Pac 12 Network

[ThePanthers]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/colleg...-update-on-negotiations-with-directv-and-att/

Pac 12 may have to give AT&T part share of the Pac 12 network in order to get carriage on DirecTV. Also, if this occurs, their carriage rates across the board with other partners will likely decrease.

I'm no expert, but according to the article, if this deal goes through, revenue projections per school distribution is likely to be around $2MM, but they lose equity share in the Pac 12 network.

Sometimes going on your own isn't the best option.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I never thought an ACCN would be a cash cow but its needed for perception's sake more than anything. The SEC and BT are the big dogs' when it comes to ratings. ACC is 3rd followed by P12. They cant expect to make as much.

$2 million per school for having a network is better than $0.

 

[ThePanthers]

I agree $2MM is better than $0.

I think the point is that everyone was giving props to the Pac 12 a few years ago for going on their own, and that because they owned 100% of the network, they were going to reap a ton of reward.

While that would be true if things worked out, the risk is even greater, and I think the BIG and the SEC made the better choices going with well established network partners that not only knew how to run a network, but could also bundle the SECN and BTN in with their other products to get better carriage and greater exposure.

I just remember some people saying the ACC should go the PAC route and not share any of the profits with a partner and they'd be dumb to do so, etc, etc.

I think the reality is, you need a strong broadcast partner to get these networks off the ground. Yes, the BIG and SEC are always going to be bigger, but I also think they made the right decisions. I hope the ACC follows this path as well (and it seems they are).

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I'm not saying you're wrong but the P12 is the #4 conference for TV so there's no guarantee a partner would have brought them more revenue. Their biggest issue is that college sports aren't very big in their markets. Besides that, they do have carriage almost everywhere now except with DirecTV. And DirecTV has a stake in the Mountain West as they own Root Sports who have a few regional networks out there. Root has a TV deal with the MWC. If they start televising P12N games, ratings for Root MWC games go down.