Is Expansion Really Worth It?
CNBC's Darren Rovell talked to Barry Frank, an executive from IMG Media about whether conference expansion makes fiscal sense. IMG, you'll remember, is one of the companies that universities sign up with when negotiating their local media rights. Frank doesn't think the big windfall is really out there. He doesn't believe ESPN can pony up what the Pac-10 will ask for, and that Fox is its only hope. In addition, he doesn't believe Nebraska would be a net positive in the Big Ten or that Texas A&M would be a net positive in the SEC. Of course, this is just one media executive, and he might have reasons we don't know about for tossing cold water on the story. Plus, Rovell himself has been lukewarm on conference expansion all along, although he has also found a former CBS sports president who agrees with him. It is a valid question though - can Texas A&M and another team for balance really bring an extra $34 million a year?

