Channel 19 Dropping UC B-Ball

[steveocincy]

Just saw this in Enquirer blog for Television section:

"Channel 19 Dropping UC Basketball

The University of Cincinnati' move to the Big East has cost the Bearcats its local TV contract.
After 26 years, WXIX-TV (Channel 19) will stop producing local UC basketball games with the UC-Miami telecast Dec. 29.
"This is purely an economic decision," says John Long, Channel 19 general manager.
The station was losing money on Bearcats basketball, a 10-year contract signed five years ago, he says. Long informed UC officials last week the station was exercising its option to get out of the contract after five years.
"The economics of the deal has changed greatly in the last five years," Long says.
UC’s basketball fortunes and the TV landscape also looks much different today, when college basektball games can be found all over the TV dial and Fox's "American Idol" makes it difficult to pre-empt the nation's No. 1 TV show for local sports. Xavier University has not had a local TV affiliate for several years."


Hopefully we can get a more favorable deal with an independent station or cable network that wont worry about pre-empting schedules. Also, with ESPN, the contract basically no longer included Big East games. See how it unfolds.

[ralph1950]

Maybe the CW will pick up the games or else one will have to buy a ticket and attend all of the non Big East games at the Shoe to see them.

[TheLivingLegend]

Wow that sucks.

[ralph1950]

Wow that sucks.

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.

[nolte50uc]

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.

You make it sound so easy.

[sloppydj]

I'm hoping that Fox Sports Cincinnati picks up the contract and shows all other games. That way I can see all the games on DirecTV.

[Josh Rexhausen]

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.

Well, let me see how much extra income I have lying around, $0. I don't have cable, so that is what $20-30 per month to see the games on ESPN, and oh, the games are $20-25 per game (7 to 9 out of conference), so I have to spend $140-360 more per year than I had been spending to see the same number of games I had been seeing for free. Yes this is such a deal, ooo now I can watch American Idol, this is much better.

Where does that leave the coaches show? I love catching that.

[cincycpaw]

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.

It is more fun in person. I have season tix, but the commute to each game would kill me financially right now (900 miles roundtrip). And Slingbox has been a great way for me to watch 19 on my computer.

Not too mention, what about road games?

This does suck. Nothing but bad news surrounding the program for a few years now.

[CincySuperFan]

Fox Sports carries Xavier.

I HATE American Idol, that's what did it.

[bcat51]

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.

I do go to every game. But I have elderly parents who can't attend anymore and
this is terrible for people like them who love to watch Bearcat basketball.

[jeffto]

I don't think it's a slam on UC. As Vito said: "It's just business" Here in St Louis, they don't show SLU nor Mizzou games on a regular basis.

[Wardboyz]

The Big Ten Network, The NFL Network, The Big East Network = The Big Rip-Off.

[Wardboyz]

The Big Ten Network, The NFL Network, The Big East Network = The Big Rip-Off.

...or at least the FUTURE Big East Network. I can see it coming.

[uclaw89]

This will seriously impact UC's reach in the community especially among young kids. This is a major blow any you look at it and it is evidence the declining stature of the program. Had Huggins not been fired this definitely would not be happening. I can not blame XIX for cancelling lame basketball.

[TheLivingLegend]

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.



Ya not so much. I go to school during the day, work at night. Often tape the games and watch them when i get home... Not all of us have the luxuries of attending every game.

[Nerf]

This will seriously impact UC's reach in the community especially among young kids. This is a major blow any you look at it and it is evidence the declining stature of the program. Had Huggins not been fired this definitely would not be happening. I can not blame XIX for cancelling lame basketball.

No, this was inevitable. Fox has never had a program of the stature of "American Idol" before. "The kids" you refer to were probably more annoyed by their favorite show being preempted by Bearcat Basketball then anything else.

[Bearcat Revival]

why does everything have to revolve around Bob Huggins??? Fox is ALWAYS pressuring 19 to stick with the network programs and not "bounce". 19 makes a TON of money off Idol

[Thegreatone]

We will be on another network soon, it stinks for people without cable because we may be making that move. Ralph there is no way everyone that wanted to could go to all the games so a TV deal is important and will come.

