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Idaho Statesman reporter Brian Murphy interviewed Mike Aresco a few hours ago. Here are few notes from Murphy's twitter feed:

Aresco on additional expansion: Western team is a priority for us. 14th team will be Western football-only member. But says we could be a 12-team conference until Navy comes on board and mentioned a 2014 possibilty.

On TV money: "When you see reports on TV and revenue, just ingore it...Haven't talked to any networks yet on valuations." (So much for the Dodd/McMurphy BS)

Says while no one knows the value of the TV deal yet, members should be satisified with contract.

Aresco: we are talking to six networks and suggests the Big East may go for a multiple network model, including a possible Big East Network.

https://twitter.com/murphsturph

I'd just like to get all our football and basketball games on a decent channel at this point.

I love Aresco. Even though ESPN, CBS, etc. are doing everything in their power to devalue the league and repeatedly mention that the conference is falling apart, he still inspires great confidence in getting things done.

Aresco is the right guy to understand how the TV negotiation game is played. We just need to hope that he plays the right hand and calls in some favors to get the best possible deal. We also need to be cognizant that he is dealing with a bad hand with not many cards left to deal.

PoconoPony wrote:Aresco is the right guy to understand how the TV negotiation game is played. We just need to hope that he plays the right hand and calls in some favors to get the best possible deal. We also need to be cognizant that he is dealing with a bad hand with not many cards left to deal.

Plus, the Big East is our destination, which we need to embrace enthusiastically. For the short and mid-term, SMU needs to succeed in our new home. Second guessing or lamenting the challenges that are the reality of collegiate power conferences is of little value or benefit.

In two or three years, SMU needs to be a brand that is in demand by the media and whatever conference benefits from our performance on the field and in the stands.

There is no scenario where staying in CUSA was the right choice. None

There is no scenario where moving to the Big East when we did would be the wrong choice. None.

All networks are talking down the values if they can. They dont want to pay more then they have to.

Several networks need content. Even if it is watered down. They will have to pay up to get it. If we are in some conbination of leagues that is considered the 5th or 6th best league, we will be in a league that is worth some money to televise.

we will be fine. Thank the lord we are a wealthy school who is in a great media market with a fair to better then fair reputation for athletic success and a great academic reputation. we will always have options. IF a big league needs us to do ______(fill in the blank with some demand for improvements that equals some huge costs) - we can make a few phone calls and call back and say - done deal.

I love Larry brown.

I agree that going to the Big East was the right decision, no doubt. If anyone were to say its CUSA 2.0, sure but CUSA is now the Sunbelt 2.0. I mean at least we didn't lose value, and maybe fool networks into thinking this is the major upcoming conference. We lost too many important teams however to hope for a double digit per team tv contract. Aresco is doing what all CEO's do in the MDA discussion. They extend the truth to the max. The thing is hes probably talk to networks and hes thrown them offers and they laugh. Our one hope was NBC which has nothing but FCS chanels would want to dive in but of course they the good liberals they are stay put. Like I was saying in the past, and now Aresco said it, was hoping for a multi-network deal. It would split the risk to try this venture, and it would yield us the money we would desire (in theory). Is he man for the job? Obviously. Do I think, even with him, we will get even half of what we were expecting? Not a chance. I assume Stallion's original estimates to be correct, 7-8 mil at best.

gostangs wrote:There is no scenario where staying in CUSA was the right choice. None

There is no scenario where moving to the Big East when we did would be the wrong choice. None.

We are staying in the CUSA. It just has another name now.

except the basketball is better and the contract will give us at least 3 million a year more revenue. Slight difference.

JasonB wrote:except the basketball is better and the contract will give us at least 3 million a year more revenue. Slight difference.

not sure how much better the BB will be. Check my post on what Aresco wants to do with the divisions. We are bascially getting excluded from the old school Big East BB teams.

ponyinNC wrote:

JasonB wrote:except the basketball is better and the contract will give us at least 3 million a year more revenue. Slight difference.

not sure how much better the BB will be. Check my post on what Aresco wants to do with the divisions. We are bascially getting excluded from the old school Big East BB teams.

I think what he is saying is that basketball with schools like GT and UCONN will give the BE a better TV contract. Nothing to do with the divisions as that is a separate issue.

Show me the money.

PoconoPony wrote:Aresco is the right guy to understand how the TV negotiation game is played. We just need to hope that he plays the right hand and calls in some favors to get the best possible deal. We also need to be cognizant that he is dealing with a bad hand with not many cards left to deal.

This.