WCC deal with ESPN+

[lionlife]

Looks like the WCC struck a deal with ESPN where all sports events will be broadcast on ESPN Plus or the parent network. This is huge news and great validation for our conference. Having a major network TV deal, especially in the wake of the Pac-12's combustion, speaks to sustainability in our little overachieving conference.

[LIONS90045]

Yes good deal.
I read the dissolution of the PAC-12 was failure of the conference to reach a TV deal with ESPN. ESPN offered $30M a year to each member school for rights to air their basketball and football games. The PAC-12 think they are worth $50M for each school and the negotiations died.
Seems they me you can do a lot with $30M a year? Guess I’m just old fashioned.
I remain saddened by the loss of traditions in sports starting with the Rose bowl between PAC-10 and Big 10 schools. Sign of the times.

[boothlion]

While I hope the digital rights revenue from the deal is increased from the previous Stadium’s deal and yes, ESPN is a better known brand than Stadium Network. Unfortunately, I think this deal was more out of necessity than validation of our conference (hope I’m wrong) since Stadium Network got acquired earlier this year by a Chicago based owner, who appears to be turning the network into a Midwest Regional. From what I can tell the other conferences that were with Stadium Network: Conference USA, Patriot League, and Southern Conference struck similar deals with ESPN+. Mountain West being the exception, which I can guess is partly because they are working out a bigger deal with CBS Sports. Unfortunately, the amount of games on the linear ESPN networks remain the same for this season and I don’t see this deal being a factor toward an increase in future years. But yes ESPN+ sounds better than Stadium.

[lionlife]

Aug 16, 2023 16:03:12 GMT -5 boothlion said:

While I hope the digital rights revenue from the deal is increased from the previous Stadium’s deal and yes, ESPN is a better known brand than Stadium Network. Unfortunately, I think this deal was more out of necessity than validation of our conference (hope I’m wrong) since Stadium Network got acquired earlier this year by a Chicago based owner, who appears to be turning the network into a Midwest Regional. From what I can tell the other conferences that were with Stadium Network: Conference USA, Patriot League, and Southern Conference struck similar deals with ESPN+. Mountain West being the exception, which I can guess is partly because they are working out a bigger deal with CBS Sports. Unfortunately, the amount of games on the linear ESPN networks remain the same for this season and I don’t see this deal being a factor toward an increase in future years. But yes ESPN+ sounds better than Stadium.

That's interesting insight,Booth. Thanks for sharing.

I'll add that selfishly, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with watching games on my computer on the WCC Network!

[LIONS90045]

ESPN+ is streaming only too

[ADG'99]

Aug 17, 2023 18:50:15 GMT -5 LIONS90045 said:

ESPN+ is streaming only too

Yes, but they have really good smarttv apps. Stadium had a Roku app, but I don't think it ever showed an LMU game. Years ago, the WCC had its own Roku app that was pretty good, but they got rid of it.

With ESPN+ I'll be able to put a game on my tv in a couple of remote clicks vs trying to cast the WCC website via a laptop or phone.

[Mr. LMU '04]

Here are the details in this article. www.slipperstillfits.com/2023/8/15/23833740/wcc-announces-an-expanded-partnership-with-espn

17 regular season MBB games will air on ESPN platforms

- 12 regular season MBB games will air on CBSSN

- All other sporting events not televised by ESPN/CBSSN will air on ESPN+

You can now catch all your WCC action on ESPN+. This multi-year, multi-platform deal will offer 900 conference events per year. Sports that will appear on ESPN+ include men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s water polo and rowing (ESPN)

[thx4leavinjimlynam]

Very excited to see this, for those of us who are out of state this will make it very easy to view games.