Pac-12 Network?
Ha. Child’s play.
More like Pac-12 Networks. Plural.
After what appeared to be a last-minute finalization, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott decided to open up the New York version of Pac-12 Media Day with an announcement about the conference’s network media rights deal.
And it’s huge.
Scott announced the creation of what is now know as Pac-12 Networks (part of Pac-12 Media Enterprises), which is comprised of six regional networks and one national network that will be broadcast through four cable operators: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, COX Communications and Bright House Networks.
The four cable operators will broadcast a total of 850 sporting events -- 350 events nationally and 500 events regionally -- including every football game and every men’s basketball game that isn’t carried by the Pac-12’s other media rights conglomerates, ESPN and FOX.
The six regional networks are Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Southern California, Arizona and Mountain. This means that fans from all 12 Pac-12 institutions will have an opportunity to watch every football and men’s basketball game of their school provided they have the network. The six regional networks will also broadcast other Olympic (i.e. non-revenue generating) sports and academic programming.
And people really had a problem with the Longhorn Network?
Pac-12 Networks is set to begin next August. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“As we explored the potential for a Pac-12 network, it became clear that we could customize programming towards local interests and provide our students, alumni, and many fans the widest possible range of events with the best opportunity to see the schools they care about most,” Scott said in a conference release.
Your move, Big Ten.