Apple is viewed as the leader to land the upcoming Pac-12 television rights, and while that might be viewed as a problem for the conference as moving to a strictly streaming-based model would be ahead of its time for the average college football viewer. Rip City Radio 620 morning host Justin Myers says it’s been a problem for the conference for decades.
“Outside of the West Coast, especially here in Portland and in Oregon, everyone has to have some sort of cable outlet because that’s how you get Pac-12 Network and that’s how you get the Blazers on TV,” Myers said. “Whereas every other sports bar, at every hotel bar, every airport bar across this big giant country of ours, they all have DirecTV. So nobody is walking in and watching Pac-12 Network, even if there’s a pretty good game in the Pac-12. It’s just not available.
“Now you take that and now you add it to a streaming service on your phone. I know bars were already struggling to get Thursday Night Football on, and I know YouTube TV is going to have Sunday Ticket so maybe that changes the mentality, but it is a significant thing. If you can’t get Washington and Utah in an absolute barn burner in the middle of the country … that’s just eyeballs lost on your conference, which has been a problem since putting games on cable and satellite has become a thing.”
A potential deal between Apple and the Pac-12 would reportedly feature the streaming platform holding the rights to all of the conference’s games. Through the 2022 season, the Big 12 has been the only Power 5 conference to air a portion of its games on a streaming platform, with the conference airing games sporadically on ESPN+. The Big Ten reportedly turned down an offer from Amazon Prime Video due to its apprehension of offering a large package of streaming exclusive games. However, its deal with NBC Sports is expected to offer some games airing exclusively on Peacock.
The Pac-12’s current deal with ESPN and FOX Sports — who are reportedly described as being “lukewarm” on re-signing with the conference — runs through the conclusion of the 2023 football season.
