Andy Katz says BYU considering Independence

jonnylingo wrote:

this is all contingent on the BCS agreeing that while they exist, that the Cougs would get inclusion if they were in the top 8 of the BCS computers AND there is a plan in place (or agreements made) to ensure that we have a fair and equitable schedule:



ESPN drives the boat here' they pay for our rights and BYU streams all the rebroadcasts, games not picked up by ESPN, and gives us a "NFL network" of sorts to all things BYU.

Television and internet are coming closer and closer on a daily basis, and technology is making it happen. I already watch my sports and internet on the same 8' x 10' projection screen; it won't be long before I don't have to hook up a PC and cable box to the same projector. TV will be streamed from the internet as a mainstream method of television.



BYU has all the techonology available to make this move feasible. ESPN is now big enough to write a nice check to the Cougs and as an indy team, BYU doesn't have to worry about splitting the pie with the Wyomings or Utahs of the world. ESPN drives good competition our way every year and we lean on the WAC for the remainders.



Bottom line, BYU carries the revenue stream of the Mountain West. Utah doesn't sell out their stadium, TCU doesn't and Boise has a very very small TV market. They're not doing us any favors.



If BYU has broadcasting technology to make it happen (and it appears they do), then this is a no brainer til the Big 12 comes a calling. The revenue sports (hoops and football) already have so much talent in the pipeline, that the product on the field itself will do a ton of the advertising.

I love the idea of BYU building a broadcasting school of which has no equal west of Kansas City. It serves the purpose of the church, the sports programs, and increases the schools cache.



(just explain to me why we don't build a medical school; when BYU sends more students to other medical schools than any other school in the country)



btw - If ESPN embraces this move; I like our position better than Utahs. We drive the bus, get paid all we need to, and aren't beholden to the bigotry of the Pac-10; while Utah flounders in that conference. If ESPN is on board with this, I like it more and more every minute.

Your argument is in large part based upon espn making this deal. How confident are we that this would happen? If then, so we end up with lots more money, where do we play in a bowl game if we have a winning season? Most of the bowls just reupped their contracts. So we get more money, yeah, but what do we have to play for? on conference championship and now decent bowl game. What is there to get excited for besides beating up on wac teams?

1. every week matters....you play to win the game

2. dont' assume that this isn't a audtion for the Big 12

3. yes, if ESPN doesn't write that check and agree to help BYU with scheduling, then it doesn't happen

4. there will be a bowl game; (considering we've had the vegas bowl the last 4 years, I'm not sure it couldn't improve)



you're right though, ESPN is a major factor here; if they're not on board, we have to stay put.

Let me put it this way in the most simple terms possible. If BYU goes indy, and ESPN is our business partner for broadcast right and thus, scheduling, this is a no brainer. ESPN is now in the game brokering business. They made BYU-OU, TCU-Oregon State, VT-Boise State and many other happen. Remember, BYU got more to be in the OU game last year than the MTN deal provided for TV rights for every other game and sport COMBINED. They love coming to Provo, BYU gets ratings, even if on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Factor that ESPN can also broadcast hoops games with a program that is winning in a sport that is losing viewers, and this helps ESPN as well.



The best part is that if BYU does go indy, sets the schedule up right for a run at the BCS every 2 years, I like our chances of playing in the Rose Bowl better than Utah ever will have. That irony is awesome.

Qman wrote:

One real negative about going independent for those of us outside of Utah would be much WORSE TV coverage. Right now, even in Iowa, I can watch all of the BYU football games (in HD, now). Any BYU TV network would undoubtedly be available only in Utah, or maybe online for a fee.

Really, I figured they would find a way to get distributed on ESPN sometimes. Also right now BYUTV is on almost every provider. I think they could find a way to get some distribution. I am sure they are aware their fanbase is very distributed.

BYU-TV is widely available (although not in HD), but this wouldn't provide any revenue stream to BYU. The impression I get is that sports would be carried on the "BYU Sports Network", which at this time doesn't exist. It would be great to be able to see the games on BYU-TV, but I don't think that would be in the equation.

I've said for years that sooner or later BYU has to go independent. BYU is too unique, to religious (compared to the rest of the sports world), they won't play on sundays, there are all kinds of unique issues with BYU. Independence was inevitable. Why they go back to the WAC though, is curious, unless BYU believes the MWC is dead, and will be cannibalized shortly. But, frankly, I don't think the "other" sports matter, it's football that's the big kahuna. So what is best for BYU football is best for BYU sports.



I say let everybody tweet their heads off and blather criticism all they want, independence is the only thing possible for BYU--sooner or later.

bball wrote:
But, frankly, I don't think the "other" sports matter, it's football that's the big kahuna. So what is best for BYU football is best for BYU sports.

BYU Football basically pays for about every other sport at BYU, so this is the absolute truth of the matter. Football drives the revenue, with men's basketball a distant 2nd. Very distant.

Some are also saying that if we go Indy and play everything else in the WAC other MWC schools will head over to the WAC too. You'll see a domino effect of sorts. ie. BYU leaves and the MWC adds Nevada to try and replace BYU. The WAC then adds SDSU and UNLV. Holmoe was right, all the talk of movement isn't over and there very well could be significant movement before Sept 1st of this year and if not this year then next year.



All the rumors and talk about BYU will only help. BYU has 3 real opportunities and all will better our position right now.

1. We pull a Texas and threaten the MWC to improve things and they actually do.

2. We go Indy in football and WAC for all other sports for the long term and hook up with ESPN and rake in more revenue and have a way better bowl situation.

3. We go Indy and prove to the Big 12 that they need us and get invited and join a better conference than the MWC or Pac 12 could ever offer.

