I believe they lost AAU membership around the time the B1G invited Rutgers. Also, Rutgers is a huge state school (49,000 undergrads); while Syracuse is private and has 15,000 undergrads. Rutgers is a much better fit for the B1G profile

The B1G also gets the higher subscriber rates in what what is considered the DC-Hagerstown DMA TV market and the NYC DMA TV market. How much of the Virginia suburbs are included in the DC one, not sure. But Alexandria/Arlington, Fairfax for sure. And for NYC it would be Westchester county and parts of Long Island. They already automatically get all of NJ and MD. So the DMA parts there are already included. When the school is right on the border of states, that's how it works.

You don't need to carry the entire state, just that area. And where Rutgers is located seems to fit into that media market. Here is a picture of the US Census Bureau map zoomed in on the tri-state region and a poorly doctored up and totally unofficial media "circle" around NYC with an ~70 mile radius. (Why 70 miles? I used to live in "upstate new york" even though we were only about 70 miles as the crow flies. TV and radio came out of NYC.) All those potential cable customers is why the B1G took Rutgers, at least in this humble poster's mind.

ACC at the last minute - they have to be regretting that decision. So, B1G added Ruts at the last minute - B1G is probably regretting that decision as well. The general consensus, is that the B1G wanted to "force" other teams to leave the ACC so that they could target more valuable schools than UMD and GT. Also - at the time the B1G was into schools from contiguous states - might have even been a requirement - not sure? So, in theory, that opened up other opportunities.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, the B1G got EXACTLY what they wanted and needed from UMd and RU. They wanted to do what the SEC has done for decades, provide conference patsies their blue bloods can reliably beat up on and bolster their records (which drive rankings). That they could also bring in significant revenues from in-state carriage fees made them a win-win for the B1G.

Both Rutgers and MD are in the top third of the P5 in terms of size. Both schools have more enrollment on their main campus than 14 ACC schools. And both schools have more living alumni than 16 ACC schools. They also have more than most of the SEC and B12. The result is it gives the BIG more negotiating power for media contracts. It’s all about potential viewers for the advertisers. And for pure numbers, Rutgers and MD deliver.

1, When ACC went to the Northeast, Big 10 thought it was a little aggressive and if they ever wanted to get the market they need to pursue. 2. Big 10 wanted a new network with new revenues, Fox advised they needed to get into the Northeast and DC. As much as 'we feel that Rutgers and and Md dont bring anything, for FOX it meant viewers of their product in the Northeast from Fox. Maryland was desperate and floundering financially, with huge debt. Current tenured leadership of Maryland were Maryland graduates. This included the president, Mens football and basketball. The AD, was from NC State and just advised what to do. All long term established ACC folks.The new Md president was the provost of Illiinois = a long term big 10 school. His first job was to relinquish the financial liability of athletics to Maryland. He knew no-one from the ACC, further, the ACC didn't do much outreach either. (assumed Maryland was safe). He knew the Big 10 goals, and he reached out to his confidents in the Big 10 and boom. how quick. Then, the AD left, Gary retired, Ralph was released (he had a young coach in waiting for his retirement, was James Franklin.. interesting. For Rutgers, it was really a little perfect timing, Rutgers in no man land when the Big East started to crash. However, they hired as AD, a senior executive from CBS sports, he knew all about Big 10 plans for the Big 10 network and new contract. He worked it enough to get the Big 10 to jump. boom In 2024, I dont think things like that happen, but timing is everything.

went to State after she left the Terps. She was not from NC State. You have been corrected multiple times, in your former persona as Mercury, yet you persist in the inaccuracies around the Maryland situation. Why? ** Edited by 2hhoop3 at 6/17/2024, 3:15:58 PM

If OSU football wasn't available on cable stations in OH, that would definitely cause a huge stink. But how many people in NJ/NY actually watch Rutgers football? How many would miss it if their cable stations refused to pay and it wasn't available? Not very many would be my guess. Extortion only works if you have leverage.

** Edited by marcbvtgm at 6/17/2024, 2:14:53 PM

it or not. So the bigger the state, they more money that can be made for the conference channel. Yeah, seems like a questionable long term plan, but that's what we have. If Rutgers was located in Rhode Island, they wouldn't be a member of the Big Ten, I imagine.

I don’t even see those advertised anymore. Everyone gets their live programming by streaming services.

paying more for adding in state subscriptions. You can see the B1G reacting in how the treated adding UCLA as a full member, while phasing in two other programs that each added new states.

** Edited by marcbvtgm at 6/17/2024, 2:16:25 PM ** Edited by marcbvtgm at 6/17/2024, 2:17:32 PM

But it is entire Comcast/Xfinity package for instance. There are 56 million cable subscribers in the US in 2024. Down from 71 million from just three years ago. But the point is, they still exist. And I am one of them (but not for long).

Are they really worth that much?

subscriber. Nor does Maryland bring any instate carriage fees from Virginia subscribers. And from what I’ve heard and seen personally, Maryland gets very little viewership in NOVA. Rutgers may think they bring NYC viewers but I bet it’s a minuscule number. NYC is a pro town. Probably the only college that gets any significant viewers in NYC is the Lamers.