Colin Cowherd

[BobbyMac]

With the Big Ten media days ahead, turnabout is fair play. I just want to know if SEC fans will travel (to this) outside the South.

Let 'em. We'll shoot anything in overalls as it crosses the Ohio.

NI

.

 

[wizards8507]

So you don't think an ENTIRE NETWORK dedicated to 24/7 coverage of ONE CONFERENCE is different from 4 hours on a Saturday night?

I'm curious, what do you think the dollar value of Middle Tennessee @ Alabama or Toledo versus Arkansas is compared to Notre Dame at Florida State on ABC in prime time? "Entire network" sounds really big and scary until you realize that there's nothing on that network that anybody actually watches. SEC Network games are bottom of the barrel. They're there so that SEC alumni can watch their teams play crap opponents in games that otherwise wouldn't have made it on television at all.

Think about it this way: anybody watching SEC Network is someone who would have otherwise been watching ESPN, so SEC ratings cannibalize core ESPN ratings. This is further compounded by audiences being driven to the primary SEC game every week, which airs on CBS. So if ESPN were hyping the SEC, they'd be helping CBS, hurting the core ESPN networks, and slightly helping the SEC Network. There's no incentive there.

How do you think hyping the SEC benefits ESPN financially? Maybe you're just misunderstanding the revenue model.

 

[IrishLion]

I'm curious, what do you think the dollar value of Middle Tennessee @ Alabama or Toledo versus Arkansas is compared to Notre Dame at Florida State on ABC in prime time? "Entire network" sounds really big and scary until you realize that there's nothing on that network that anybody actually watches. SEC Network games are bottom of the barrel. They're there so that SEC alumni can watch their teams play crap opponents in games that otherwise wouldn't have made it on television at all.

Think about it this way: anybody watching SEC Network is someone who would have otherwise been watching ESPN, so SEC ratings cannibalize core ESPN ratings. This is further compounded by audiences being driven to the primary SEC game every week, which airs on CBS. So if ESPN were hyping the SEC, they'd be helping CBS, hurting the core ESPN networks, and slightly helping the SEC Network. There's no incentive there.

How do you think hyping the SEC benefits ESPN financially? Maybe you're just misunderstanding the revenue model.

I don't give a shit about finances. I give a shit about ESPN personalities deciding the tone and the general feeling around college football. They create a false reality surrounding the SEC. Every week, we hear "this guy could play in the SEC" or "they wouldn't hold up against an SEC schedule" and IT IS BULLSHIT.

Bowl season this past year finally brought it to light, thank god. Ole Miss and Mississippi State rode the "SEC Wave" straight to the top of the poles... but then we found out that they weren't very good, and neither was the rest of the SEC West... and yet, they get all of this credit for beating up on eachother because of the PERCEPTION. And who creates that perception? The jackwagons at ESPN who are in bed with the SEC.

 

[gkIrish]

I'm curious, what do you think the dollar value of Middle Tennessee @ Alabama or Toledo versus Arkansas is compared to Notre Dame at Florida State on ABC in prime time? "Entire network" sounds really big and scary until you realize that there's nothing on that network that anybody actually watches. SEC Network games are bottom of the barrel. They're there so that SEC alumni can watch their teams play crap opponents in games that otherwise wouldn't have made it on television at all.

Think about it this way: anybody watching SEC Network is someone who would have otherwise been watching ESPN, so SEC ratings cannibalize core ESPN ratings. This is further compounded by audiences being driven to the primary SEC game every week, which airs on CBS. So if ESPN were hyping the SEC, they'd be helping CBS, hurting the core ESPN networks, and slightly helping the SEC Network. There's no incentive there.

How do you think hyping the SEC benefits ESPN financially? Maybe you're just misunderstanding the revenue model.

Wait so if the SEC network doesn't benefit ESPN financially why does it exist?

 

[BobbyMac]

I don't give a shit about finances. I give a shit about ESPN personalities deciding the tone and the general feeling around college football. They create a false reality surrounding the SEC. Every week, we hear "this guy could play in the SEC" or "they wouldn't hold up against an SEC schedule" and IT IS BULLSHIT.

Bowl season this past year finally brought it to light, thank god. Ole Miss and Mississippi State rode the "SEC Wave" straight to the top of the poles... but then we found out that they weren't very good, and neither was the rest of the SEC West... and yet, they get all of this credit for beating up on eachother because of the PERCEPTION. And who creates that perception? The jackwagons at ESPN who are in bed with the SEC.

