Disney’s ESPN cable sports network brand is making a bid to become a big player in the Bowl Championship Series.
Disney made a reported $125 million bid for the rights to the complete Bowl Championship Series, the five annual contests — the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta and Rose bowls plus the BCS National Championship — that ultimately determine college football’s No. 1 team.
Fox, which has the rights to all but the Rose Bowl at a cost of $82.5 million per year, has upped its bid to $100 million. If Disney is successful, ESPN will air the games beginning in 2010. The Rose Bowl, currently airing on ABC, would likely also move to ESPN.
I really hope the big wigs at ESPN listen to the talking head talent they’ve hired. Nearly all of whom agree that NCAA Division I football needs to end in a playoff series, at minimum a plus one game. Imagine the hero ESPN would become to college football fans everywhere.
(via)
I don’t think the networks are responsible for the bowl series. They might be able to influence the NCAA to change to a playoff series, but it’s unlikely. I took a sport management course and we discussed both sides. As it stands, there is a lot of profitability in the bowl system. While confusing, it generates plenty of revenue in that there are five packed stadiums, five major televised events, in a single “finals” as opposed to one all out “Super College Bowl”. Five superbowl-esque events vs. playoffs and one superbowl, I don’t think they’ll ever seriously consider changing.
However, I totally agree with you about the need for simplicity.
Pingback: Disney’s ABC/ESPN is now the home for College Football Bowl Championship Series | The Disney Blog