Is time running out for the Pac-12 to expand and secure a media rights deal?
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Just when the reports were indicating that the Pac-12 was making progress in their pursuit for a media rights deal, the conference is now getting worse and worse feedback as time goes on.
Following the shocking news that USC and UCLA were off to the Big Ten, the Pac-12 was stunned by the Big 12 who was able to secure a media rights deal years in advance of their current deal's expiration despite the Pac-12's deal expiring sooner. This whole past year has been flooded with reports and speculation about the Pac-12's future whether it be expanding and moving on with a new deal, or folding due to the lack of stability.
The latter storyline appears to be making its way to the front of the race again, as CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd released a report with statements from media expert Jim Williams that the Pac-12 is jeopardy of not having as many games on linear television saying:
"I'm at an absolute loss how NBC, CBS, ESPN, ABC or Fox gets [the Pac-12] to 50 [percent]"
He continued saying:
"I don't know how anybody could sit there and assure you that, 'We're going to have that much on linear,'" he added. "I don't see how they get there."
For reference, the article later cites that the Big 12 will have 70% of their games on linear, meaning that the Pac-12 will likely be the least televised Power 5 conference. Not to mention, if the conference is unable to even come close to the Big 12's mark of $31.6 million per school it is safe to assume that the sharks will begin to circle again in order to poach the remaining 10 schools.
If the Pac-12 is unable to get a decent offer on the table, adding programs like San Diego State and SMU will not even be a discussion the conference is able to have. Not to mention the interest in these programs by the Big 12 has likely only grown as of late. As it stands right now, the Pac-12 securing a media rights deal is not only important for the conference's value and to fend off poachers, it would promise that the conference has somewhat of a future.
Mid-April is a time period that has been thrown around for an update on the media rights deal, but if that is still the case the conference may want to head back to the drawing board.
