Not only is the future bleak for the PAC-12 Network uncertain, it is possible that the public has never gotten a clear picture of its past according to John Canzano. The syndicated radio host and columnist for The Oregonian wrote a story about the network last week that indicated the media world never had much interest in the network.
“No media company wanted to partner with the Pac-12,” a conference official told Canzano. “ESPN declined. FOX, CBS, even the Discovery Channel declined. Nobody knows this.”
The story paints a picture of a network that is now reaping the consequences of painting a rosier picture of its viability than was ever true.
The majority of the PAC-12 Network’s 170 employees have been either laid off or furloughed as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic. According to Canzano, those that have been furloughed have not heard a word from network or conference leadership in weeks. It has left the network with little ability to cover the abbreviated college football season the PAC-12 will launch next month.
The first six weeks of the season will be split amongst the networks of ESPN and FOX. Those weeks will include games that will kick off at 9 am local time in order to be included in FOX’s Big Noon Saturday programming block, a phenomenon that Canzano reports some within the conference have begun calling “Bloody Larrys,” in honor of PAC-12 commissioner Larry Scott, whose leadership has lead to this debacle.
The championship weekend, where six games will be created based on divisional standings, is the only place there is an opening.
“That would leave the Pac-12 Network with a game or two, maybe, if it still wants to be in the football-broadcast business,” Canzano writes.
With basketball season set to begin in November, the PAC-12 Network will have some programming. It is contractually obligated to carry both men’s and women’s games. Outside of that though, it remains to be seen what is left for the PAC-12 Network. Canzano writes that it currently does not have writers, producers, or a social media staff in house.
The next media rights deal for the PAC-12 Conference begins in 2024. It has previously been reported that Apple might has shown interest in acquiring the primary TV rights for the league. That might be the only leverage the PAC-12 has in any future negotiations.
