Houston Chronicle: SEC Adding Texas and Oklahoma

[The Usual Suspect]

I don’t care if it’s a footprint expansion or not (although it is with Oklahoma and I think you could make a case that more Austin and San Antonio TVs are tuned in watching Texas), Texas is arguably the biggest brand in college sports. Adding Texas is not just about getting more viewers in Texas, although it’ll help, it’s about adding more viewers nationwide.

There are more OU fans working in Texas than live in Oklahoma. Traditionally over 50% of OU's roster is from TX.

 

[ezsoil]

But the SEC and all public members release financials and details each year.
What 'associated activities' are you referring to?

you homes, I'm just relating what the parameters for the 13 member committee were given 40 years ago when I was 20 .... the SEC is a private organization and they only release the info they want to release. They are not subject to any freedom of information requests or oversight..just like the Bulldog club. What allows the conference to be a private organization is because one member (Vanderbilt) is private. While each member institution gives an accounting of all state funds, you don't have access to how private funds are used.

 

[Bill Shankly]

You don’t think that UT and OU would potentially provide the SEC an opportunity to reopen their TV contract negotiations?

I heard a sitting SEC athletic director say what I said not that long ago. The SEC is already in Texas, so we would only be opening it up for the Oklahoma market. That's what the negotiations would be about. His direct quote was the Oklahoma market would not be worth enough money to offset splitting the pie more ways, for even one of the Oklahoma schools. This just reeks of Texas trying to throw shade on A&M on their day at Hoover.

 

[Bill Shankly]

The SEC is about to renegotiate its tv contracts. CBS shopping in the bargain bin is over. We are about to get NFL money. Add Texas and OU and the money will be even NFL'er.

This is about the tv contracts. Nothing else.

The endgame is this... a super conference is going to break away from the NCAA. Players will form an association.. maybe call it the SECPA. They will have voting membership and elect a representative body that will negotiate a revenue sharing plan. Recruits will enter their names into an SEC draft and money will be slotted by the pick. Schools won't be paying the players... but the SEC will.

The SEC is going to become the NFL-Lite.

And then.. one day.. everybody is going to say.. do we really care if they're students? Do we really think they should leave after 3-4 years when we've invested so much in them? Then it will finally just be a pro team wearing the jersey of a university and that is paid by the conference funding the league.

S-E-C!.. S-E-C!... S-E-C!

Texas won't bring in that much more money. We are already on every TV package on every platform in Texas. Oklahoma won't bring in enough to offset the additional split. Just what I was told by someone involved very heavily in this stuff.

 

[Bill Shankly]

I don’t care if it’s a footprint expansion or not (although it is with Oklahoma and I think you could make a case that more Austin and San Antonio TVs are tuned in watching Texas), Texas is arguably the biggest brand in college sports. Adding Texas is not just about getting more viewers in Texas, although it’ll help, it’s about adding more viewers nationwide.

The thing is it's not really about adding viewers at all, it's about adding platforms that carry your conference package.

 

[ArcherSPS]

But you’re getting the folks that will actually tune in to those games by adding them. Both have huge cap n T-shirt presence like Bama/UGA/UF/LSU/Tenn

 

[GloryDawg]

It would be great not to have to play Bama every year.

 

[Bill Shankly]

Mow if there is some sort of pay per view about to become part of the package, then everything I said goes out the window. That would be an absolute disaster for us and Ole Miss if it happens.

 

[Bill Shankly]

But you’re getting the folks that will actually tune in to those games by adding them. Both have huge cap n T-shirt presence like Bama/UGA/UF/LSU/Tenn

That really doesn't enter into TV rights negotiations from what I've been told. It's potential viewers that matter there.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

All the talk about tv markets and revenue is obsolete talk. Since 2015 US cable subscription has fallen from 76% to 56%. Lord knows there have been no less than a dozen threads on this board about cutting the cord this year alone. What percentage of people will have standard cable in 2030? 15%? 20%?

