PAC-12 authorize immediate negotiations for next Media Rights deal
The conference is trying to make the next move
The Pac-12 announced earlier this morning that they would be authorizing the start of immediate negotiations for their next media rights deal.
The current deal is set to expire in 2024, which then accelerated the negotiations and potentially the leverage for the negotiations since they would begin before the BigXII can.
John Canzano wrote some interesting points on his site this morning as well.
Former Fox Sports Network president Bob Thompson told me last week that he estimated the Pac-12’s next media rights contract would command $500 million a year before the defection. With the Los Angeles’ television market gone, Thompson says the Pac-12’s media value is reduced to $300 million a year.
That appears to be a 40-percent wholesale discount. But it pencils out to a 28 percent reduction, per university, given that the $300 million would now be split only 10 ways ($30 million each) vs. $500 million being split 12 ways ($41.6 million each).
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Meanwhile, the Pac-12 issued a statement on Tuesday morning, indicating that its board had authorized the conference to “immediately” begin negotiations for the next media rights agreement.
That caught my attention. Because it sounds like the Pac-12 already has a media partner (ESPN? Apple?) and is ready to move forward with a new plan. My hunch is the Pac-12 accelerated the negotiation because it has some specific additional conference additions (from the Big 12? ACC?) in mind.
What do you think about the changes? Where do you think the conference should direct its attention to next? Let us know in the comments below!
If George asked my opinion:
Sign a deal with the ACC.
Get a sponsor and counter schedule a Game of the Week at SoFi every Saturday. Clemson vs. Oregon. I'll tell you. It would COMPLETELY undercut UCLA and if it's shiny enough of a production, Angelenos would flock to it.
I'd put a BILLION signs around LA that said this is Pac 12 Territory. I live here. This USC/UCLA thing might be smart over the long term, but while they're feeling like a fish out of water playing Indiana, we need to hit them hard and make it seem like they gave up their own town. Fuck em.
Sell the Pac 12 Network.
This has one of those "The best I can do is.." Pawn Stars memes written all over it