1. Broadcast Rights
Wide

2. Play Calls History of Broadcast Sports NCAA Controls on Broadcasting
NCAA v. Oklahoma University and the University of Georgia (1984)
College Football Association
Current Playing Field
Bowl Championship Series

3. Sports and TV History
In 1938, first college football game was broadcast
In 1945, less than 7,000 TV sets in the US, and only 9 stations
3 in New York City
2 in Chicago
2 in Los Angeles
1 in Philadelphia
1 in Schenectady
In 1946, NBC’s “Gillette Cavalcade of Sports” air Joe Louis/Billy Conn fight
150,000 viewers
5,000 televisions

4. Sports and TV History
In 1951, NCAA revokes marketing policy for sports.
In 1960, Winter Olympics broadcasted.
$500,000 cost
15 hours of coverage
In 1963, instant replay is introduced at Army-Navy football game.
In 1964, instant replay is used regularly in the NFL.
In 1979, ESPN is introduced.

5. Sports and TV History In 1984, Oklahoma and Georgia sue NCAA
In 1991, Notre Dame negotiates its own contract with NBC
In 1998, the Bowl Championship Series is created.
In 2000, NBC began exclusive broadcast of Olympics
3.5 Billion Dollars

6. NCAA Controls
University of Pennsylvania challenges NCAA authority to control TV broadcasts.
Association-wide television contract signed in 1952 between NCAA and NBC
$1.14 Million
Exclusive Saturday broadcast

7. Conract Details Exclusive rights to college football
Rights fees distributed to schools that appeared on TV.
Limits for the number of times a team could appear on TV.
Game selection controlled by network

8. Dissention In Ranks Multiple appearances by football powerhouses
Some teams never appeared on the game of the week
Tension among schools because fees were distributed according to TV appearances
Powerhouses wanted more money.

9. College Football Association
62 Football schools formed the CFA in 1977
All members were still part of the NCAA
Original purpose was to coordinate lobbying efforts on behalf of college football
Included universities from major conferences:
SEC
ACC
WAC
Big 8
SWC
Independents
Did not include the Big Ten or Pac Ten

10. CFA and TV Increase demand for college football
Increase share of revenue for powerhouse schools
In 1981, the CFA was offered $180M by NBC

11. NCAA’s New Plan
Required CBS and ABC to feature 82 different teams over a two year period.
Maximum 6 appearances for any team over two years
No more than 4 national appearances

12. NCAA v. Oklahoma University and University of Georgia 1984
Plaintiffs sought to terminate the NCAA’s central control of broadcast rights
New broadcast plan was in violation of Sherman Act
Individual schools should be able to negotiate broadcast rights

13. NCAA’s Argument
NCAA recognized that controls could be potential violation of Sherman Act.
College football market with no controls would:
Adversely affect actual attendance at games
Concentrate recruiting advantages in traditional powers
Doom weaker schools to obscurity

14. Broadcast Vacuum Some games were put into syndication
Broadcast rights fees decreased sharply
Many schools looked to the CFA for joint TV negotiation

15. Immediate Aftermath CFA’s 1st contract with ABC for $12M for one year
Big Ten and Pac Ten signed with CBS for $9.6M for one year
New era of competition between networks
Additional freedom for schools
ESPN joins the mix

16. The Numbers? 4x’s as many games available on TV after 1984
Rights fees to schools dropped:
Under NCAA plan - $74M
Under CFA - $31
30 second advertising costs
$60,000
$15,000

17. CFA Reign Years Networks Participation Fees 1985 -1986 ABC and ESPN
$50,000
CBS and ESPN
$100,000
ABC
$150,000

18. More Dissention In 1987, ABC offered the SEC $24M to leave the CFA.
Lower profile teams sacrificed to keep SEC in the CFA.

19. ABC Takes Control
In 1991, ABC/ESPN signs both the CFA and Big Ten/Pac Ten contracts
ABC moves to more regional broadcasts
Forces a member school out.

20. NBC and Notre Dame N B C

21. NBC and Notre Dame B C
4 years - $38M

22. Notre Dame
Bertelli
Lujack
Hart
Lattner
Hornung
Huarte
Brown

23. Notre Dame YEAR RECORD COACH 1924 10-0-0 Knute Rockne 1929 9-0-0 1930
1943
9-1-0
Frank Leahy
1946
8-0-1
1947
1949
1966
9-0-1
Ara Parseghian
1973
11-0-0
1977
11-1-0
Dan Devine
1988
12-0-0
Lou Holtz

24. Notre Dame

25. Notre Dame

26. Notre Dame

27. Notre Dame

28. Hitting the fan Fox takes over professional football
CBS is left without football
CBS makes direct pitch to SEC
$85M for five years
Guaranteed 6 national exposures

29. CFA demise No Notre Dame No Penn State No Big Ten No Pac Ten No SEC
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN8, Fox and Fox Sports
CFA closed its books on June 30, 1997 and dispersed its assets to member institutions

30. The Networks
ESPN

31. BCS Rules
The previous ranking system has resulted in multiple National Champions
BCS established to ensure a #1 vs. #2 game
A new ranking was created
Factors AP and Coaches Poll
Strength of Schedule
Losses

32. Class Struggle Exclusion from Big-Money Bowls
Damaging the ability to build a fan base
Creation of the Presidential Coalition for Athletic Reform

33. Going Bowling GRAND TOTAL: $108 Million
Also solidified the idea of Top Tier Bowls
TOTAL PAYOUT PER TEAM
$13.5 Million
$13.5 Million
$13.5 Million
$13.5 Million
GRAND TOTAL:
$108 Million

34. Lower Tier Bowls $750,000 $750,000 $750,000 $800,000 $750,000 $780,000
$750,000 $750, $750, $800, $750, $780,000
$750,000 $750, $1,200, $2,000, $750, $1,350,000
$750,000 $1,000, $750, $1,350, $750, $1,300,000
$1,900,000 $800, $2,550, $3,000, $1,600, $5,125,000

35. Bowl Comparison BCS Bowls Lower Bowls $108 million 4 Bowls 8 Teams

36. BCS Conferences
63 Teams

37. The Have Nots
52 Teams
INDEPENDENTS

38. Discussion
and
Questions?