[Irishbearcat]

I'm soo bummed.

[GoCats1994]

Let's not forget WHY this happened. This is all about the lack of interest/support people are showing the program. If Fox 19 was making money on the deal, it would still be televising the games.

This really has less to do with those that attend in person and more to do with those that watch on TV. If more people watched on TV - the ratings would be higher - allowing Fox 19 to charge more for advertising space - allowing Fox 19 to make money. As it stands now....not enough people are watching.

[catswin]

ESPN is the BIG EAST Network.... the loss of ESPN is why the BIG 111 had to create their own network. The BIG EAST deal with ESPN is the richest TV deal in college sports.

[nolte50uc]

The reason it happened is b/c there are MANY more Americal Idol viewers than UC basketball viewers. That's it. Having Huggs, a better team, or more support would not have changed a thing. It's all about advertising money.

I'm confident that the CW, or Fox Sports, or someone will pick it up. Hopefully a channel that I have...

[Josh Rexhausen]

Let's not forget WHY this happened. This is all about the lack of interest/support people are showing the program. If Fox 19 was making money on the deal, it would still be televising the games.

This really has less to do with those that attend in person and more to do with those that watch on TV. If more people watched on TV - the ratings would be higher - allowing Fox 19 to charge more for advertising space - allowing Fox 19 to make money. As it stands now....not enough people are watching.

The reason this happened is the contract with ESPN, not lack of intrest in watching non-conference games, that has always been there, but 19 had been able to balance it out with the ratings of the conference games. It says in the article that Cincinnati was expecting this for a year, so you can reasonably infer that it is due to the Big East Move.

I believe UC can only play 29 games per season, not counting tournaments, 18 of those games are Big East, one is Xavier, and one or two of the other games will be on national TV for interconfernece matchups (ACC-Big10 challenge etc.) That leaves 8 games with the possibility of a tournament. (although doesn't American Idol start in January, why is this a problem again?)

[jkwuc89]

My hope is that either Fox Sports Ohio or Sports Time Ohio picks up UC basketball. That way, I can watch more games in Columbus.

[Brian H.]

This is not a good thing no matter what. Less television exposure is never good for recruiting, well I guess the recruits won't see 1/3 full arena's on tv. If the team was winning this would not have happened. Last time I checked American Idol in not on every night of the week.

The big East/ESPN deal is only good if you are on ESPN or ESPN2 if you get stuck on ESPNU it sucks. Most cable and satellite packages only include the U in the highest level packages. Casual fans and channel flippers are not going to ever see those games. Being on a local channel that people flip through get a lot more eyeballs watching than being on some obscure cable channel. Fox sports is on 427 for me, guess what? I don't flip by it too often. I bet I flip by 19 30 times a night.

[STKohls]

This is not a good thing no matter what. Less television exposure is never good for recruiting, well I guess the recruits won't see 1/3 full arena's on tv. If the team was winning this would not have happened. Last time I checked American Idol in not on every night of the week.

The big East/ESPN deal is only good if you are on ESPN or ESPN2 if you get stuck on ESPNU it sucks. Most cable and satellite packages only include the U in the highest level packages. Casual fans and channel flippers are not going to ever see those games. Being on a local channel that people flip through get a lot more eyeballs watching than being on some obscure cable channel. Fox sports is on 427 for me, guess what? I don't flip by it too often. I bet I flip by 19 30 times a night.

I must disagree. The loss of Channel 19 is more than offset by the national audience that can now watch every UC conference game. I'd give up the slightly easier TV experience for the 1 (or less) local recruits that UC gets annually for all the national recruits that can now watch a UC game if they'd like. In fact, that's even a selling point for recruits: "Your parents can watch all your conference games". We want a national program, and the ESPN deal was a great step.

Finally, some local channel will pick up the games. It may even be Channel 19, once they renegotiate the deal.