THIS EXACTLY.

It's the same thing MTV did to us in the 80's playing Cyndy Lauper every 15 minutes until millions believed she was a star while making me stay up till 2am to see The Clash and U2.

.

 

[woolybug25]

THIS EXACTLY.

It's the same thing MTV did to us in the 80's playing Cyndy Lauper every 15 minutes until millions believed she was a star while making me stay up till 2am to see The Clash and U2.

.

Look how far U2 has came. In the 80's, you had to wait until 2am to watch their music video. Now... they just upload their albums to your iphone without your permission. lol

 

[kmoose]

I'm curious, what do you think the dollar value of Middle Tennessee @ Alabama or Toledo versus Arkansas is compared to Notre Dame at Florida State on ABC in prime time? "Entire network" sounds really big and scary until you realize that there's nothing on that network that anybody actually watches. SEC Network games are bottom of the barrel. They're there so that SEC alumni can watch their teams play crap opponents in games that otherwise wouldn't have made it on television at all.

So you don't work for a bunch of self serving, greedy capitalists; you work for a bunch of complete idiots who sunk millions upon millions of dollars into a venture that is not much more than a Closed Circuit feed, in terms of viewership?

I find it hard to believe that the wonks at Disney would allow ESPN to pour a ton of money into something that was bound to be as second rate as you describe it to be.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

THIS EXACTLY.

It's the same thing MTV did to us in the 80's playing Cyndy Lauper every 15 minutes until millions believed she was a star while making me stay up till 2am to see The Clash and U2.

.

This makes no sense at all. If MTV would have made more money playing U2, they would have played U2.

 

[kmoose]

This makes no sense at all. If MTV would have made more money playing U2, they would have played U2.

MTV made way more money off of the access to musicians that they got, because they pushed the acts that the record labels wanted pushed, then they would have made off of some up and coming, but not yet mega-star, band from Ireland.

 

[BobbyMac]

MTV made way more money off of the access to musicians that they got, because they pushed the acts that the record labels wanted pushed, then they would have made off of some up and coming, but not yet mega-star, band from Ireland.

*Edit*... Very true Moose and that is my point.

BUT still - You can't tell these millennials today anything. They think MTV was always the unwed, teenage mom on food stamps in love with a catfish station. If you look at their shows today you'd swear MTV stood for Misery Television.


.

 

[BobbyMac]

This makes no sense at all. If MTV would have made more money playing U2, they would have played U2.

Technically, you are right. Just not for the reasons you think.


.

 

[wizards8507]

Wait so if the SEC network doesn't benefit ESPN financially why does it exist?

So you don't work for a bunch of self serving, greedy capitalists; you work for a bunch of complete idiots who sunk millions upon millions of dollars into a venture that is not much more than a Closed Circuit feed, in terms of viewership?

I find it hard to believe that the wonks at Disney would allow ESPN to pour a ton of money into something that was bound to be as second rate as you describe it to be.

There are two components of ESPN revenue. The first is subscriber fees. ESPN makes money for every single cable package that includes the SEC Network, regardless of whether the subscriber actually watches the SEC network. The second is ad sales, which are driven by ratings. An ESPN viewer who is pushed to CBS is a net loss, while an ESPN viewer who is pushed to the SEC Network is a net wash. There's no incentive for ESPN to push viewers to the SEC network since that revenue is not incremental.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I don't give a shit about finances. I give a shit about ESPN personalities deciding the tone and the general feeling around college football. They create a false reality surrounding the SEC. Every week, we hear "this guy could play in the SEC" or "they wouldn't hold up against an SEC schedule" and IT IS BULLSHIT.

Bowl season this past year finally brought it to light, thank god. Ole Miss and Mississippi State rode the "SEC Wave" straight to the top of the poles... but then we found out that they weren't very good, and neither was the rest of the SEC West... and yet, they get all of this credit for beating up on eachother because of the PERCEPTION. And who creates that perception? The jackwagons at ESPN who are in bed with the SEC.

Yeah but.... sample size and other things.... ESPN...ND won because of a blown call. SEC is the best, ESPN doesn't have bias, they are the true no spin zone. Just reporting the facts in a fair and balanced way.

 

[wizards8507]

let's see that 4 day live coverage of PAC-12 media day... Thought so.

Well PAC-12 only has two media days. The SEC has four. Not sure why they'd spend four days covering a two day event. If you'd care to consult the current lineup, you can currently catch coverage of ACC media days on ESPNU and Big 12 media days on the Longhorn Network.

