"I think UCF is the Big-12's first choice for this reason alone. BYU and Cincy are basically equivalent TV markets. BYU has a selling point that they bring viewership all over the place, but that doesn't really contribute to terms of the TV contract. Cincy has a selling point that Cincinnati is one of several adjacent TV markets that together are bigger than the Salt Lake market, but it's doubtful that Cincinnati really captures those markets, much less the Cincinnati market."

I have to think that the B12/ ESPN / FOX would be weighing actual fanbase support vs traditional TV market a lot more heavily with the now inevitable trend toward a la cart network distribution. Suddenly the Orlando market doesn't make much difference if it the traditional formula for subscription costs goes out the window. Actual eyeballs--wherever they might be--is now all-important. BYU wins that over any of the other candidates. Certainly ESPN and Fox are thinking along these lines, even if the B12 can't make a logical decision to save itself.