We’ve always been optimistic about the ACC, the ACC Network, and the conference’s future. We continue to be. The ACC Network will be successful, possibly extremely successful. I think it will make $5 Million – $10 Million. That’s great news for the ACC, but here’s the bad news not just for the ACC for the rest of country.
3 Years ago we said it was the Big 2 when came to conference revenues. Last year we brought up concerns about the ACC and the Big 10 revenues. Now we’re in uncharted territory.
The Big 10 is now an incredible $11 million ahead of the SEC in per team revenue as reported by NewsObserver. Remember a few years ago when the ACC and Big 12 trailed the top revenue producers by a just $5 million? That led to the last wave conference expansion.
I really don’t know what to make of the Big 10 being that far ahead of the SEC, and double that when you get to the Big 12, Pac 12 and ACC. The Big 10’s revenues will only increase. The Big 10 is in shorter terms deals than any of the other conferences – their TV rights deals are only now 6 years long. There’s always a chance television revenues could shrink, but I don’t think so. Live sports continues to be immensely popular. If you aren’t watching on television, it will be streamed.
Oddly enough, it’s not resulting in the type athletic success you’d expect. The Big 10 has but one national title since 2013 while the ACC has 8 and the SEC 5 in the Big 4 Sports.
How much more money can the Big 10 make? I think this gap can even get bigger with the SEC and everybody else. Would a SEC team consider jumping ship for an extra $10-$15 Million a year? The ACC will get an ACC Network bump and still trail the Big 10 by more than $10 million. The Big 12 won’t have a network, and the Pac 12 still can’t get theirs off the ground.
The Big 2 became the Big 1. Frankly I don’t know what it means for the future of college athletics, but the rest of country has been left in the Big 10’s revenue dust.
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2 pings
Hokie Mark says:
May 30, 2019 at 9:57 pm (UTC -5)
I think the Big Ten was massively overpaid in the last TV contract. Remember how Fox outbid ESPN by such a huge margin? At one point it even seemed like ESPN was going to walk away from the Big Ten, when they modified the package to keep ESPN involved. Next time, Fox may not bid at all – what do you think that will do to the value of ESPN’s bid?
I also think you’re too conservative on the ACC Network estimates – I think it tops out at $15 million/team.
So, yes, the B1G and SEC could lap the ACC in terms of revenue – but I’m taking more of a “believe it when I see it” approach.
Jfann says:
May 30, 2019 at 10:02 pm (UTC -5)
The Big 10 is lapping the SEC too… That’s the part that’s become mind-boggling.
Before it was the two, now it’s just the one.
And I don’t what that will mean exactly with once conference so far ahead of everyone else. It’s not an ACC problem, it’s a rest of the country problem.