Inside the bitter split between the SEC and CBS

quote:

---

For instance, he knows that LSU’s fan base prides itself on the tradition of night games at Tiger Stadium.

“We are going to be fan friendly and flexible,” Magnus said.

---

Sounds good to me

CBS had the absolute best deal in all of sports. $55 million per year for what was the most watched conference/games. ($3.5M for the CBS games) To put that in perspective, ESPN/ABC will pay roughly $300M for the same product ($20M per game)

Give CBS credit. They milked their great deal all the way to the end. I don't think the SEC absolutely wanted to leave CBS. But CBS was so used to paying next to nothing (relatively speaking) for the SEC games that they didn't want to get into the same ballpark as ABC/ESPN

The CBS games were incredibly long to watch on TV. Even longer in person. But their production value was great. It seemed, at times, almost theatrical when it was a big game.

quote:

---

The CBS games were incredibly long to watch on TV. Even longer in person. But their production value was great. It seemed, at times, almost theatrical when it was a big game.

---

Other than the length, they were so damn well done. Going to really let it sink in this weekend that it'll be our last regular season night game on CBS ever. Those are just the fricking best.

quote:

---

While the league will have a weekly 3:30 p.m. ABC broadcast, its best game doesn’t always have to occupy that slot, Magnus said. It could shift to prime time. For instance, he knows that LSU’s fan base prides itself on the tradition of night games at Tiger Stadium.

“We are going to be fan friendly and flexible,” Magnus said.

---

It’s easier for ABC/ESPN to do this because they own several different time slots. And the prime time is still on their network. CBS didn’t do that because they don’t have a prime time slot. Why would they pass on the best game and give it to another network just so LSU or whichever school can have a night game?

quote:

---

For instance, he knows that LSU’s fan base prides itself on the tradition of night games at Tiger Stadium.

“We are going to be fan friendly and flexible,” Magnus said.

---

Such a nice thing to hear.

quote:

---

sounded better

---

Not with Danielson's voice on the air it did not.

Any early indication on who the announcing teams will be?

quote:

---

No matter what TV I've ever owned (I'm even going back prior to HDTVs), CBS shows/sports have ALWAYS looked and sounded better than ABC.

---

It’s because ABC/ESPN still use 720p for 99% of their games. In the past 720p was technically better than the 1080i everyone used (540 interlaced twice), but 720p is incredibly out dated now.

This was from earlier this year where they were bragging about having 2 games a week on 1080p HDR.

quote:

---

Although ESPN will not be producing one game a week in 4K UHD as it has done the past two years, both ABC’s and ESPN’s Saturday primetime games will be produced in 1080p HDR. Live feeds will hit the Bristol plant in 1080p HDR, and distribution will vary from there.

In addition, all full-truck productions have been upgraded to 1080p SDR, except for the SEC primetime game, which will remain in 720p. SVG

---

They were trying to play hardball and thought they could get the SEC for a cheap price, but just like ESPN, they had to pay more to get it away from another network. I don't think they have ever appreciated the "deal" Slive gave them and sticking to that 15-year contract when they were probably making double or triple the cost on advertising during those games shows they still feel the SEC is a regional conference and doesn't appreciate it. Also, never renegotiating showed how poor Slive actually was on behalf of the SEC.

quote:

---

Also, never renegotiating showed how poor Slive actually was on behalf of the SEC.

---

At the time both CBS deals were signed the SEC was ecstatic with the terms. Turns out that’s the only times CBS would negotiate. Even on stuff that’s pretty common in the industry. So not sure what you think Slive or anyone else could have done differently.
Also I don’t think CBS thinks the SEC is still regional. They just think the B1G is more national and hungrier for greater coverage in that aspect. They also have more potential viewers than the SEC. Even without the best B1G games every week they think they can still make just as much money based on that. I’m skeptical.