Viewpoints: Keep The Big Games On Free TV
Chances are you?ll watch the Super Bowl through cable, satellite or AT&T U-verse. Nevertheless, 28% of El Pasoans still rely on over-the-air broadcast to watch television. It would be unfathomable for the NFL to move the Super Bowl to one of the networks accessed exclusively through a pay-TV source.
Nevertheless, the out-of-touch BCS commissioners made the ridiculous decision to permit the college football national championship game to be seen only on subscriber based ESPN. And guess what? Despite a thrilling Auburn victory over Oregon, ratings were 12% down from last year?s title game on ABC. I?m on the ABC Affiliate Board and during recent meetings we?ve criticized Disney (which owns ABC and ESPN) for not making the BCS championship available to the largest possible audience. Disney made the move because ESPN gets two revenue streams.
It collects 100% of the advertising and doesn?t have to share commercial breaks with affiliates. Secondly, ESPN collects about $4 a month per each subscriber from cable and satellite companies. That $4 cost is passed on to you ? the subscriber. With this dual revenue stream it?s becoming increasingly difficult for traditional broadcast networks to bid for premiere sporting events. CBS relinquished the Final 4 to Turner every other year starting in 2016. This has got to stop.
The over-the-air viewing public cannot afford to lose any more big games. College football and Final 4 decision makers are marginalizing their sports by not making them available to everyone. If we don?t watch out, college football and basketball will go the route that professional boxing has with all of the top bouts on pay-per-view. Last September, Hearst Television CEO David Barrett said he was unconcerned about the loss of big-time programming, pointing out that TV broadcasting was all about local news these days. I don?t know about that. As Harry Jessell wrote in TVnewscheck.com, ?The more powerhouse programming broadcasting loses, the smaller the medium becomes in the eyes of he public, investors and policymakers.?
Broadcasters are now pushing hard for what?s called ?retransmission consent.? For the first time ever, cable and satellite companies are beginning to pay local stations for the rights to carry traditional network TV on their platform. If ESPN is worth $4 to you, how much is KVIA and its ABC programming worth? Fortunately you will always have a choice. We will always be available to you free and over-the-air. The way the BCS championship game should.
