No turning back now. Independence or bust

Time for Cougar Nation to unite.



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I think there is still a great chance BYU stays in the MWC, but ONLY IF they get to retain broadcast rights for all home football games. This is a small concession for the MWC to make to keep their biggest team and biggest draw, and to remain viable at all in the SLC market, and to keep any BCS hopes alive.



BYU sells more road tickets than any team in the conference for all sports. BYU is the financial giant in the league and losing BYU means no Utah market for the MWC Netowrk, killing their MTN deal for Comcast. They also get to keep BYU for all other sports, as well as broadcast rights for all away conference games. So BYU still holds value with them even if they lose 6-7 football games a year because all SLC market and national BYU fans will still want the MTN Network for those other games and they will pay to have it, which is what Comcast is after. Basically, same subscription rates for Comcast, even though they lose some Provo games.



Also, with BYU having 4-7 or more ESPN games a year, that elevates the profile of the entire conference. Games like the TCU-BYU game in Provo last year are now on ESPN, same with BYU-BSU in Provo, or other high profile games in Provo, raising the profile for many MWC teams, which is not happening as much with the MTN deal. There is value here for the entire conference.



Just need Hair and the rest to swallow that pride and realize BYU holds the cards, and some of those cards actually help the entire conference in the big picture.

The problem is that The Mtn would have to sign off on it. They might be willing to do it for a lower fee. The MWC would then need to sign off on that.

scott715 wrote:
The problem is that The Mtn would have to sign off on it. They might be willing to do it for a lower fee. The MWC would then need to sign off on that.

And what happens if BYU just leaves? The MTN deal gets blown up completely since the MWC just lost the entire state of Utah. Sorry, but adding Nevada and Fresno might offset that, but it is now split 2 more ways instead of 1. And you lose your biggest draw with local gate receipts, etc. BYU leaving has HUGE economic impact on all member schools. They would be stupid to not concede, absolutely stupid. BYU still has the leverage, because BYU leaving hurts the MWC far more than giving BYU home TV rights for football does.

I think what irks BYU the most is not only with football but with basketball exposure too. We have a top 25 team and not all the games are on TV. For example the Fresno State game this year is not on TV according to a Wrubell tweet. I have to believe that part of the concessions that BYU demands would include basketball as well.



And I want to believe and am wishing that one part of the demands are that Craig Thompson step down or be fired. I'm crossing my fingers and wishing upon a star for this one.

Lawboy wrote:

The problem is that The Mtn would have to sign off on it. They might be willing to do it for a lower fee. The MWC would then need to sign off on that.

And what happens if BYU just leaves? The MTN deal gets blown up completely since the MWC just lost the entire state of Utah. Sorry, but adding Nevada and Fresno might offset that, but it is now split 2 more ways instead of 1. And you lose your biggest draw with local gate receipts, etc. BYU leaving has HUGE economic impact on all member schools. They would be stupid to not concede, absolutely stupid. BYU still has the leverage, because BYU leaving hurts the MWC far more than giving BYU home TV rights for football does.

Not only that but I read somewhere that 60+ percent of all advertisements on the MTN are based out of Utah. If that is true then the MTN is in a world of hurt if BYU leaves. They would be forced to lower their advertising fees in order to regain that 60%. The MTN would essentially be a sinking ship at that point.

CannonCougar85 wrote:

And I want to believe and am wishing that one part of the demands are that Craig Thompson step down or be fired. I'm crossing my fingers and wishing upon a star for this one.

No way. He is too much of a politician, which means he follows his constituents. So when he speaks, it is what the majority of Presidents in the MWC wants, which brings us back to BYU needing to tell many of them to stuff if and see how they fare on their own. Life with no BYU and no Utah market harms that conference financially in a big way.

Lawboy wrote:

And I want to believe and am wishing that one part of the demands are that Craig Thompson step down or be fired. I'm crossing my fingers and wishing upon a star for this one.

No way. He is too much of a politician, which means he follows his constituents. So when he speaks, it is what the majority of Presidents in the MWC wants, which brings us back to BYU needing to tell many of them to stuff if and see how they fare on their own. Life with no BYU and no Utah market harms that conference financially in a big way.

I totally agree with you. But at the same time the other schools have to realize that life without BYU and the the Utah market harms them financially in a big way. So if BYU comes in and says "You have to choose between Thompson and BYU, you can't have both." (Not saying that BYU would do this. BYU tends to play nicer then I would) But I would have to think that they would choose BYU over Thompson.



Personally I'm in favor of BYU telling the MWC to shove it.

scott715 wrote:
The problem is that The Mtn would have to sign off on it. They might be willing to do it for a lower fee. The MWC would then need to sign off on that.

Actually The Mtn and MWC are completely different entities. The MWC has next to zero say when it comes to The Mtn. They don't have a controlling interest in the network.

Exactly. I think this is a game of chicken. My bet is that the Mtn caves in after we announce our independence. Too bad we can't do it on July 4th!

CannonCougar85 wrote:
(Not saying that BYU would do this. BYU tends to play nicer then I would)

No BYU doesn't



signed Val Hale and Elaine Michaelis.



Stick it to 'em Cougs!

The thing is, the MTN Network partners know that if they lose BYU, their investment in the network takes a HUGE hit. Comcast would take it in the sorts if BYU left and all Utahns dropped that Network. You don't think that they would pressure the MWC schools to cave to what BYU wants to keep BYU on their network, and to sell more subscriptions for that channel in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California? Losing BYU and the Utah market KILLS the MTN Netowrk, which hurts Comcast financially.

did any of you read Broncos comments today from practice? It really has me thinking that BYU is going Indy for sure, unless the MWC gives BYU rights to its home football game package. I think Bronco, AD Homoe, and the Trustees are on the same page here.



Bronco said he wants better exposure for his team. The MTN Network does not give it, and will not give it under current conditions. Bronco als said team do not want to come to Provo to play with less exposure, referring to the MTN Network deal. And Texas just agreed to come, leading me to believe BYU gave assurances thatt he game will not get stuck on the MTN NEtwork.



Either the MWC gives BYU what they want, or the reasons for going Indy, and the writing that is on the wall remain. There is zero upside for BYU staying if all things remain equal. None at all.