A few people have pointed out what would we do about the bowl games if we have a winning season, or a BCS caliber winning season? So that makes me wonder if besides Notre Dame, what do these other independent schools have set up in that aspect like Navy or Army?

I just hope that if BYU goes indy, they do it on a 3 year trial, with an opt out sooner if they go Big 12. And after 3 years, option to evaluate if want to stay aligned with the WAC, or look elsewhere.

jonnylingo wrote:

Your argument is in large part based upon espn making this deal. How confident are we that this would happen? If then, so we end up with lots more money, where do we play in a bowl game if we have a winning season? Most of the bowls just reupped their contracts. So we get more money, yeah, but what do we have to play for? on conference championship and now decent bowl game. What is there to get excited for besides beating up on wac teams?

Just because bowls have tie ins with conferences doesn't meant that they can't take an independent. Notre Dame over the past few years has played in the Hawaii Bowl, the Insight Bowl and the Gator Bowl all of which have tie ins to other conferences.



Navy has played in the Texas and Poinsettia Bowl and both of them have tie ins with conferences.



BYU going independent doesn't decrease it's options for a bowl game, it increases them.

IowaCougar wrote:

IowaCougar wrote:
One real negative about going independent for those of us outside of Utah would be much WORSE TV coverage. Right now, even in Iowa, I can watch all of the BYU football games (in HD, now). Any BYU TV network would undoubtedly be available only in Utah, or maybe online for a fee.

Really, I figured they would find a way to get distributed on ESPN sometimes. Also right now BYUTV is on almost every provider. I think they could find a way to get some distribution. I am sure they are aware their fanbase is very distributed.

BYU-TV is widely available (although not in HD), but this wouldn't provide any revenue stream to BYU. The impression I get is that sports would be carried on the "BYU Sports Network", which at this time doesn't exist. It would be great to be able to see the games on BYU-TV, but I don't think that would be in the equation.

I'm sure BYU-TV would evolve into an ad-supported, revenue producing channel. It's funded by the University (and therefore the Church) and wouldn't rely on ad revenue to pay the University back anyway.



And since it's not KBYU (a PBS station) I'm sure it could be done with a stroke of a pen. I doubt BYU gets tax breaks on BYU-TV as presently constituted. But I'm no lawyer.

CAFB_04-12 wrote:

Qman wrote:

One real negative about going independent for those of us outside of Utah would be much WORSE TV coverage. Right now, even in Iowa, I can watch all of the BYU football games (in HD, now). Any BYU TV network would undoubtedly be available only in Utah, or maybe online for a fee.

Really, I figured they would find a way to get distributed on ESPN sometimes. Also right now BYUTV is on almost every provider. I think they could find a way to get some distribution. I am sure they are aware their fanbase is very distributed.

BYU-TV is widely available (although not in HD), but this wouldn't provide any revenue stream to BYU. The impression I get is that sports would be carried on the "BYU Sports Network", which at this time doesn't exist. It would be great to be able to see the games on BYU-TV, but I don't think that would be in the equation.

I'm sure BYU-TV would evolve into an ad-supported, revenue producing channel. It's funded by the University (and therefore the Church) and wouldn't rely on ad revenue to pay the University back anyway.



And since it's not KBYU (a PBS station) I'm sure it could be done with a stroke of a pen. I doubt BYU gets tax breaks on BYU-TV as presently constituted. But I'm no lawyer.

The problem with that is that, if BYU-TV is for profit, carriers like DirecTV no longer have the same incentive they do now to carry it. They have to have something like 4% of their programming be non-profit, and so by carrying BYU-TV and other non-profit channels, they get to carry more for profit channels. If BYU-TV becomes for profit, you can expect it to also no longer be in the base channel package like it is now.

Done deal per SLTRIB. WAC officials confirm. Just need the trustees to approve.



http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/50131959-88/byu-football-television-conference.html.csp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As far as BCS games are considered. Even as a independant, aren't we still "non-BCS", so wouldn't the currant rules for getting into a BCS bowl still apply?

Absolutely crazy!!



Who would have thought that the rumor of going indie would actually be true? I'm excited for the change and trust in the leadership at BYU to lead us into a better situation. I think the fan support is there to make this be successful, and I am assuming BYU has done it's due diligence in making sure this is a viable option.



We have always been a unique institution, so this move makes sense.

I sure hope that the BYU administration knows what they are doing. I hope this isn't a knee jerk reaction to utah leaving for the PAC. I will always be a fan of BYU and root for them no matter what but I can see the church eliminating sports at BYU if independance becomes a money losing venture for the school.

As far as the BCS goes, they have already established a precedent as to how an independent qualifies.

If BYU can pull this off, Holmoe will be viewed as a modern day Moses, leading our people out of the bondage of a bad TV deal and into the land of prime time ESPN HD quality football and unlimited rebroadcasts on BYUtv.



Go Cougs!

If it's true congratulations and good luck.



Now Utah will have some incentive to keep playing the rivalry game. :evil:



That was said in jest and in fun :D

I still think this is just 1 step. I suspect we will be Indy for 1 year only--2011--and that by 2012 the Big 12 invite will come. This frees us up to accept that invite any time now. The Big 12 would be absolutely stupid to not invite BYU with their facilities, tradition, financial power. etc.



How much you want to bet that TH's phone is ringing off the hook with MWC teams wanting to schedule games?

Jumanji wrote:
If BYU can pull this off, Holmoe will be viewed as a modern day Moses, leading our people out of the bondage of a bad TV deal and into the land of prime time ESPN HD quality football and unlimited rebroadcasts on BYUtv.



Go Cougs!

Lol -- Awesome!