I liked this comment: by Louis Deaux
Interesting question and the right answer. Sorry this will be a bit long, but may well be worth any B12 official or fan's read. Avenues to greater revenue through expansion including South Florida and BYU are explained and the why may surprise everyone.
I am a little surprised at WVa but those folks are really dreaming big time that Clemson and Florida State once rumored to be candidates to jump from the ACC would actually consider doing that. There is no traction and never was for any of that. I think an East Carolina or South Florida is a good possibility and solves WVa's on an island-in-the-east issues, though the Mountaineers real problem is that there isn't a decent sized airport in within even 2 hours. Geographic access was always a bigger issue for WVa than academics. I mean how serious is the ACC about academics if North Carolina is as academically honest as Barrack Obama talking about scandals like F&F, IRS, Benghazi, swapping a traitor for five mass murdering terrorists.
The rest of the B12 fan base would like to see BYU with its national television reach in the fold.
More than that, some the B12 fans may even see the foreign language potential for BYUtv that should be apparent to everyone, especially ESPN's affiliate networks overseas. Consider that ESPN Deportes and Fox's Sports Liatinamerica could carry live and replay feeds of B12 sports and the rights sales for those are probably wide open right now. The LDS Church feeds its own live content world wide every day in perhaps over 60 languages. It has the immediate know how and the production arm for doing this with athletic events such as baseball, football and basketball. So BYUtv could package anything BYU does with the B12 in any sport and immediately package the broadcast in perhaps a dozen languages. It might take the university perhaps 90 days of set up and prepare to do that for a relatively modest new investment.
BYU could provide B12 name and product recognition piggy-backed to BYUtv broadcasting WW Content overnight just on BYUtv. But ESPN and FX Sports should see that potential as well. Even another ESPN partner with a big investment price tag hanging out there, the LHN could learn from BYU and become a second avenue for that at least in the Latin speaking world. BYUtv and the LHN could work as much together for the benefit of their respective students for academic reasons as well. But right now, ONLY BYUtv could make that investment on short notice and provide backside production content including college baseball, basketball and of course football which is rapidly increasing in popularity at the NFL level world wide. BYU has the immediately accessible pool of language resources that nobody else has.
ESPN, FOX or Telemundo, the BBC and similar networks should see the potential, especially in those three major sports I mentioned. Many networks are actually starving for decent sports programming and American sports, especially football is rapidly becoming popular throughout the third world. ESPN has plans to expand into Africa and Asia. Can Fox be far behind? So any of them could explore the financial benefits of becoming a partner with BYUtv. Networks would distribute and front end the feed with their graphical icons in the partnership.
The revenue doors to the world wide commerce open with that approach. Americans are familiar with THEIR common household products, but the world of commerce is far greater and therefore AD REVENUE possibilities are enormous. Why shouldn't the B12 at least look at how the exposure might open up WW Markets for its apparel and logo rights distribution opportunities. The NFL is selling butt-loads of product overseas. If the B12 is out there in the third world and Europe it can compete for that revenue as well. Lets face it, how many Jayhawk caps can you sell in Lawrence? But Jayhawk exposure in Ghana may mean all kinds of new merchandizing revenue opportunities. Anyone NOT seeing BYU in that light simply slept through their MBA program. With BYUtv and resources, suddenly there are all kinds of new revenue avenues and opportunities that could open up (Assuming a conference commissioner and BYU's people are smart enough to put it all together).
This last aspect of what BYU can do for the entire conference should be the #1 reason BYU is looked at as a huge potential asset and nothing less than Revenue neutral if not a revenue bonus to the current membership. BYU already brings perhaps $10 million on its own so they are not a net drag on the existing ten members in terms of revenue sharing. But looking at all the benefits of adding BYU in these other arenas means BYU could be a huge footprint improvement. So who should be added with BYU. Maybe ECU or SoFla.
I think the B12 needs to get to twelve the right way, with BYU and SoFla. BYU is the real Big-Dog in it's geographical region (Great Basin) and is significant throughout the entire west, a major viewership player greater than just the Wasatch Front. South Florida is a solid program in a huge Southern Florida market that is almost untapped at this time. Realistically, about 8-10 million homes are added with them. That alone probably ends up with nothing less than a net revenue neutral gain and the additional B12 CG would net nothing but profit to the existing members. Twelve really DOES get you more just at the surface with BYU and SoFla. But the international opportunities if developed could provide a massive lift to the breadbasket and boot conference that outside Texas, lacks much appeal in spite of its fantastic products.
ESPN is smart and should grease the wheels and bring partner Fox on board to make this happen right now. BYUtv could be coaxed into making the productions possible at relatively little additional cost. The revenue river could be large. For example, in Japan the new multi-million yen Nike buys would say simply ".... B12, a great energy drink, a Vitamin, a Conference! JUST DO IT!" By the way, notice how I suggested that Phil Smith come out with a new energy drink product specifically for the B12 and sell it internationally! He could also brand a green can gold O product as simply "O" and make it zero calories....but I digress.