 

[NCND]

Well PAC-12 only has two media days. The SEC has four. Not sure why they'd spend four days covering a two day event. If you'd care to consult the current lineup, you can currently catch coverage of ACC media days on ESPNU and Big 12 media days on the Longhorn Network.

Cool story. Thanks.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Well PAC-12 only has two media days. The SEC has four. Not sure why they'd spend four days covering a two day event. If you'd care to consult the current lineup, you can currently catch coverage of ACC media days on ESPNU and Big 12 media days on the Longhorn Network.

Please tell me you're not still being a shill for ESPN and trying to make us all believe that they don't show a complete bias towards the SEC. You cannot be serious.

Here's yet another case in point:

Last week, for all 4 SEC media days, not only did ESPN give them around the clock coverage on the SEC Network, they also had live break-ins during Sportscenter, a half-hour "SEC Media" show before College Football Live, and then an entire half-hour dedicated to the SEC on CFL.

Today was an ACC Media Day. No Sportscenter cut-ins that I saw, but even better, I turned on CFL (foolishly) expecting to see what was going on during the ACC media day. Who started the show? The host sitting with Butch Jones and Mark Richt. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The rest of the show was Nick Saban and Les Miles. Not ONE mention of the ACC the entire show.

So even on ACC Media Day, you got an entire show based on the SEC. But naaaaaaaahhhh, there's no bias there.

Explain.

 

[NCND]

Please tell me you're not still being a shill for ESPN and trying to make us all believe that they don't show a complete bias towards the SEC. You cannot be serious.

Here's yet another case in point:

Last week, for all 4 SEC media days, not only did ESPN give them around the clock coverage on the SEC Network, they also had live break-ins during Sportscenter, a half-hour "SEC Media" show before College Football Live, and then an entire half-hour dedicated to the SEC on CFL.

Today was an ACC Media Day. No Sportscenter cut-ins that I saw, but even better, I turned on CFL (foolishly) expecting to see what was going on during the ACC media day. Who started the show? The host sitting with Butch Jones and Mark Richt. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The rest of the show was Nick Saban and Les Miles. Not ONE mention of the ACC the entire show.

So even on ACC Media Day, you got an entire show based on the SEC. But naaaaaaaahhhh, there's no bias there.

Explain.

Exactly. Wanted to say the same but don't have the time or care to do so. Its sooooo clear that there's bias. It was ACC and Big 12 media days. Was Sportscenter broadcasting live at those places? Umm no. Dude needs to hop off the ESPN wang and see the truth.

 

[Irish YJ]

still one of my favs

 

[T Town Tommy]

Please tell me you're not still being a shill for ESPN and trying to make us all believe that they don't show a complete bias towards the SEC. You cannot be serious.

Here's yet another case in point:

Last week, for all 4 SEC media days, not only did ESPN give them around the clock coverage on the SEC Network, they also had live break-ins during Sportscenter, a half-hour "SEC Media" show before College Football Live, and then an entire half-hour dedicated to the SEC on CFL.

Today was an ACC Media Day. No Sportscenter cut-ins that I saw, but even better, I turned on CFL (foolishly) expecting to see what was going on during the ACC media day. Who started the show? The host sitting with Butch Jones and Mark Richt. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The rest of the show was Nick Saban and Les Miles. Not ONE mention of the ACC the entire show.

So even on ACC Media Day, you got an entire show based on the SEC. But naaaaaaaahhhh, there's no bias there.

Explain.

Fairly simple. Follow the money and you will find ESPN. They are, first and foremost, in business to make money. The thought of ESPN being a journalistic endeavor needs to be thrown out the window. It is not.

As far as the topic of this thread... I am glad Colin has exited stage door right. I never understood the guy.

 

[Irish#1]

So the answer to your prayers about how ESPN is too powerful and agenda driven is... 21st Century Fox? As in, 21st Century Fox, of Rupert Murdoch fame, is not too powerful and agenda driven?


Don't be ridiculous. ESPN has one agenda. MONEY. Money = ratings = audience = fans. That means Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Texas are on the same playing field as the SEC.

ETA: Also, Notre Dame is not at number 7 in the FPI anymore. We were, but the initial rankings were compiled with the assumption that we'd be returning our starting quarterback. We're now at 18.

Okay.

 

[Blaise]

Fairly simple. Follow the money and you will find ESPN. They are, first and foremost, in business to make money. The thought of ESPN being a journalistic endeavor needs to be thrown out the window. It is not.

