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Why ISU AD Jamie Pollard needs to quit whining

(HT: The Wiz)

***update: Crimson and Cream Machine was all over this last week

Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard would like to see a more egalitarian distribution of Big XII TV earnings. Speaking after last month's conference meeting, Pollard proposes that the Big XII move to a Big10 (his former conference) style system of equal revenue distribution. Pollard attributes the Big10's success and status as an elite conference to the all-for-one earnings redistribution policy adopted in the mid-90's.

2005-06 BigXII TV Revenue Allocation

  1 Texas $9.68 million
  2 Oklahoma $9.09 million
  3 Texas A&M $8.23 million
  4 Nebraska $7.81 million
  5 Colorado $7.64 million
  6 Iowa State $7.34 million
  7 Kansas $7.28 million
  8 Texas Tech $6.79 million
  9 Baylor $6.63 million
10 Oklahoma State $6.62 million
11 Missouri $6.53 million
12 Kansas State $6.47 million
(Source: Omaha World-Herald)

BigXII vs. Big10 = Apples vs. Oranges

When discussing the distribution of Television revenue, one must consider the various Television Markets located within the conference. The reason the Big10 is able to share equally, is because the each region of Big10 country contributes equally. The Big10 boasts 7 of the nation's Top 25 Markets (Nielsen Media):

3. Chicago
4. Philadelphia
11. Detroit
15. Minneapolis-St.Paul
18. Cleveland
22. Pittsburg
25. Indianapolis

Not only is this a very densely populated conference, but the markets appear to be spread fairly evenly throughout the conference. (No wonder they were able to bully the service providers into carrying their new network)

Now, a look at the Top 25 markets located within the Big XII:

7. Dallas-Ft. Worth
10. Houston
18. Denver
21. St. Louis

Four. A mere four large markets located in the BigXII, and the lion's share of viewership being located in the South region.

Iowa State's Dilemma

Iowa State along with many plains/midwest schools, are dealing with the frustration of functioning within states that are becoming less and less economically significant, thus fewer funds and donors are available. So when your biggest rival (Iowa) generates a handsome income just for being a member of the Big10, it can be fairly disheartening.

Let's be honest though, Iowa State and the rest of the BigXII north are in no position to be making demands. The best thing the old Big 8 ever did was pick up the remnants of the old SWC. Without the revenue generated by the Texas schools (hell, the Oklahoma schools are 50% Texan), the old Big 8 schools might have trouble competing financially with the friggin MAC.

In other words, Jamie Pollard needs to stop whining for seconds and be thankful for what the South schools put on his plate.

- Brad -

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You raise some good points.
You raise some good points about population distribution, but I have a few objections.  I think that calling Philly a Big Ten market is a bit of a stretch.  I suppose that they have a sizable Penn State contingent there, but nowhere near the support you would find in Chicago or Detroit.  Also, the Big Ten Network is far from a slam dunk.  The closer the football season gets, the more worried I get about missing a Michigan game.  Right now it looks unlikely that Cox is going to pick it up.  It could well end up a DirecTV-only network if they keep up their demands.

What I don't understand is why the Big XII isn't trying to leverage a better deal out of ABC/ESPN with the Big Ten going all renegade and starting the Network.  From what I've heard, the BTN will be grabbing at least a few games that otherwise would have been carried by ESPN.  I can't imagine that this makes ESPN happy.

I suppose that it shouldn't matter too much this season, most of A&M's weak games are at home and if they live up to their potential, games at Oklahoma and Nebraska should get picked up by ABC.  That just leaves Missouri and Texas Tech as games I might miss seeing, but I imagine that somebody will pick these up as well.  I just wish the Big XII wasn't so backwards in their TV dealings.

by Off Tackle Tom on Jun 8, 2007 2:34 PM CDT   0 recs

True
You're prolly right about Philly, but the same can be said for St. Louis and Denver. Without a way of gauging "BigXII"ness or "Big10"ness, I decided to include the cities that were in proximity to the conference.
- Brad -

by The 12th Manchild on Jun 9, 2007 2:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

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