I feel like in order to be considered for B1G we need to be in the top 50 for viewership. I know there are other factors and we likely meet them (e.g. academics/AAU, etc.) but let's assume viewership is our last hurdle for now. Per this link, we are currently 76th:

https://medium.com/run-it-back-with-zach/which-college-football-programs-were-the-most-watched-in-2021-49ef4f315858

I couldn't believe that these viewership numbers actually counted the P12 network games as zeros in their average so I tried to reconstruct it, and low and behold, they actually did do that. I collected the game by game data and you can help me estimate where we really stand compared to the rest of the FBS.

Below is the table for each game in 2021 -- you can see where these people are getting the 222K number from. If you ignore these games in the average, you get a more inflated picture (534K average, putting us at 54th). So what is a reasonable estimate for the games that were on P12 Network? As a start, I just approximated to what the viewership number was for Nevada. Is this too conservative? Would love to hear people's thoughts. If we go with that number, than Cal's average viewership is 371K which puts us at 64. Still outside the top 50, below Rutgers, Boise St., Illinois. The poor viewership continues to warrant a lot of concern around merit for B1G inclusion.

Another question for those that understand this stuff better -- what does the size of the media market have to do with inclusion into B1G? If you have actual viewership data, why not just go with the schools that actually show viewership? Putting the academic reason aside, why not just go with Boise St who stand at 657K average? Is this all about potential? If so, that is an angle we can play although we have only shown potential maybe 6-7 years out of the past 60.

Opponent Channel Viewership Viewership Viewership (=Nevada)

Nevada FS1 255 255 255
TCU ESPNU 193 193 193
Sac St P12N N/A 0 255
Washington P12N N/A 0 255
Wash St. P12N N/A 0 255
Oregon EPSN 1446 1446 1446
Colorado P12N N/A 0 255
Oregon St P12N N/A 0 255
Arizona P12N N/A 0 255
Stanford P12N N/A 0 255
UCLA FS1 386 386 386
USC FS1 390 390 390
Average 534K 222.5K 371.25K

fat_slice said:

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I feel like in order to be considered for B1G we need to be in the top 50 for viewership. I know there are other factors and we likely meet them (e.g. academics/AAU, etc.) but let's assume viewership is our last hurdle for now. Per this link, we are currently 76th:

https://medium.com/run-it-back-with-zach/which-college-football-programs-were-the-most-watched-in-2021-49ef4f315858

I couldn't believe that these viewership numbers actually counted the P12 network games as zeros in their average so I tried to reconstruct it, and low and behold, they actually did do that. I collected the game by game data and you can help me estimate where we really stand compared to the rest of the FBS.

Below is the table for each game in 2021 -- you can see where these people are getting the 222K number from. If you ignore these games in the average, you get a more inflated picture (534K average, putting us at 54th). So what is a reasonable estimate for the games that were on P12 Network? As a start, I just approximated to what the viewership number was for Nevada. Is this too conservative? Would love to hear people's thoughts. If we go with that number, than Cal's average viewership is 371K which puts us at 64. Still outside the top 50, below Rutgers, Boise St., Illinois. The poor viewership continues to warrant a lot of concern around merit for B1G inclusion.

Another question for those that understand this stuff better -- what does the size of the media market have to do with inclusion into B1G? If you have actual viewership data, why not just go with the schools that actually show viewership? Putting the academic reason aside, why not just go with Boise St who stand at 657K average? Is this all about potential? If so, that is an angle we can play although we have only shown potential maybe 6-7 years out of the past 60.

Opponent Channel Viewership Viewership Viewership (=Nevada)

Nevada FS1 255 255 255
TCU ESPNU 193 193 193
Sac St P12N N/A 0 255
Washington P12N N/A 0 255
Wash St. P12N N/A 0 255
Oregon EPSN 1446 1446 1446
Colorado P12N N/A 0 255
Oregon St P12N N/A 0 255
Arizona P12N N/A 0 255
Stanford P12N N/A 0 255
UCLA FS1 386 386 386
USC FS1 390 390 390
Average 534K 222.5K 371.25K

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These numbers aren't exact, but give a good gist. Monetary values are on a per month basis.

Without having a team in the media market cable providers charge something like 10 cents per subscriber for the right to have the Big10 network, and its part of a dedicated sports package.

If they have a team in the media market, regardless of how many people watch it, cable providers charge something like $1.50 per subscriber for the right to have the Big10 network in their package, and it moves to the general package instead of being in the dedicated sports package.

These numbers are regardless of viewership. This is why Rutgers was invited to the Big10. They get money for all cable subscribers in that media market regardless of whether or not anyone watches it. Bay area media market size is ~2.5 million "TV homes", which is just above the DC market which is part of what got Maryland into the Big10.

This is why the Big10 would want a team like Cal or Stanford in their package. The hangup is they only need one of the two schools to get this increase in tv revenue, so if they took just Stanford they would get it.

The reasons to take both Cal and Stanford together stretch beyond just Cable contracts and tv viewership. There are financial reasons (especially tied to the non football sports, including mens basketball). There are historical reasons. There are antitrust reasons.

