Question about TV markets??

May 18, 2012, 2:08 PM

I posted an article the other day about Clemson being the only ACC team to be top 10 nationally in terms of the number of fans. According to the article, the SEC averages 1.1 million fans per university. Clemson is believed to have 1.8 million fans by this study.

"Still, the S.E.C.’s average of about 1.1 million fans per team — not counting Texas A&M — sets a slightly lower bar than the Big Ten’s. Clemson (1.8 million fans), Georgia Tech (1.7 million) or Virginia Tech would improve upon it, while Missouri and West Virginia (1.0 million) are aren’t far from the league average and would do more to expand the conference’s geographic footprint."

I understand that expanding TV markets means geographically expanding to new states with Virginia Tech and NC State. (I also understand the whole 'black ball' idea with USuC, so please don't preach to me on that even though it is clearly a factor) However, when you consider this study NC State has a little under 500,000 fans (2nd lowest in the ACC). Yes, I understand that NCST adds their large local TV markets of Raleigh and Charlotte. Here's my question: Is the national TV market not more important? Clemson has nearly 4 times the number of fans nationally than does NCST. Nationally, more people care about Clemson than NCST. Meaning if NCST went to the SEC yes more people in Charlotte and Raleigh would watch SEC football, but If Clemson went to the SEC more people overall would watch SEC football.

So can someone explain why a new geographic area trumps the national scale?

Thanks!

http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/the-geography-of-college-football-fans-and-realignment-chaos/

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Well...what I have heard has to do with the possible new networks for 3rd tier rights. If cable stations want to have the network on their program line up, then they have to pay for it. They pay by subscribers. It doesn't mean all those folks are watching it, but they are paying for it. As long as there are enough people in the area to force the stations to carry it, then everyone will pay for it.

As far as the 1st and 2nd tier rights? I don't know unless they think people in Texas (Texas and Texas A&M) will now care more about a Miss State vs. Ole Miss game since it directly effects Texas A&M. Just like South Carolina fans might have more interest in an ACC game due to Clemson.

Right or wrong...they figure one team in a state pretty much gives them the whole state. U. of South Carolina gives the SEC all of South Carolina because pretty much everyone for the most part is either a Gamecock or a Tiger. The Tigers will care about the SEC games due to South Carolina. This holds true for Georgia, Kentucky, and Floria as well.

Question about TV markets??

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