apply to college sports. The Big Ten owns 50% of the Big Ten network and is making a killing off it. Texas is launching its own network.

Once you get big enough, it doesn't make sense to sell your content. You are better off creating your own network and keeping your content to yourself.
BlueX
04-22-2011, 03:41 PM
Lets not pretend that the STO network is even a significant portion of YES or NESN. I can watch a Yankees game any night of the week sitting in Cincinnati on my basic cable. Thats remarkable.

Then your cable provider has messed up. All out of market games on rsn's are blacked out unless you buy the MLB tv package.
SixFig
04-22-2011, 05:49 PM
Remember The Baseball Network? Pioneered in 1994-95, baseball tried to adapt an NFL style model, with disastrous results

Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Baseball_Network)
GuyFawkes38
04-22-2011, 06:33 PM
The same TV economics apply to college sports. The Big Ten owns 50% of the Big Ten network and is making a killing off it. Texas is launching its own network.

Once you get big enough, it doesn't make sense to sell your content. You are better off creating your own network and keeping your content to yourself.

Ownership has its risks. The NFL is content to sell most of their content to the networks for a guaranteed, long term revenue stream.

And networks (cable an non-cable) offer synergies. For example, I'm sure broadcasting the NCAA tourney on TNT will have a positive effect on their NBA broadcasts, which is great for all parties.