Utah: Pac-12 School Who Fumbled Media Rights and Expansion

[Pennsylvania Duck]

 

In a recent report by Pac-12 insider John Canzano, it was revealed just who signed what was the conference's death wish. 

 

For the past year up until about a month ago, the conference was searching for a media rights deal with the hopes of expanding to make up for the losses of USC and UCLA.

 

However, when ESPN offered the conference $ 30 million per school there was a feeling around the conference that they could do better, a lot better.

 

The conference led by George Kliavkoff countered with $50 million, which ESPN instantly rejected and also ended negotiations over.

 

The number came from a university president, whom Canzano reported as Utah president Taylor Randall.

 

An offer that was supposed to possibly be a negotiating point but ended up being a ‘take your ball and go home’ scenario," according to one Pac-12 president. 

 

Now, the conference is on a fast track to extinction with just Oregon State and Washington State remaining as the lone programs, as everyone else has fled to the Big Ten, Big 12, or ACC.

 

Canzano broke down the main mistakes made, which were the consulting firm the Pac-12 used that had little experience negotiating media rights at the college level, Kliavkoff lack of leadership, not taking the USC and UCLA departures seriously enough, and while it wasn't mentioned it is also worth noting their cold shoulder treatment to the Big 12 didn't help. 

 

The conference will now either cease to exist or be some sort of hybrid with the Mountain West...

 

To view article, click here.

 

 

[Solar]

Now we know which morons to send the thank you card to. I'm only half joking.

[GatOrlando]

The fault still lies with Larry , and George. A PAC with USC, still isn't going to get what the B1G got. The SEC, and B1G commissioners listen to their members. But they eventually do what they feel is in the best interest of the conference. Not one president who thinks they understand the worth of the collective conferences tv value. The presidents job is to police their school academically. They have athletic directors to oversee athletics. The athletic directors oversee their program. The conference commissioner is meant to oversee the entire conference.