Hell, from a number of standpoints taking Cal over Stanford makes more sense for them. Stanford is private and less likely to get involved in any kind of anti trust law suit. It would get the UC Regents off their back and make life easier for UCLA. When Cal was good there was a lot more interest in them than when Stanford was good (at least from a fans in the stands perspective, I don't have data for tv viewership). Stanford is also on the record saying they have no interest in paying student athletes and having them become employees, which could cause HUGE headaches for the Big10. Cal has no such stance (publicly anyways). The *only* thing Stanford has in their back pocket is they have played Notre Dame for 30 years.

Hippies don't watch football. Its too barbaric. Leave the big10 to the fans with actual men in the fan base.

Huevos grande. K

Never mind - looks like we can't pony up for larger screens in the stadium. MWC here we come ... To finish 6-5 in your conference!

fat_slice said:

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Never mind - looks like we can't pony up for larger screens in the stadium. MWC here we come ... To finish 6-5 in your conference!

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Although I reject your initial premise, with regard to this comment, this is b/c of the Hill People. They're replacing the screens right now but they can't make the footprint any larger due to some settlement with them when they were remodeling CMS.

maxer said:

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fat_slice said:

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Never mind - looks like we can't pony up for larger screens in the stadium. MWC here we come ... To finish 6-5 in your conference!

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Although I reject your initial premise, with regard to this comment, this is b/c of the Hill People. They're replacing the screens right now but they can't make the footprint any larger due to some settlement with them when they were remodeling CMS.

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Put in the screens, then force them to court and bankrupt them in legal fees. Anticipating this, they'll settle in advance, which is what we would want.

Viewers for Rutgers games

vs Mich = 2.806M
vs Ohio St = 1.190M
vs Penn St = 718K - split with Purdue vs Northwestern, but I doubt that makes a huge dent in the number watching Rutgers
vs Michigan St = 642K
vs Delaware = 515K - split with Kent vs Iowa so the number watching Rutgers could be significantly lower
vs Wisconsin = 433K
vs Illinois = 379K - split with Indiana vs Maryland so the number watching Rutgers could be significantly lower
vs Temple = 284K - split with Ford vs Nebraska so the number watching Rutgers could be significantly lower
vs Northwestern = 204K
vs Indiana = 180K
vs Maryland = 158K
vs Syracuse = unknown - I guess the ACC Network also does not provide numbers

It would seems that Rutgers benefits from playing Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Michigan St, and Wisconsin. So here are the games those 5 teams played that had worse rating than their matchup vs Rutgers:

Ohio State
Akron = 1.075M

Michigan
vs Indiana = 2.683M
vs West Mich = 1.623M
vs Maryland = 1.235M - but split with Minn vs Indiana
vs NIU = 512K

Penn St
vs Villanova = 570K - but split with Ohio vs Northwestern

Wisconsin
vs Illinois = 416K

Michigan St
vs Youngstown 307K

So, it would seem, that Rutgers does not in fact have high ratings. That Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Wisconsin, and Michigan State have high ratings and Rutgers rides their coattails. Those Rutgers numbers looks really bad in context.

berserkeley said:

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Viewers for Rutgers games

vs Mich = 2.806M
vs Ohio St = 1.190M
vs Penn St = 718K - split with Purdue vs Northwestern, but I doubt that makes a huge dent in the number watching Rutgers
vs Michigan St = 642K
vs Delaware = 515K - split with Kent vs Iowa so the number watching Rutgers could be significantly lower
vs Wisconsin = 433K
vs Illinois = 379K - split with Indiana vs Maryland so the number watching Rutgers could be significantly lower
vs Temple = 284K - split with Ford vs Nebraska so the number watching Rutgers could be significantly lower
vs Northwestern = 204K
vs Indiana = 180K
vs Maryland = 158K
vs Syracuse = unknown - I guess the ACC Network also does not provide numbers

It would seems that Rutgers benefits from playing Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Michigan St, and Wisconsin. So here are the games those 5 teams played that had worse rating than their matchup vs Rutgers:

Ohio State
Akron = 1.075M

Michigan
vs Indiana = 2.683M
vs West Mich = 1.623M
vs Maryland = 1.235M - but split with Minn vs Indiana
vs NIU = 512K

Penn St
vs Villanova = 570K - but split with Ohio vs Northwestern

Wisconsin
vs Illinois = 416K

Michigan St
vs Youngstown 307K

So, it would seem, that Rutgers does not in fact have high ratings. That Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, Wisconsin, and Michigan State have high ratings and Rutgers rides their coattails. Those Rutgers numbers looks really bad in context.

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Thanks for tracking down these numbers. They prove what I said elsewhere: that the high viewership for Rutgers games is just due to who Rutgers is playing. So we should disregard the numbers that show Rutgers as getting more eyeballs than Cal. No one in the East or Midwest could care less about Rutgers. Moreover, the New York area is very much oriented to pro sports -- and to make it worse, Rutgers is a New Jersey school, and New Jersey is looked down upon by everyone,even New Jersey residents (although actually there is nothing wrong with the state except a high cost of living that is shared by its neighbors). Cal has at least as much viewership potential as Rutgers. And again, I speak as a longtime Rutgers faculty member, so I can't be accused (or maybe I can be) of anti-Rutgers prejudice.