Pac-12 Network: Future Success or Impending Failure?

The Difference Between Then and Now

Yes, the conference will finally have every single game broadcast, but only five games didn’t see TV last season. The Pac-12 was already getting a lot of exposure, and anyone with a DirecTV subscription and the “Sports Pack” subscription was able to pick up every Pac-12 game that was available – excluding Oregon regional games on CSN Northwest (Comcast doesn’t allow satellite distributors to carry all their regional networks) and some regional ABC games. Luckily, for those people that had ESPN3, it wasn’t a problem.

So now, without an agreement on many cable systems out there, viewers that subscribe to the above could miss out on 35 Pac-12 games. 16 games are already slotted for the networks, including a pair of Oregon’s non-conference games. Some games will just be distributed on one of the regional networks that can’t be seen anywhere else – for example, Nicholls State at Oregon State will only be available on the Oregon Pac-12 regional network, Nevada at California will be shown on the national Pac-12 network at the same time. The only way this live game can be pulled off is if a satellite distributor provides overflow channels to show multiple games, like DirecTV does with the Big Ten Network.

What to Expect with the Pac-12 Networks

I’m fine with the network showing multiple games in a timeslot, but is there really a reason for SIX completely different regional networks? Much of the content on the national network will just be recycled on the regional networks. DirecTV is likely willing to pick up the national network before Dish Network even thinks about touching it, but don’t even bother trying to sell any of the regional networks to the satellite distributors. Texas, who makes the most money of any athletic department and has a huge fanbase across the nation, can still not be picked up after a year of existence.

It doesn’t look like that’s going to change in the near future. And that alienates the national fanbase – they all will miss out on up to three football games, a handful of basketball games, and the entire baseball schedule. Previously, all football games were available nationally each year, more basketball was available nationally, and baseball was free of charge to watch online with the radio feed.

The Pac-12 could be alienating some national fans even if they are making more of a national showing. USC and Oregon will likely stay off of the networks during conference play, unless there’s a contract where all teams have to be on for at least one conference game like the Big Ten Network is set up with. If so, Oregon’s game against Colorado is likely the best candidate.

Despite the risk, the reward would be great if the Pac-12 can finally break through with multiple carriage agreements on the national network. This year could be bleak, but there’s still enough time between now and the morning of August 30th for these providers to show the networks without missing a live football game – and that’s the most important factor. It could even be as late as September 8th when the networks’ biggest game, Fresno State at Oregon, will be broadcasted. But now-defunct The Mtn. had to wait a year before finally picking up an agreement with DirecTV.

Predictions

The Pac-12 Network, in its’ national form, is worthy becoming the next Big Ten Network. I don’t know from experience on what cable companies will pick it up, but DirecTV’s goal of being the best destination for sports would be a huge addition for the conference. Dish Network will likely not pick up the network for at least the first year, if ever. They’re much pickier on carriage agreements and they want lower monthly bills for their customers – sports is the most costly entity.

I believe that DirecTV will get an agreement done between now and the opening night of college football. Texas can’t sell their network because the payoff of getting terrible non-conference matchups and the worst conference game isn’t worth it nationally, and honestly it’s a good move. The national network will be available on a lower-tier programming package for everyone in the Pac-12 footprint while others will need to purchase the “Sports Pack.” Additional games will be available via overflow channels, just like BTN.

As the Pac-12 Network grows, the channel will probably be lowered from a sports-tier and into a normal programming package (like BTN).

Eventually, all the regional networks will fold to make the national network a more complete package and the destination to get all your Pac-12 coverage.

Have your thoughts or predictions on what will happen with the Pac-12 Network? Voice your opinion below.

Brian Spaen is the lead editor for Autzen Zoo, follow the site on Facebook and Twitter. Read his other work on the Iowa State blog, Clones Confidential, and Watson Talk Lacrosse.