In a capitalist world of picking your own product vs what those bastard cable companies shove down your throat, quality of product is key. Netflix, Disney Plus, HBOMax, etc are all proving this right now.

As of today 5 of the 10 top money producing athletic departments in the country are in the SEC. 3 are in the BIG10. OU and Texas are the other 2. If the SEC grabs OU and Texas, they lock down the power dynamic for 20 years. If they dork this up and let those two slip up to the BIG10, the SEC instantly becomes number 2 in member institution athletic revenue (a good indicator of the quality of your athletic department content. IE the ability to draw subscribers.)

View attachment 21087

It's extremely shortsighted to look at cable revenue and recruiting bases. If either the BIG10 or SEC land OU and Texas, they now own the keys to the kingdom where someone is going to complete unseat the NCAA.

 

[Bill Shankly]

Even if you cut the chord you are still subscribing to a platform that carries the SEC package. It's still the same model.

 

[anonymous.sixpack]

Texas won't bring in that much more money. We are already on every TV package on every platform in Texas. Oklahoma won't bring in enough to offset the additional split. Just what I was told by someone involved very heavily in this stuff.

I think that someone is full of ****.

 

[Smoked Toag]

No, it wouldn’t. SEC Network would gain no new footprint, and likely TX would insist on keeping the LHN anyway (which would mean they get 100% of TV revenue from their home games, plus their SEC Network cut for road games). It would definitely be a pay-cut for everyone unless Texas made a bunch of concessions they aren’t going to make AND the SEC Network way overvalued their impact in terms of new markets.

You should take a break from posting on that one. You've outdone yourself.

I don't want this to happen simply because it would make it harder for us, but it would 100% be a good financial move.

 

[ronpolk]

The thing is it's not really about adding viewers at all, it's about adding platforms that carry your conference package.

No, it’s about getting viewers. That’s what advertisers pay for.

There are nearly 30 million people living in Texas. More people live in Texas than Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and South Carolina combined. I think adding another team in that state is the right move. Further, it’s Texas not just any college in Texas. There will definitely be more money involved if Texas is brought in.

 

[ronpolk]

All the talk about tv markets and revenue is obsolete talk. Since 2015 US cable subscription has fallen from 76% to 56%. Lord knows there have been no less than a dozen threads on this board about cutting the cord this year alone. What percentage of people will have standard cable in 2030? 15%? 20%?

In a capitalist world of picking your own product vs what those bastard cable companies shove down your throat, quality of product is key. Netflix, Disney Plus, HBOMax, etc are all proving this right now.

As of today 5 of the 10 top money producing athletic departments in the country are in the SEC. 3 are in the BIG10. OU and Texas are the other 2. If the SEC grabs OU and Texas, they lock down the power dynamic for 20 years. If they dork this up and let those two slip up to the BIG10, the SEC instantly becomes number 2 in member institution athletic revenue (a good indicator of the quality of your athletic department content. IE the ability to draw subscribers.)

View attachment 21087

It's extremely shortsighted to look at cable revenue and recruiting bases. If either the BIG10 or SEC land OU and Texas, they now own the keys to the kingdom where someone is going to complete unseat the NCAA.

People are getting rid of cable, not stopping watching games. Just because you don’t have cable through Comcast anymore does not mean you aren’t watching the game on you tube tv or something else.

 

[anonymous.sixpack]

You should take a break from posting on that one. You've outdone yourself….

Says someone who thought this was a prank less than 24 hours ago.

 

[OliveBranchDAWG]

You should take a break from posting on that one. You've outdone yourself.

I don't want this to happen simply because it would make it harder for us, but it would 100% be a good financial move.

I don’t see how adding Texas & OU will “make it harder for us”. You can only play so many conference games. So instead of playing Auburn we might play Texas? Instead of playing Bama we might play Oklahoma? This fear of adding Texas & OU is overblown. It adds money in our pockets & depth to the SEC.

When the playoff is inevitably extended to 8 teams, I imagine the top 3 from the SEC will get bids. So instead of having to win the SEC today to get a playoff bid we would have to finish top 3.

