The BCS is set to negotiate its next TV contract. To assist the BCS coordinator -- ACC Commissioner John Swofford is now at the helm -- in negotiations, the BCS has hired IMG Sports Media as the agent and advisor. This is a reasonable and necessary thing in negotiations where hundreds of millions of dollars are in play. You bring in a team that has a history of advising in big TV contracts for groups such as the International Olympic Committee, the NBA, Wimbledon, the Premier League, the Triple Crown and others.Of course, IMG Sports Media took on another client about 3 weeks ago.
IMG Sports Media will take over international distribution of Fox Sports International programming, the companies said.IMG will be doing this on a commission basis.
Fox Sports International holds international rights to a number of sports, including college football's Bowl Championship Series, Cotton Bowl and football and basketball games from the Big Ten and the Pac 10 as well as action sports from Fuel TV and domestic Fox Soccer Channel programming.
In other words IMG will make money selling the distribution of Fox Sport's around the world -- including one of the big prizes, the BCS Bowls and National Championship game. If Fox loses those rights, IMG will not be able to make as much money on the distribution deal.
IMG is going to need a heck of a Chinese Wall.
Fox has the TV rights to the BCS bowl games excepting the Rose Bowl. They have the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange through January 2010. Fox also has the National Championship game through January 2009. The contract is coming up for renegotiation this fall.
Disney/ABC/ESPN is expected to push very hard to get the rights for the BCS and Championship games. This means one way or another the 4-year, $330 million dollar deal Fox gave last time will be going significantly higher.
Fox will have a 30 day exclusive negotiating window, to get a deal done before opening the negotiations to other parties. One wonders if there will be any outcry if a deal gets done in that window before ABC/ESPN have a chance to bid.
The big loser regardless, will be the fans. No matter which media group gets the BCS and National Championship game, it means trying to make back that money. That means advertising revenue. We have seen how Fox has jammed tons of ads in the last couple years. That isn't likely to change.
It also means any hope of a playoff is still years away.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FOX knows what they're doing apparently.
They have already established a huge presence in the professional sports, and IMG will insure an immediate impact in the NCAA venues as well.