Rich getting richer? MW commissioner not a fan of imbalanced TV bonuses
Under the current Mountain West television contract, eligible member universities receive bonus money at the end of the season, based on national television appearances. Not everyone has been in favor of the setup, however.
“I don’t like it,” said Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson on Tuesday. “I’ve been trying to change it … We’re talking about it with the athletic directors.”
Under the current system, each team receives just more than $1.6 million from the contract with CBS Sports and ESPN, plus bonus money for ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 appearances — $300,000 for weeknight games and $500,000 for Saturday games.
“(The appearances) are so arbitrary,” Thompson said. “They don’t care, ESPN is just filling a programming hole, it makes no difference to them. But it’s big to us. I’d like to see a more equitable distribution if we can get there, and the ADs have been talking about it.”
Following the 2014-15 season, the conference awarded a record $46 million to member schools, including a record $4 million to Utah State.
Boise State was tops in the conference at $5.3 million, plus an additional $4 million from its Fiesta Bowl victory that season. Because of an arrangement with the conference, ESPN controls each Bronco home game, meaning BSU will likely lead the MW in revenue each season.
The concern for Thompson and others who have argued for a change is what happens at the other end of the revenue spectrum — UNLV, Air Force and reigning conference champion San Diego State received no bonus money that season.
“As part of their membership arrangement, Boise State’s going to get more than anybody else,” Thompson said. “So that’s a given, but beyond that I think if you could split it equally that was the strength of the Mountain West (before the recent contract was signed in 2013), and that’s the strength of a lot of leagues that share their money equitably.”
The system has been favorable for the Aggies, however, as USU has been one of the highest earners in the conference since joining in 2013.