[TheDog]

Not really, if you want to see the game buy a ticket and go watch at 5/3rd Arena. It is much more fun attending the game than watching on TV.

All of the Big East games are on one of the ESPN networks.

Right, the bleachers are wonderful.

[Bearcat_DF]

You are right - not enough people are watching. I wonder why that is??? Because as Mick has said - UC imposed its own "death penalty".

It sucks for UC fans in Dayton - we get 19 - I don't think there is another Cincy station in Dayton . . .

Loss of revenue, loss of exposure . . . who could have seen this coming???

Go Cats!
df

[Iwannarawk]

This is good news? Most of UC games will not be seen on national tv. Most of the games will be stuck on ESPNU and the ratings will be terrible. And check the ratings on UC games since Huggins was fired and Kennedy left. For those saying it's the same they are flat out lying. NOBODY is watching and it's quite obvious why.

Mick better win quick and get MANY polished players into this program. The raw type players like Mcclain won't get it done. This team has zero depth and needs a freaking miracle to survive. It's sad that everyone open minded and not wearing anti Huggins/Zimpher goggles could see this. The program is easily at the lowest point in the last 20 years.

UC fans are realizing what happens when you follow a beloved legend. You usually don't make it. Just ask Mike Davis or Bill Guthridge. Both those guys did ok because they had talent in place. Mick was without talent and has to deal with a majority of pissed off fans.

How we lookin? Not good.

[jeffto]

Mick was without talent and has to deal with a majority of pissed off fans. Actually I think you're in the minority there. I think the majority of mature fans were pissed off but have gotten over it. Time to move on.

[Brian H.]

Actually I think you're in the minority there. I think the majority of mature fans were pissed off but have gotten over it. Time to move on.

Unfortunately I think that a lot of fans have moved on......they no longer even follow UC basketball.

[SLMadiCat]

What crappy fans then. Then again, I've always said UC had somewhat of a poor fan base. Even during the Huggs "glory" years, there were many empty seats, with the exception of the big games.

[ralph1950]

Actually I think you're in the minority there. I think the majority of mature fans were pissed off but have gotten over it. Time to move on.


Actually the mature fans have stayed solidly behind the basketball program and continue to donate their dollars, it is the immature band wagon fans that are no longer interested.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

What crappy fans then. Then again, I've always said UC had somewhat of a poor fan base. Even during the Huggs "glory" years, there were many empty seats, with the exception of the big games.

I've followed UC for 50 years. Many years, the seats were full. Some years, notably the 1980's, the seats were empty. Lately, it's the latter. But not for long.

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Right, the bleachers are wonderful.

I bought a ticket on game day last month (Fairfield game). I sat wherever I wanted to sit in the lower level. There were many 1000's of open seats.

[GoCats1994]

[QUOTE=Josh Rexhausen;13796]The reason this happened is the contract with ESPN, not lack of intrest in watching non-conference games, that has always been there, but 19 had been able to balance it out with the ratings of the conference games. It says in the article that Cincinnati was expecting this for a year, so you can reasonably infer that it is due to the Big East Move.
QUOTE]

Sorry...don't agree. If Fox 19 were making money, they would keep televising any games they could get. Extreme example... if 1,000,000 people were watching UC play Bo Diddly Tech, many networks would battle over the right to show it.

If more people watched UC play the non-conference games, the TV deal would still be in place.

[Josh Rexhausen]

Sorry...don't agree. If Fox 19 were making money, they would keep televising any games they could get. Extreme example... if 1,000,000 people were watching UC play Bo Diddly Tech, many networks would battle over the right to show it.

If more people watched UC play the non-conference games, the TV deal would still be in place.

My mistake, new lack of interest in non-conference games, I heard the Associate AD say they knew this was going to happen last year, 19 was waiting for the appropriate time in the contract. I guarantee you that 19 never had ratings that paid for themselves with the same types of games they are showing this year, with UC winning or losing (again from the Assistant AD). What you said above is true, but 19 would have stuck with the contract with the same circumstances and being able to televise all the Big East games.