College Football on ABC

"College Football on ABC" is a presentation of the college football television package on the American Broadcasting Company. The television network broadcasts games of all the major conferences of Division I-A NCAA football except Southeastern Conference

Past history

ABC has historically aired the premiere games since it has had all major conferences contracts at what time or another. Keith Jackson with his down-home, fosky style symbolized college football as its unofficial voice.

By 1950, a small number of prominent football schools, including the University of Pennsylvania (ABC) and the University of Notre Dame (DuMont Television Network) had entered into individual contracts with networks to broadcast their games regionally. In fact, all of Penn's home games were broadcast on ABC during the 1950 season under a contract that paid Penn $150,000. However, prior to the 1951 season, the NCAA – alarmed by reports that indicated television decreased attendance at games – asserted control and prohibited live broadcasts of games. Although the NCAA successfully forced Penn and Notre Dame to break their contracts, the NCAA suffered withering attacks for its 1951 policy, faced threats of antitrust hearings and eventually caved in and lifted blackouts of certain sold-out games. Bowl games were always outside the control of the NCAA, and the 1952 Rose Bowl at the end of that season, was the first truly national telecast of a college football game, on NBC. [cite web | title = Rose Bowl Game History - KTLA | url = http://ktla.trb.com/extras/ktla/roseparade2008/history-game.html | accessdate = 2008-05-28]

For the 1952 season, the NCAA relented somewhat, but limited telecasts to "one" nationally-broadcast game each week. The NCAA sold the exclusive rights to broadcast the weekly game to NBC for $1,144,000. The first game shown under this contract was Texas Christian University against the University of Kansas, on September 20, 1952.

The NCAA believed that broadcasting one game a week would prevent further controversy while limiting any decrease in attendance. However, the Big Ten Conference was unhappy with the arrangement, and it pressured the NCAA to allow regional telecasts as well. Finally, in 1955 the NCAA revised its plan, keeping eight national games while permitting regional telecasts during five specified weeks of the season. This was essentially the television plan that stayed in place until the University of Oklahoma and the University of Georgia filed suit against the NCAA in 1981, alleging antitrust violations.

Recent history

In recent years, there have been as many as 3 game windows in a typical week. Most Saturdays, there are four regional games at 3:30. Beginning with the 2006 season, ABC started regularly showing games at night under the "Saturday Night Football" umbrella.

ESPN, which is mostly owned by Disney has also increased their presence on ABC over the years. The "College Gameday" personalities typically appear during halftime of the 3:30 game and when they are on-site during the "Saturday Night Football" game. In addition, the announcers have become increasingly interchangeable.

ABC was awarded the first exclusive BCS contract beginning in 1999, however they choose not to re-new the contract beginning with the 2006 games.

Typical games

During the Regular season, typical games that shown almost every year include Oklahoma-Texas, Colorado-Nebraska, Ohio State-Michigan. In addition, Florida-Florida State and Notre Dame-USC alternate each year depending on which eam is at home. In addition,

Championship week always features the ACC Championship Game and the Big 12 Championship Game. They currently air the Capital One Bowl and the Rose Bowl

Personalities

Commentator pairings

#Brent Musburger/Kirk Herbstreit/Lisa Salters ("Saturday Night Football")
#Brad Nessler/Bob Griese/Paul Maguire/Stacy Dales (#1 Afternoon team)
#Ron Franklin/Ed Cunningham/Jack Arute
#Terry Gannon/David Norrie/Jeannie Edwards

Current

*Jack Arute: sideline reporter (–present)
*Erin Andrews: sideline reporter (2008–present)
*Doug Flutie: studio analyst (2007–present)
*Ron Franklin: play-by-play (–present)
*Terry Gannon: play-by-play (–present)
*Bob Griese: color commentator (–present)
*Kirk Herbstreit: lead color analyst (2006–present)
*Craig James: studio analyst (200?–present)
*Paul Maguire: color analyst (2006–present)
*Brent Musburger: lead play-by-play (1990–present)
*Brad Nessler: play-by-play ( –present)
*David Norrie: color analyst (–present)
*Lisa Salters: lead sideline reporter (2006–present)
*John Saunders: studio host (–present)

Former

* Keith Jackson: play-by-play (–2006)
* Roger Twibell: play-by-play (–2007)
* Dan Fouts: color analyst
* Terry Bowden: studio analyst
* Aaron Taylor: studio analyst

ee also

*College football on television
* "ESPN Saturday Night Football on ABC"
* "ESPN College Football Primetime"
* "College Gameday"
* "College Football Scoreboard"
* "College Football Final"
* "SEC on CBS"
* "College Football on Versus"
* CBS College Sports Network
* Big Ten Network
* List of media markets and college football
* MountainWest Sports Network

References