As far as the topic of this thread... I am glad Colin has exited stage door right. I never understood the guy.

CNN, FoxNews, ESPN... they disguise themselves as news organazations, but end of day they are in business to make money. SEC draws money, Lebron draws viewers....

Same way news outlets covered 900 days of the Casey Anthony trial even though it really wasn't the most important news going on

 

[NDinL.A.]

Fairly simple. Follow the money and you will find ESPN. They are, first and foremost, in business to make money. The thought of ESPN being a journalistic endeavor needs to be thrown out the window. It is not.

No one has ever denied that.

But there's more to it, which Wizards continues to ignore.

 

[BobbyMac]

LA has outlined the truth but what makes it bad is there is no 24/7 alternative to ESPN yet. Fox WILL get it figured out eventually. It took them a long time to get Fox News to the CNN model, they wil get there with Fox Sports too. They just have to pay for content, personalities and get their channel right next to ESPN's on the different providers line up.

.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

LA has outlined the truth but what makes it bad is there is no 24/7 alternative to ESPN yet. Fox WILL get it figured out eventually. It took them a long time to get Fox News to the CNN model, they wil get there with Fox Sports, they just have to pay for content, personalities and get their channel right next to ESPN's on the different providers line up.

.

They will need more time than that. ESPN saw the writing on the wall when NBCSports jumped into the fray. The new round of conference TV deals they signed expire as follows:

ACC: 2027
SEC: 2025
PAC: 2023
Big 12: 2025

 

[wizards8507]

But there's more to it, which Wizards continues to ignore.

Or maybe, just maybe, I actually have knowledge of how things work around here that's beyond the fanboii outrage that people are embarrassing themselves with. Maybe I understand the ESPN revenue model a bit better than NCND. Maybe I observe how editorial decisions are made and how they are not made.

Fingers crossed that the ACC Network comes to fruition. Maybe then some of you guys would get over this.

They will need more time than that. ESPN saw the writing on the wall when NBCSports jumped into the fray. The new round of conference TV deals they signed expire as follows:

ACC: 2027
SEC: 2025
PAC: 2023
Big 12: 2025

Sacre bleu! C'est impossible!

Everyone knows that ESPN only has financial interest in the SEC!

 

[GowerND11]

They will need more time than that. ESPN saw the writing on the wall when NBCSports jumped into the fray. The new round of conference TV deals they signed expire as follows:

ACC: 2027
SEC: 2025
PAC: 2023
Big 12: 2025

Very true. Off topic a bit, but I believe one positive for both Fox Sports and NBCSports is that they have locked up foreign soccer over ESPN. If either of them could somehow take MLS away from ESPN that would be great for those networks as soccer continues to grow.

 

[IrishLion]

Or maybe, just maybe, I actually have knowledge of how things work around here that's beyond the fanboii outrage that people are embarrassing themselves with. Maybe I understand the ESPN revenue model a bit better than NCND. Maybe I observe how editorial decisions are made and how they are not made.

Fingers crossed that the ACC Network comes to fruition. Maybe then some of you guys would get over this.

Or maybe you're a company man, and you're scared that the IT department will spot your history and your posts, and you're afraid to tell us how you REALLY feel...

Because there's no way that a human with a brain can watch ESPN college football programming and not spot the way they create a false reality around the SEC.

 

[wizards8507]

Today was an ACC Media Day. No Sportscenter cut-ins that I saw, but even better, I turned on CFL (foolishly) expecting to see what was going on during the ACC media day. Who started the show? The host sitting with Butch Jones and Mark Richt. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The rest of the show was Nick Saban and Les Miles. Not ONE mention of the ACC the entire show.

So even on ACC Media Day, you got an entire show based on the SEC. But naaaaaaaahhhh, there's no bias there.

Explain.

Just because you didn't SEE SportsCenter cut-ins does not mean there weren't any. In case you hadn't noticed, The Open Championship was pushed into a Monday final round and mucked up the entire lineup on ESPN. Right now, live on SportsCenter, Jimbo Fisher is speaking. Has been for quite some time. Gus Malzahn coming up next.

 

[wizards8507]

Or maybe you're a company man, and you're scared that the IT department will spot your history and your posts, and you're afraid to tell us how you REALLY feel...

Bruce Jenner receiving the Arthur Ashe courage award is ridiculous, and I'm ashamed that ESPN selected him over more deserving recipients.

How's that?

 

[ACamp1900]

wizards, it's okay,... we all know you just make coffee and transfer phone calls...