BYU, ESPN closing in on a new deal

[Fido]

https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-couga ... -new-deal/
...
The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that discussions have intensified the past few weeks, perhaps so BYU can make a news splash on June 18 when it holds its media day — earlier than any program in the country, as usual — to kick off the 2019 football season.

This year’s theme will be “150 Years of College Football: BYU’s Impact on the Game,” and will play up the fact that ESPN’s first live regular-season broadcast was the BYU-at-Pittsburgh game on Sept. 1, 1984, the season that ended with BYU winning the national championship.

Contacted late last week, ESPN confirmed that it is extremely interested in continuing the partnership.

“ESPN has a great relationship with BYU and its athletics department,” said Kurt Dargis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “We expect that affiliation to continue beyond this [football] season and are engaged in those discussions.”


Responding to a Tribune request on how those negotiations are coming along, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said there are no foreseeable snags or complications that could derail the deal.

“We are having a good dialogue with ESPN about a new regular-season contract and a bowl game agreement,” Holmoe said via email. “Those contract discussions are currently ongoing. We are going to be with ESPN. It is just a matter of working through some details of the new deal.”
...

[scott715]

Maybe an announcement at Media Day and maybe not. we will know soon enough.

[hawkwing]

Tom Holmoe also indicated that he has exposure and TV access as a higher priority than money.

[EM_Puma]

Tom Holmoe also indicated that he has exposure and TV access as a higher priority than money.

Yeah, but that's like my wife with OUR credit cards in her purse telling the salesman that money is not an object. It might not be to her, but...

[EM_Puma]

It's been the chat of all the local sports programs over the last week as they don't have much else to talk about in the early summer. Many will judge BYU's program by the results of this contract--good or bad. I'm sure, as TH says, it will come to pass, but if it's not better than the last one, I just can hear the boo-birds clearing their throats.

[CrimsonCoug]

Tom Holmoe also indicated that he has exposure and TV access as a higher priority than money.

There are two kinds of people that say that money isn't important: Those that don't have it (and can't get it) and those that don't need more of it.

Which do we really think BYU is?

[hawkwing]

Tom Holmoe also indicated that he has exposure and TV access as a higher priority than money.

There are two kinds of people that say that money isn't important: Those that don't have it (and can't get it) and those that don't need more of it.

Which do we really think BYU is?

Both?

[snoscythe]

The only time you'll hear BYU say money doesn't matter is when BYU is trying to convince you to take that view as they negotiate how little BYU is willing to pay you.

[Gunk]

The only time you'll hear BYU say money doesn't matter is when BYU is trying to convince you to take that view as they negotiate how little BYU is willing to pay you.

Haha!! So true.

[Fido]

Who said money "doesn't matter"? I read that essentially it makes sense BYU is sticking with ESPN and isn't out there bidding ESPN against any/every other outlet trying to drive up the price because in the end the money is less important than the exposure and bowl access that you get through ESPN--even if the money is a little less than you possibly could get somewhere else.

ESPN hasn't screwed BYU like Comcast was back in the day with not showing your game but also not letting YOU show your game when you have that ability. BYU benefits ESPN with adequate games in the late time slots for their football nights for a decent price. ESPN benefits BYU because people can access the games on ESPN and the money you bring home is better than you get in a G5 conference. If a better deal comes along (P5 conference affiliation where the big $$$ is), then you move on from this arrangement. But you also don't try so hard to make it turn into a P5 money deal that ESPN isn't willing to pay the cost resulting in lost money AND lost TV/bowl access.