Pac-12, DirecTV Saga Continues: Fox Sports Australia On Board

The Pac-12 has announced a new distribution deal with DirecTV, but not in the United States.

More from Autzen Zoo

College Football fans in the US have been waiting for years. DirecTV and the Pac-12 Conference have yet to reach a deal to bring the Conference of Champions into more homes, including mine. In what feels like a move out of spite, the Pac-12 has reached agreement in Australia, where the first game of the season was played. Cal beat Hawaii and apparently won the hearts of DirecTV in the process.

The deal is for 13 football games per year. Its a partnership with Fox Sports Australia. It will also cover 21 Men’s Basketball games and eight from the Pac-12 Tournament according to the release.

As you continue to read this and shake your head, yesterday the Pac-12 hired some negotiating firepower to try to resurrect something for fans in the United States, possibly for this season.

The Conference of Champions hired Alden Mitchell Budill, an experienced cable industry veteran. Her first job is to work on distribution and to reopen the dialogue between DirecTV and the Pac-12. It is right in her wheelhouse. With Discovery Communications she worked with affiliates to pick up the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Next: Oregon Adds Transfer Forward For 2017

The first full weekend of College Football is upon us and time will tell how well Budill can make things happen, if at all.

Schedule

Schedule