Pac 12 Media Rights Negotiations Update: ESPN Out of the Picture

Let's dive into the latest with the Pac 12...

Financial Challenges at Washington State:
We highlight the impact of decreased revenue distribution for Pac 12 universities due to overpayments from a conference media partner. Moreover, the relocation of the Pac-12 headquarters from San Francisco exceeded the projected budget. The relocation costs were driven up by extensive customization implemented by former commissioner Larry Scott and his team. This financial strain on Washington State is compounded by inadequate documentation of revenues and expenses in Cougar Athletics. The university plans to take immediate actions, including a temporary freeze on vacant positions, non-essential travel, etc. However, these fiscal measures will only affect athletics and not upcoming salary increases for WSU faculty and staff.

Realignment Speculation in College Football:
We discuss an interview with Nebraska president Ted Carter, who predicts significant changes in the near future. Carter suggests that discussions about realignment are already underway and anticipates that major shifts may take one or two years to materialize. Carter remarked about the potential expansion of the Big Ten, with the inclusion of teams from the Pac-12 or other Power 5 conferences. There's growing speculation regarding a 48-team super division in college football and the likelihood of ACC teams leaving to join either the Big Ten or SEC. This speculation fuels the possibility of larger conferences, such as the Big Ten and SEC, eventually expanding to 24 teams each, while the rest of college football gets left behind. These realignment scenarios remain uncertain, but the acknowledgment from a Big Ten president about the inevitability of expansion is noteworthy.

Updates on Pac-12 Media Rights Negotiations:
The latest developments in Pac-12 media rights negotiations. Reports by Andrew Marchand of the New York Post indicate that ESPN seems to be out of the running as a potential partner. ESPN's recent decision to pass on various major sports rights deals signals their intention to focus on "must-have" programming. Furthermore, the potential move of ESPN towards a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model, aiming to become a streaming app offering comprehensive access to sporting events, is big news. NBC, Amazon, and Fox Sports are no longer in contention for the primary rights holder position in the Pac-12 media package. NBC's interest may have waned due to their upcoming negotiations with Notre Dame and their involvement in the primetime Big Ten deal. Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado will need to make significant decisions, considering the balance between exposure and financial gain.

Oregon and Washington's Potential Interest in the Big Ten:
ESPN CFB reporter Pete Thamel indicated on the Pat McAfee show that Oregon and Washington have expressed their desire to join the Big Ten. However, Thamel's statement does not guarantee acceptance into the Big Ten, as there are multiple factors at play. There have been rumors regarding Oregon and Washington's reluctance to sign a long grant of rights, which complicates negotiations for a TV deal. The host suggests that these factors might have influenced potential bidders, such as Amazon, who may have sought longer-term commitments. There's a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Pac-12's situation and the looming deadline for any potential expansion plans.

We covered various aspects of the Pac-12's current landscape, including financial challenges faced by Washington State University, potential realignment in college football, and updates on media rights negotiations. I highlighted the impact of former commissioner Larry Scott's mismanagement and shed light on the difficulties faced by the current commissioner, George Kliavkoff. With financial struggles, realignment speculation, and uncertainty surrounding media rights, the Pac-12 finds itself at a crucial juncture. The Pac 12 has a bit of anticipation and uncertainty, as the conference navigates through these challenging times.

From the Friday 5/26/23 full show: https://youtube.com/live/hI75KVbtNds

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