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The PAC 12 continues to search for its much-anticipated TV deal as it navigates through a rocky offseason of realignment. After months of questions and very few answers, it appears that league commissioner George Kliavkoff is ready to make a pitch to conference members.
Unfortunately, it might be too little, too late.
We’ve already seen USC and UCLA bail on the Conference of Champions as they make their way to the Big Ten next season. Joining them in that departure is Colorado, who agreed to terms with the Big XII just last week.
Much of the frustration with the PAC 12 defectors stems from the league’s now non-existent media rights deal.
While others around the country have secured their futures with major cable networks, Klaivkoff has remained dormant.
We’ve seen the Big Ten land a $1 billion deal with NBC, FOX, and CBS. The SEC, meanwhile, closed a comparable deal with ABC and ESPN in recent years.
After swinging and missing on the major networks, and even some of the non-major TV brands, the PAC 12 might have to take its chances with a streaming service.
Apple seems to be the leader in the clubhouse, and on Monday, reports began to surface of a potential deal.
What’s the Pac-12 TV deal that will be presented tomorrow looking like⁉️
Jason Scheer (@jasonscheer) says⬇️
-Around $20 million💰
-Heavy streaming📺
-Escalators📈📉 pic.twitter.com/PGzygCfUW0— 365 Sports (@365sportsYT) July 31, 2023
That $20 million per team annually would pale in comparison to the PAC 12’s Power Five counterparts. For reference, SEC and Big Ten members earned around $50 to $60 million last season under their media rights contract structures.
Fans are already calling for the demise of the PAC 12 with the latest TV deal news.
💥These numbers, if true, aren’t nearly good enough to hold the league together. Buckle up. https://t.co/pItjSwuEvE
— The Solid Verbal College Football Podcast (@SolidVerbal) August 1, 2023
Commissioner Kliavkoff is supposed to meet with members to discuss options this week, but the damage might already be done.
Details on potential media deal for P12.
20M per school and mostly streaming.
Not ideal https://t.co/KPe4tBIW3R— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) July 31, 2023
Many are asking why he didn’t act faster in securing a deal.
This smells both extremely fishy and hopelessly desperate. You have had months to do this and now you’re ready a couple days after Colorado leaves? Smoke and mirrors conference. https://t.co/w3CTgeIIEI
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 31, 2023
The PAC 12 is screwed.
live look at kliavkoff announcing their media deal https://t.co/AheWBto348 pic.twitter.com/RLnjBzYYsz
— robbie triano (@TheTrianoKid) July 31, 2023
Unfortunately, things might just get worse for the league as Arizona is now rumored to be following Colorado to the Big XII. The Wildcats reportedly scheduled an impromptu board meeting on Monday potentially to talk about the future.
Should the next domino fall, we might just see a mass exodus and the crumbling of a once proud conference.