TV time
Published: 10/13/2008 7:26 PM
Last Modified: 10/13/2008 7:26 PM
Questions are flying from all directions from passionate Oklahoma State football fans wondering why their team is not getting more games on television.
Here are some explanations, courtesy of the Big 12, to clear up any confusion:
***The Big 12 Conference and its contracted television partners (ABC, ESPN, Fox Sports Net and Versus) select the games to televise.
***ABC selects games played on special dates, in prime time, the first three Saturdays of September and the dates it intends to do early afternoon games by June 15 of each contract year.
***ABC will select the additional games to be televised no later than 11 a.m. on the 12th day (i.e. the second Monday preceding a Saturday telecast date) prior to the dates such games are to be televised.
***ABC retains the rights to exercise a six-day option (i.e. the Sunday prior to a Saturday telecast date) three times during each season.
***ABC provides the Big 12 a "ready list" on the 12th day prior to exercising this option. Overall, there will be 19 Big 12 appearances on ABC in 2008.
***FSN shall provide the Big 12 with a list of games for special dates and the first three Saturdays of September by June 15 each year.
***FSN's selection of games for late-morning and early-afternoon starts as well as prime-time telecasts will occur following the decisions made by ABC.
***FSN has also sublicensed games to ESPN and ESPN2, as well as Versus, for the 2008 season.
On Monday, ABC selected to televise the Oct. 25 OSU-Texas game for its 2:30 p.m. broadcast window. Right now, that appears to be the best game on the conference schedule that day.
Some are wondering why this week's home game was not picked for television. Last Monday, ABC and the conference pegged Kansas-OU and Missouri-Texas as the league's top two games and slotted them for the 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. windows, respectively. You can't blame ABC for that, considering those four teams are all ranked in the top 16 of the AP poll.
FSN followed by taking Texas A&M-Texas Tech for its 11 a.m. game. Whether it was showing the North Division some love or something else, Versus decided to pick Nebraska-Iowa State at 11:30 a.m. I'm sure Versus (and the Big 12) wished now they would have had the hindsight to pick the OSU-Baylor game since OSU is undefeated and ranked eighth.
But don't worry OSU fans about feeling slighted due to the lack of TV exposure. If the Cowboys keep winning, the TV appearances will come.
As mentioned, next week's Texas game is set for ABC. The Nov. 29 Bedlam game will be televised by ABC. The Nov. 8 game at Texas Tech and Nov. 15 game at Colorado are good possibilities for TV. The Nov. 1 home game with Iowa State may or may not make the cut, but who knows. The chances of that game being televised are much better now than they were a few weeks ago.
---Matt Doyle
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
