Big 12 in contact with Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah as Pac-12 media rights future remains uncertain

The Big 12 not too long ago renewed contact with 4 Pac-12 faculties — Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah — as tv contract negotiations for the Pac-12 proceed to flounder, resources ascertain to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. March might be a pivotal time for the Pac-12 to both ship a brand new contract or chance dropping key participants of its league. 

After prior to now talking as realignment kicked into equipment however going radio silent for a longer time period, resources say all 4 faculties have extra not too long ago had contact with the Big 12, resources inform Dodd. The passion of the “Four Corners” faculties leaving for the Big 12 has picked up in contemporary weeks as Pac-12 media rights negotiations have stalled, shifting right into a 9th month.

Interest in the Pac-12’s media rights are underwhelming, and the league remains the one Power Five convention with out a long-term tv contract. Most primary networks have pulled out, leaving ESPN as the one primary linear supplier nonetheless concerned in bidding. Amazon and Apple TV+ have lengthy been regarded as attainable streaming companions, however their degree of passion and willingness to spend for a big pack of video games is unclear.

The Big Ten (CBS, Fox, NBC) and SEC (ABC/ESPN) agreed to giant contracts securing their rights into the 2030s. The ACC is locked into an unique contract with ESPN thru 2036. While the Pac-12 entered the marketplace first, the Big 12 were given its rightsholders (ESPN, Fox) to barter a brand new deal early, permitting the Big 12 to leap the Pac-12 and are available to an settlement that solidifies their media rights thru 2031.

Suddenly, the Pac-12 is confronted with networks and attainable streaming companions that experience already outlaid important capital obtaining sports activities rights and won’t have the urge for food for a discounted league with out USC and UCLA.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark has made no secret that he’s in westward growth, and shifting into the Pacific Time Zone has created war between him and Pac-12 counterpart George Kliavkoff. The war got here to a head at Pac-12 Media Day in Los Angeles when Kliavkoff railed in opposition to Yormark and the Big 12.

“I’ve been spending four weeks trying to defend against grenades that have been lobbied in from every corner of the Big 12 trying to destabilize our remaining conference,” Kliavkoff mentioned on the time. “I understand why they’re doing it. When you look at the relative media value between the two conferences, I get it. I get why they’re scared, why they’re trying to destabilize us.” 

This all comes not up to 12 months after USC and UCLA introduced plans to depart the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, placing the Pac-12 in a dangerous place. The two faculties are projected to make a minimum of $30 million extra yearly via becoming a member of the Big Ten.

For the “Four Corners” faculties to believe leaving the Pac-12, it will most probably take both true uncertainty over the Pac-12’s media rights or an important income hole between the deal reached via the league and the person who recently exists for the Big 12.