Disney, through ABC and ESPN, controlls the broadcast rights to a tremendous portion of the college football games played every week. Most years I did not mind as the games I’ve been interested in have generally been available. This year, however, we are seeing a disappointing change in Disney’s business tactics. ESPNU was formed in March 2005 and carries some of the games ESPN has the broadcast rights to. This year they have been using these right to attempt to force cable companies to carry the channel to the detriment of fans and players.
ESPNU has been carrying a handful of high profile games in major markets as a means of creating pressure on the cable companies. These have included games of the top two teams in the country, Ohio State and Michigan. In the past, when ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 were not carrying a game they would allow local channels to purchase the rights to broadcast the game for the home audiences. Games from other areas would also be available on pay for view. However, games broadcast on ESPNU are not made available to either local channels or pay for view.
Recently ESPNU carried the Ohio State vs. Indiana game preventing most people in Ohio from watching. Today both the Michigan vs. Ball State game and the Michigan State vs. Purdue games were carried by ESPNU. No cable channels in the state of Michigan carry ESPNU but they turned down the requests of local broadcasters to carry these games in state. ESPN also would not include these games in their pay for view package.
While many fans were disappointed by this, the players were also victims. Today was Senior Day at the Big House as the seniors played in their final game at Michigan Stadium. They deserved to have the recognition they were given broadcast to their fans throughout the state. It was also a big day for the Ball State players. While granted Michigan was flat, looking ahead to their match up with Ohio State, Ball State gave Michigan their toughest game of the season. With only a couple of minutes to go, it took a goal line stand by Michigan to keep Ball State from what could have been a tieing touch down with a two point conversion. The Ball State players made a supurb effort and they deserved to have this watched by their fans. ESPN makes a fortune off of college football, and in return they should treat the players and fans better than this.
