Catholic 7 News

MHettel · 03-07-2013, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by xudash

Fox seems to be going in a direction of putting together a package designed for 12 teams, but has acquiesced on the size of the conference out of the gate, starting the conference out with 10 teams. I've concluded that logistical issues are the primary reason for that; a short timeframe is available to put together conference schedules for all conference sports for all 10 members.

If we accept that it will go to 12 teams in order to deliver the amount of content required by Fox for driving this property to a marque position in its line-up, then which schools will truly round this thing out?

The answer to that question has to involve whatever maximizes Fox's advertising value to its clients. It just has to be that way. It isn't about an available pool of candidates, because we already know that we're dealing with 2 spots and that, at a minimum, SLU, Richmond and Dayton fit the desired profile for membership.

So we're down to the revenue question; we're down to answering what maximizes ad revenue for Fox.

What does that:

Market size, based on the fact that the reconfigured Fox channel kicks off in 90 million households right out of the gate?

New market, based on the same above fact?

Viewership within each market among the competing schools?

A non-market specific point of view, but one that is based on an analysis of which added team will bring some level of national viewership appeal over time?

I am sitting here waiting for an answer, because, the last criterion, at the margin, has to be virtually impossible to measure.

And because of that, the first two criteria seem to make sense to me. And because those two make sense, at least to me, that puts SLU into the new conference at #11.

Then it's a call between the Fox executives and the conference leadership that goes something like this:

Fox Exec: "We're down to the final school for addition. Our modeling shows advantages for both Richmond and Dayton, but understanding that Richmond will provide a truly new market (i.e. state). Forget how TV people measure markets, so forget about the dynamics of the television marketplace in Southwestern Ohio. The fact is that Richmond is in Virginia, and Dayton is butting up against Xavier in Ohio. On that note, we're relatively indifferent, but would suggest you consider Richmond if you think Richmond can deliver higher fan support as a result of this upgrade."

Conference Exec: "Thank you for your analysis. If it's that close, and given Richmond's quality as an institution and the fact that they're actually putting money into the Robbins Center now, and given that we've seen positive elasticity in their fan base (i.e. growth/response in attendance when they're winning) we'll go with Richmond. If it's this close on the television metric, then we can go with Richmond for geographic balance purposes, believing that the program will respond and strengthen as a result of this new league affiliation.

SO WOULD ANYONE CARE TO CHIME IN AND TELL ME IF THIS MAKES SENSE, OR DOES DAYTON TRULY HOLD AN ADVANTAGE AS THE FINAL FILLER SCHOOL FOR THE (N)BE THAT I SIMPLY AM MISSING?

It's not the CASE FOR Richmond that swings the decision. It's the CASE AGAINST DAYTON that does it. Too much overlap with Cincy. And Peopel in Dayton already watch a shit-ton of college basketball, and UD isn't even really on TV that much. You are trying to get NEW VIEWERS.

Case Closed.

**X-band '01** · 03-07-2013, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Muskie1000

Really? All this news conference is going to spell out is what we already pretty much know. We have to wait at least another week before they officially "invite" other teams. Can they drag this on any longer than it is?

The upside of a delayed announcement would be to ensure that X and Butler aren't banned from Brooklyn. The A-10 can never be trusted.

**DC Muskie** · 03-07-2013, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by MHettel

It's not the CASE FOR Richmond that swings the decision. It's the CASE AGAINST DAYTON that does it. Too much overlap with Cincy. And Peopel in Dayton already watch a shit-ton of college basketball, and UD isn't even really on TV that much. You are trying to get NEW VIEWERS.

Case Closed.

What's the difference between new viewers and just plain old viewers?

If this is a league that gets people in Toledo to watch Nova and Georgetown, who really gives a rats ass who the 11th and 12th teams are?

That's why I hate the idea of expanding it past 9 teams. The 11th and 12th teams are going to be about maximizing the viewership. "New Viewers" aren't going to come from the Richmond market.

**paulxu** · 03-07-2013, 02:35 PM

You can save a lot of money for other sports by busing people to Richmond from the east 5, plus you can get a lot of Hoyas to drive to Richmond...not so much to Dayton. I like Richmond for 12. We can handle Ohio. Get a new market in Virginia.

And if UC is in it, it's the little east...always will be.

BMoreX · 03-07-2013, 02:45 PM

How's this look for a quick photoshop job?

BMoreX · 03-07-2013, 02:51 PM

Andy Katz's last blog:

1. At least one coach in the new Big East, filled with the Catholic 7 schools and likely Butler and Xavier, has been told to anticipate a 16-game schedule next season, according to one source with knowledge of the situation. That would force the seven Big East schools -- Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, DePaul and Marquette -- to get two more non-conference games after playing 18 in the Big East this season. Of course, if Creighton is chosen as the 10th member for next season instead of in 2014, the league can pull off a true round-robin, 18-game league schedule, much like the Big 12. That's what the league should do to have a major splash in Year 1. The league's new television partner, expected to be Fox, would probably like to have two more games per team to show.

That would be a 9 team, round-robin conference schedule.

**muskiefan82** · 03-07-2013, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by BMoreX

Andy Katz's last blog:

1. At least one coach in the new Big East, filled with the Catholic 7 schools and likely Butler and Xavier, has been told to anticipate a 16-game schedule next season, according to one source with knowledge of the situation. That would force the seven Big East schools -- Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, DePaul and Marquette -- to get two more non-conference games after playing 18 in the Big East this season. Of course, if Creighton is chosen as the 10th member for next season instead of in 2014, the league can pull off a true round-robin, 18-game league schedule, much like the Big 12. That's what the league should do to have a major splash in Year 1. The league's new television partner, expected to be Fox, would probably like to have two more games per team to show.

That would be a 9 team, round-robin conference schedule.

This would be phenomenal. uc.JPG

**DC Muskie** · 03-07-2013, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by BMoreX

Andy Katz's last blog:

1. At least one coach in the new Big East, filled with the Catholic 7 schools and likely Butler and Xavier, has been told to anticipate a 16-game schedule next season, according to one source with knowledge of the situation. That would force the seven Big East schools -- Georgetown, Providence, St. John's, Seton Hall, Villanova, DePaul and Marquette -- to get two more non-conference games after playing 18 in the Big East this season. Of course, if Creighton is chosen as the 10th member for next season instead of in 2014, the league can pull off a true round-robin, 18-game league schedule, much like the Big 12. That's what the league should do to have a major splash in Year 1. The league's new television partner, expected to be Fox, would probably like to have two more games per team to show.

That would be a 9 team, round-robin conference schedule.

I could have one year of total basketball bliss.

Please Sweet Baby Jesus let this happen.