 

[ArcherSPS]

IT’s happening:
View attachment 21089

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/rossdellenger/status/1418200448968896516?s=21[/TWEET]

 

[Bill Shankly]

I think that someone is full of ****.

Sitting AD in the SEC.

 

[Bill Shankly]

No, it’s about getting viewers. That’s what advertisers pay for.

There are nearly 30 million people living in Texas. More people live in Texas than Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and South Carolina combined. I think adding another team in that state is the right move. Further, it’s Texas not just any college in Texas. There will definitely be more money involved if Texas is brought in.

I wasn't talking about what advertisers pay for. Those things are related NOT the same thing.

 

[Bill Shankly]

Says someone who thought this was a prank less than 24 hours ago.

How do you know its not one?

 

[SheltonChoked]

Even if you cut the chord you are still subscribing to a platform that carries the SEC package. It's still the same model.

Not if the model changes to an SEC streaming network (think Disney+ but for SEC sports). Having all those must see games, (Only available on SEC+ !) that costs $6 a month to see vs the $1.30 a month form the cable companies....

That's why you add Texas and OU.

 

[Bill Shankly]

Viewers and TV packages aside, we do NOT want Texas and it's lacky OU in the SEC. Texas is a nightmare to deal with. Why do you think Nebraska, Missou, Arkansas, and A&M left UT behind?

 

[OliveBranchDAWG]

IT’s happening:
View attachment 21089

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/rossdellenger/status/1418200448968896516?s=21[/TWEET]

Love this idea

 

[Bill Shankly]

Not if the model changes to an SEC streaming network (think Disney+ but for SEC sports). Having all those must see games, (Only available on SEC+ !) that costs $6 a month to see vs the $1.30 a month form the cable companies....

That's why you add Texas and OU.

Maybe, but that hasn't happened yet, and the big games will still be on the big stations. It only makes sense if the SEC is going to subscription only. That will be a disaster for us. Y'all better be careful what you wish for. I still think y'all need to remember the timing of this "leak." It just reeks of Texas and it's a perfect example of why we don't want them in the SEC.

 

[ckDOG]

Why wouldn't Texas prefer to be independent?

Gimme more money and Auburn/ AL moved to the east pls: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/te...a-reach-out-to-SEC-about-joining-16330080.php

The biggest reason I can think of is scheduling challenges with conferences heading towards 9 maybe 10 conference games a year. Is this a big enough reason to motivate them to stay in a conference? Feels like this would just be positioning to get leverage at another negotiating table.

No clue about OU though...

 

[johnson86-1]

So you need 11 votes to get entry. I think that's interesting because Florida can't unilaterally block Florida State or Miami, South Carolina can't unilaterally block Clemson, Tennessee, Vandy, & Arkansas together can't block Memphis, Georgia can't block Georgia Tech, Kentucky can't block Louisville, and most importantly Texas A&M can't unilaterally block Texas.

I'm also a little surprised it's only 2/3 (10 members) to get voted out.

The only states in our footprint that can justify adding a second school are Texas and Florida. If Texas wants to come, I think it will happen despite any objections of A&M. I don't think they ultimately want to come to the SEC though. I just don't think they will be able to handle being just another blue blood and not the gorilla in the room.

I think Florida is able to avoid another Florida school because FSU doesn't bring the same stroke in Florida that UT brings in Texas. A lot of the population is in South Florida, almost 7 hours away from FSU. And a lot of the population is not college football crazy, the way it is in basically all the other SEC footprint states.

 

[ronpolk]

I wasn't talking about what advertisers pay for. Those things are related NOT the same thing.

What do you think all this tv thing is for? It’s for advertisers. You do realize that’s why ESPN produces football broadcast right? ESPN provides good football games so that they generate more advertising dollars. Adding Texas allows espn to generate more big name games and in turn allows them to make more money, which in turn means the SEC gets to charge more for distribution rights.

