I don't want to keep beating a dead horse, so here's my final on this:
- I am sure the PAC wants to start negotiations with Fox and ESPN. As the articles below show this is to puff up against the B12, and be able to tell the remaining teams what the number is. I am sure that is what the PAC wants.
- I am also sure the best they are going to get from Fox and ESPN are some spitball numbers, as they aren't going to waste resources negotiating about a conference that likely won't exist. These are not serious negotiations ... just getting spitball numbers in case they survive or can thrive.
- On further thought, and this could be ethically tricky, Fox and ESPN probably are open to discussions with both conferences about what the value would be of either the B12 or the PAC if they plunder the other. In other words, I can hear them say, "You want to know what the 10 team PAC is worth, even though there is no chance you will have a 10 team PAC?" Hands them a napkin with a ballpark number on it. Versus, if you want to sit down and have a conversation about what the PAC would be worth if you grab BYU, and the 3 Texas schools, we'll send our numbers guys.
- So there will be discussions on what might be with all sorts of configurations, but no serious negotiations with the PAC as it stands now.
The Pac-12's current TV deals with Fox and ESPN end in the summer of 2024, which is also when USC and UCLA are scheduled to join the Big Ten. In terms of TV negotiations, that is not much time.
As the current agreement holders, ESPN and Fox have a window of exclusive negotiating rights with the Pac-12 for a period of time. Presumably, conference commissioner George Kliavkoff has spoken to Fox and ESPN officials informally to gauge what they are looking for and where the Pac-12 stands. This announcement suggests a more formal negotiation will begin.
However, it's difficult to believe any substantive talks can be held until the dust settles and it becomes clear which schools are staying in the Pac-12, which will be leaving by 2024 and which will be added.
That was a face saving attempt by the conference.
Cal will be interested in what those talks produce -- if anything
www.si.com
The conference’s current deals with FOX and ESPN expire in 2024. With so much uncertainty, there are some interesting possibilities at play here.
One may be to see how the market values the Pac-12 as it stands right now. Another could be to see if there is a network or streamer that misses out on the Big Ten and responds by overpaying for another power conference. The final, and most likely, explainer is that the conference wants to be able to show it is in a better position than the Big 12 as the two conferences try to attract each other’s remaining schools.
"The conference's current deals with FOX and ESPN expire in 2024."
barrettsportsmedia.com
Per The Athletic:
It makes sense the Pac-12 wants to find out its value without USC and UCLA and present something solid to its membership to try to keep it intact. The Pac-12 needs to try and do whatever possible to keep its current schools from bouncing.
The Pac-12's current media rights deal expires in the summer of 2024. After its conclusion, USC and UCLA will leave the conference and join the Big Ten on Aug. 2, 2024.
theathletic.com
