tOSU sells sports media rights to IMG College and RadiOhio for $110 million

[BB73]

CBS.Sportsline

Ohio State sells sports media rights for $110M

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University says it has sold the media rights for its sports programs in a 10-year deal guaranteeing the school $110 million.

The university said Monday that its partnership with IMG College and RadiOhio gives the companies the rights to manage and market publishing related to Ohio State sports, as well as radio game play-by-play and coaches' shows. The contract also covers television not included in Big Ten Conference and NCAA contracts.

In a statement, athletic director Gene Smith says the arrangement will help maintain the financial stability of Ohio State's 36 sports.

Cont'd ...

[ORD_Buckeye]

Smart move provided that the department uses the money to pay down its considerable debt load and get back in the black.

[jwinslow]

So these guys will be replacing the Fan's radio broadcasts? Or will they just own & earn profits from them?

[BuckeyeNation27]

How does this affect your average schmuck who doesn't even live in the state of Ohio?

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

So these guys will be replacing the Fan's radio broadcasts? Or will they just own & earn profits from them?

Well, as The Fan is part of RadiOhio I don't see that changing.

Here is the full blurb from the PR on IMG's site:

Currently, IMG manages Ohio State's publishing rights, and RadiOhio controls the University's radio rights. Under the terms of the new agreement, the IMG College and RadiOhio partnership will manage and market all rights associated with publishing, radio game play-by-play and coaches' shows, and live and delayed television and coaches' TV shows excluded from Big Ten Conference/NCAA contracts. The agreement also includes corporate sponsorships, signage, on-site marketing opportunities, and coaches' endorsements.

[jwinslow]

Thanks. Listening to ESPN's "flagship" announcers call CBB games (and have to spit out 3-4 lines to catch up to the crowd roar), it makes me realize how lucky we are to have Paul Keels.

[BB73]

A little more info from a Dispatch article.

Dispatch

College athletics: OSU getting richest multimedia contract

...

The agreement comes as RadiOhio marks its 25th year broadcasting Ohio State sports programs, said Dave Van Stone, president and general manager of RadiOhio.

"Listeners won't notice a change, which is good," he said. "We're still going to have the same people doing what they've been doing -- the same good stuff."

Van Stone said the agreement provides "a one-stop resource for everything" related to advertising and sponsorships for Ohio State athletics.

OSU's current contract with RadiOhio runs through 2015. The new agreement supersedes that, running from July 1 through 2019.
RadiOhio is an affiliate of The Dispatch Printing Company, which publishes

The Dispatch. RadiOhio is a member of the Dispatch Broadcast Group, which includes the Ohio State Radio Sports Network, WBNS-AM and WBNS-FM, the Ohio News Network-Radio and the Radio Sound Network. Other members of the Dispatch Broadcast Group are WBNS-TV (Channel 10), the Ohio News Network, and WTHR-TV and the SkyTrak Weather Network in Indianapolis.

Smith also said fans won't notice much difference, save for a LED ribbon board, an electronic messaging device for advertisers, likely to be installed in Ohio Stadium.

Cont'd ...

[cdiddy70]

Luck to have Keels?
Are you kidding.

What about that passionless, montone, made for audio books announcer do you like.

He has been present for the greatest run in buckeye sports - name one signature call.

One holy buckeye or gus johnson going ape crap.

he is "absitively" the worst. "Number #9, either Hartline or Rob Rose on the special teams tackle?.

[CHU]

One change, I could see ads on the field goal nets at Ohio Stadium (Allstate).

Like the Dispatch article says, IMG needs to maximize its deal with Ohio State.

I just hope the new LED ad board at Ohio Stadium is subtle.

[jwinslow]

Am I conversing with someone new to the language? Or were you just graciously offering yourself for the sake of irony?

The vast majority of radio play-by-play guys are hopelessly behind the action, including those featured on Westwood One. Keels rattles off the action in greater detail and speed than anyone I've heard. I'll take that any day over:

Lucas receives the pass.
*Crowd roars for dunk*
Lucas dumps it in to Suton.
Suton dribbles, throws a backdoor pass.
Allen catches, lifts off...
and throws down the thunderous dunk!

One holy buckeye or gus johnson going ape crap.

Gus Johnson goes nuts 75 times a game, and has no comparison to the "low hanging fruit" you typically get on the radio.

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

Am I conversing with someone new to the language? Or were you just graciously offering yourself for the sake of irony?

The vast majority of radio play-by-play guys are hopelessly behind the action, including those featured on Westwood One. Keels rattles off the action in greater detail and speed than anyone I've heard. I'll take that any day over:

Lucas receives the pass.
*Crowd roars for dunk*
Lucas dumps it in to Suton.
Suton dribbles, throws a backdoor pass.
Allen catches, lifts off...
and throws down the thunderous dunk!
Gus Johnson goes nuts 75 times a game, and has no comparison to the "low hanging fruit" you typically get on the radio.

Agreed. I mentioned it in another thread, but I've listened to numerous other schools games on Sirius, and he is a very good play-by-play man, even if he is a bit vanilla. The Texas Tech and Oklahoma games I listened to were just dreadful with their "colorful" announcers. A bunch of babbling morons.

Keels may not bring the most emotion to the game, but he seems to recognize that folks listen to the game to know what's happening, not just to listen to his voice.

[LitlBuck]

I was wondering if some of the revenue from this contract could be used for facility improvements. I think I read about a month ago that due to the economy they were not going to be able to add on the new basketball practice area which was to be added to the Schott.

[BrutusBobcat]

Keels broadcasts for people who are in their cars or otherwise only listening on the radio, not for people who turn down the TV announcers and use the radio guy as a substitute. It's a subtle difference, but he's broadcasting with the understanding that the listener can't see the game. It's clean, clear and professional. I've never had a problem following a game he's done.

TV guys try to go a little nuts, because you can already see what they're describing. You don't need for them to relay to you ball movement in basketball, for example, and as anyone who's watched the NCAA's this month knows, they can't stop yapping long enough to bother.

Still, the point that Keels could have a better grasp of the moment, or a keener sense of drama is valid. Some plays are game changing or even season changing, and a veteran announcer should be able to sense that and relay it accordingly.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by cdiddy70

Luck to have Keels?
Are you kidding.

What about that passionless, montone, made for audio books announcer do you like.

He has been present for the greatest run in buckeye sports - name one signature call.

One holy buckeye or gus johnson going ape crap.

he is "absitively" the worst. "Number #9, either Hartline or Rob Rose on the special teams tackle?.

To those who know anything at all about this business, Keels is admired all over the country. There is a reason that his calls are used as promos all over ESPN television and radio, not just in Ohio, but Nationally. I hear them here in Tallahassee. His call of a Beanie Wells TD was part of the top-of-the-hour reset for one ESPN radio show for several months last year. Paul Keels is a pro's pro; and as Jwins said, we are indeed lucky to have him.

[3074326]

Radio broadcasters are meant to broadcast the game IMO. No more, no less (for me). Keels is one of the best I've heard. I understand the importance of certain events, I just want to hear how they're going down without any bull[censored]. I can think of nobody better at giving a no-bull[censored] call of a game. I can take care of the emotional side.