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Larry Scott is exploring distribution options for the Pac-12 Network, including an online-only deal using Apple or Google.
Larry Scott wasn't messing around when he inked a $3 billion media deal for the Pac-12 earlier this year and the television rights may just be the beginning of his plans to reshape the way we consume media. According to a report on Monday, Scott is exploring an online-only media distribution deal with Apple or Google. The plan would be in lieu of a Pac-12 Network on your television set and is one of three models reportedly being discussed.
Jon Wilner had the details, which include rebranding a current channel, starting a network from scratch or the online-only model. The third option, partnering with Apple or Google, is the one generating the most buzz, but it is a significant gamble -- one that Scott can afford to make after bathing the conference in money with its new media deal.
But because of the 12-year, $250 million annual deal with Fox and ESPN, the conference has the financial flexibility to choose a network structure that best suit its long-term needs. Partnering with Google or Apple would be a gamble on the next generation of technology -- that in three or five years, the internet will be widely accessed through big screen, high-definition televisions. If done right, the Pac-12 Network could be ridiculously lucrative. By holding back premium games and a healthy portion of inventory -- namely football games -- Scott positioned the Pac-12 to cash-in with its network. And if the conference is correct in thinking the future is in online broadcasting, the Pac-12 could be setup for long-term success and sustainability. The distribution plans are still in the discussion stages, but Pac-12 fans could be watching their favorite teams on an iPad, Android tablet or computer in short-order. This conference is so nerdy, it's unbelievable (and awesome).
On Wednesday morning, the Pac-12 will announce its new media rights deal. In simple terms, this is the television contract that will power the conference, and its 12 member institutions, for the next decade, with revenue expected to top-out at $3 billion. If the reported numbers are correct, and we'll have final confirmation on Wednesday, the Pac-12 will hold the most lucrative TV contract in college athletics, with the 12 schools expected to receive just about $21 million a year over the 12-year span of the deal.
Larry Scott will take the podium at 8 a.m. to announce the contract, lay out the Pac-12 media strategy and elaborate on the details of the deal. FOX and ESPN are expected to partner together for the primary contract and the Pac-12 network will become a reality shortly thereafter. In addition, the conference will push into the digital realm, with a multimedia aspect of the Pac-12 network functioning in the way ESPN3 currently does.
A live-stream of the press conference can be found below. In the event of a technical glitch, you can find the stream here.
Stay with our Pac-12 TV contract StoryStream for the latest news on the new media deal. For more on our local schools, head over to SB Nation's CougCenter and UW Dawg Pound.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott will announce the details of the conference's new television deal at a press conference on Wednesday morning. The deal, which is expected to earn the Pac-10 $3 billion over 12 years, will reportedly be the most lucrative media rights contract in college athletics. Word leaked on Tuesday indicating ESPN and FOX would split the primary contract, with the Pac-12 retaining rights to its own network.
The press conference begins at 8 a.m. PDT. It will be streamed live at the Pac-10 website. While we know most of the framework of the contract already, Scott is expected to announce the details, as well as what it means for the conference as a whole.
Pac-12 fans are clearly excited about the contract, which will significantly increase the revenue flow for every institution. Where once the conference lagged behind in the media realm, it now will sit at the top of the pile. In addition to the revenue boost, the conference will also see increased exposure as every football and basketball game will be televised, either on ESPN, the FOX family of channels or the Pac-12 network.
For the latest on the deal, check out our Pac-12 TV contract StoryStream. For more on our local teams, head over to CougCenter, SB Nation's Washington State blog, and UW Dawg Pound, SB Nation's Washington blog.
For years, Pac-10 (soon to be Pac-12) fans have been relegated to second-class citizenry by their pitiful broadcast contract negotiated by previous commissioner Tom Hansen.
In football, it meant the best the conference could do on most Saturdays was a regional broadcast on ABC seen by half the country or less, a couple of small-time broadcasts on the Fox Sports Net regional channels that were more or less limited to the west coast, and a "national" broadcast on Fox Sports Net that began at 7 p.m. Pacific ... and 10 p.m. Eastern.
And in both football and basketball, it meant that too many games weren't even broadcast at all.
That's all going to come to an end with the $3 billion media rights partnership current Pac-10 / soon-to-be Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has negotiated with ESPN and Fox. Beyond the obscene financial figures being thrown around, this will be an absolute coup for all Pac-12 fans, according to CougCenter:
Fox wasn't going to pony up this kind of money unless it planned on putting a substantial amount of content on FX. That's a great thing for viewers, because FX has roughly the same distribution as ESPN nationally. ... I'm betting that the bulk of the second-tier games end up either on FX or on ESPN2. These are channels that are easy for viewers to find that are in virtually every home with a basic digital cable or satellite package across the entire country.
In other words, most of the Pac-12's television broadcasts will be available nationwide -- something that's not currently the case. Huge, huge victory.
Welcome to first class, Pac-12 fans.
Stay with our Pac-12 TV contract StoryStream for more on Wednesday's announcement. Head over to SB Nation's CougCenter for everything Washington State athletics.
On Wednesday, Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott will announce the conference's newest television deal, and it's expected to be the richest in all of college sports. The Pac-12, formerly the Pac-10, has lagged behind the rest of the college landscape with a paltry television deal on-par with smaller, non-BCS conferences. But now, thanks to the changing climate in the television market, Scott has struck gold, and the conference is poised to go from worst to first with a cutting-edge deal that includes more exposure and a significant bump in revenue.
Scott has been negotiating the deal through the early part of 2011, roping in Comcast, ESPN and FOX to create what amounted to a bidding war. Television rights for live sports have become a hot commodity, creating a perfect storm for the Pac-12 as Scott tried to deliver on his promise of riches. And he did, with reports indicating the deal will be worth billions, putting the Pac-12 on the level of the SEC and Big Ten in terms of revenue.
Here are a few of the details.
The deal will actually be worth about $3 billion total over 12 years, or about $250 million a year and nearly $21 million per school.
The conference has retained all network rights and plans to start its own network with a digital media platform akin to ESPN3. More than 850 events will be broadcast between the two.
The latter point is important and will allow the Pac-12 to showcase its non-revenue sports in addition to ensuring every football and basketball game is televised. By adding a digital media platform, the Pac-12 is boosting its exposure significantly while embracing the latest innovations in broadcast technology.
Pac-12 schools are celebrating the deal and championing Scott for his efforts to move the conference forward in just his first year on the job. From expansion to a ground-breaking deal, Scott has done well, and all 12 member institutions will be reaping the benefits very soon.
We'll be back with more on the Pac-12 TV contract in this StoryStream. For more on our local teams and their take on the deal, head over to CougCenter, our Washington State blog, and UW Dawg Pound, our Washington blog.
Google In Talks With Hulu And The Pac-12 Could Be A Huge Winner
by Brian Floyd
Internet giant Google is in preliminary talks to buy Hulu, the online television service that's changed the way many of us watch TV. With Hulu, Google would become a premier destination for streaming video and television. And with the new Pac-12 media rights deal, the conference is in a perfect position to capitalize on the marriage between Google and Hulu.
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Jul 01 10:36a