Pac-12 TV negotiations: 'I don't think an Apple deal makes sense'
Another day, another blow for the Pac-12.
Talking on their weekly The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, reporters Andrew Marchand and John Ourand discussed Marchand's story about the Pac-12 potentially partnering with Apple TV+ for its college football rights.
Marchand said he doesn't believe that route is best for the conference.
"I don't think an Apple deal makes sense for the Pac-12 no matter what the money is," he said. "I know the power of Apple. Apple is one of the great company's in the world and one of the more successful. That said, I just think there's a million college football games on and you want to be part of the ecosystem everyday which is basically linear TV. If you're on a streamer, especially the lone one on a streamer, I just don't think that's going to play well."
The current Pac-12 TV deal expires in 2024 and the conference has had difficulty trying to negotiate a new one with USC and UCLA leaving. The Pac-12 is less valuable without the two LA schools, which will mean its member schools will most likely receive significantly less TV money than schools in the SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 in the future.
"You have to be a little concerned for the Pac-12, because if you don't get the money of the Big 12, will schools stay?" Marchand asked in the podcast.
It's a legitimate question. The Big 12 is interested in adding Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah and the Big Ten is interested in bringing in Oregon and Washington.
A less valuable TV deal compared to the Big 12's or a TV deal that's similar in value but on a streaming only platform may lead to a mass exodus.
The Pac-12 is currently "hundreds of millions of dollars apart" from a deal with ESPN or Amazon, according to Marchand.
Times are certainly tough.