 

[Emma’s Dad]

The reason SEC wants Texas despite Texas having run Aggie, Nebraska, Colo and Mizzou from the B12 is that SEC knows Texas cannot just have its way in the SEC. Texas learned the hard way that its arrogance can have negative repercussions. I’m sure it is somewhat humbling for Texas and OU to reach out to SEC.

 

[mcdawg22]

Yeah I was sort of surprised that OK’s population is only larger than MS and AR in the SEC.

 

[VegasDawg13]

What do you think all this tv thing is for? It’s for advertisers. You do realize that’s why ESPN produces football broadcast right? ESPN provides good football games so that they generate more advertising dollars. Adding Texas allows espn to generate more big name games and in turn allows them to make more money, which in turn means the SEC gets to charge more for distribution rights.

ESPN makes way more money from affiliate fees than ads.

 

[ronpolk]

ESPN makes way more money from affiliate fees than ads.

How much do they make?

 

[SheltonChoked]

Maybe, but that hasn't happened yet, and the big games will still be on the big stations. It only makes sense if the SEC is going to subscription only. That will be a disaster for us. Y'all better be careful what you wish for. I still think y'all need to remember the timing of this "leak." It just reeks of Texas and it's a perfect example of why we don't want them in the SEC.

The rumor says this won't happen until 2023.

Would you have thought the first Phase 4 MCU movie would be released as an option to stream from home in 2019?

Things are changing fast, and the success of streaming (and the $$$) might make this way different in 2-3 years.

Also the 12 team playoff is supposed to start in 2023. What if the first round sec home games were only on SEC+?

 

[Maroon Eagle]

OU knows that the Big 12 without Texas isn't a Big Boy Conference at all.

 

[Dawgg]

The biggest reason I can think of is scheduling challenges with conferences heading towards 9 maybe 10 conference games a year. Is this a big enough reason to motivate them to stay in a conference? Feels like this would just be positioning to get leverage at another negotiating table.

Even Notre Dame, then independent to end all independents, had to make a deal with the ACC to ensure it had enough Power 5 opponents and a place at the table.

No clue about OU though...

Who are you going to replace with Texas in the Big 12? Houston? SMU? Rice? Texas leaving the Big 12 turns them into the Big East 2.0... just living on borrowed time until they're relegated.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Viewers and TV packages aside, we do NOT want Texas and it's lacky OU in the SEC. Texas is a nightmare to deal with. Why do you think Nebraska, Missou, Arkansas, and A&M left UT behind?

You are right. Texas originally wanted to be independent like Notre Dame but realized they are not Notre Dame. The reason this deal is happening is money, pure money.

I don't know how they are getting the Oklahoma politicians to go along with this. It's been known for a long time that OU & OSU supposedly had to be a package deal if they left the Big 12. I wonder what changed.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

Have you been lately? Serious question. The last 5 years have not been good to it from a visitor perspective, but still a lot to do there. Just now lots of homeless and what comes with that downtown. There have been a lot of tech jobs added, but I have been going a long time, and it was noticeably different last time.

Unfortunately you are correct. Or really ever go downtown. Actually I can't remember the last time I did. It's actually a lot more fun out here in the suburbs especially at Round Rock.

https://www.kalahariresorts.com/texas/

My son went and said there's a place you can sit and swim around and hang around in and get drinks all in one spot. It is huge with the indoor and outdoor waterpark with personal cabanas.

View attachment 21093

 

[Dawgg]

I don't know how they are getting the Oklahoma politicians to go along with this. It's been known for a long time that OU & OSU supposedly had to be a package deal if they left the Big 12. I wonder what changed.

T. Boone Pickens died 2 years ago. That could have something to do with it.

 

[drumrcraig]

IT’s happening:
View attachment 21089

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/rossdellenger/status/1418200448968896516?s=21[/TWEET]

Waiting for that inevitable one year that we draw Bama, AU, Texas, Oklahoma, UF, and UGa as our cross-pod opponents. Somewhat kidding, but I hope someone is making sure those things get somewhat balanced each year.

 

[anonymous.sixpack]

Sitting AD in the SEC.

They might be changing their tune pretty soon.