r/CFB • u/duabrs • 7h ago

Discussion Total control of playoff for ESPN

Is this possible to end up in court as an antitrust / monopoly violation?

I like the expansion, but not the expanded power it'll give ESPN.

0 Upvotes

39% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

View all comments

28

u/dawgfan19881 Georgia Bulldogs 7h ago

They had an open bid. Nobody else bid.

3

u/54-2-10 Utah Utes 6h ago

There was no open bid.

Espn negotiated exclusively for the broadcasting rights.

-4

u/dawgfan19881 Georgia Bulldogs 6h ago

When it expanded to 12 there was an open bid. Nobody else bid. That exclusive rights you allude to are under that contact.

4

u/54-2-10 Utah Utes 6h ago

No, that is not correct.

There has never been an open bid for playoff games. Not for the 4 team, not for 12 teams, and not for 24.

Espn sold some of the 12 team playoff games to other smaller outlets, but the playoff has never gone to a true open market bid.