Making Sense Of The Latest Pac-12 Negotiation Rumors

Abraham Smith

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s been a busy few weeks in terms of the rumors surrounding the Pac-12 media hearing. Let’s try to make sense of it together.

I’ve tried to keep in mind the things that were said as I tracked down every glimmer of source knowledge (a word I feel has been badly abused and overused during this process) and talk about what I needed to know believe when appropriate.

Now seems an appropriate time to divulge a few things that I believe I know to this point from contacts and acquaintances I have gathered over the years who have good connections to Utah and/or the Pac-12 have, along with some nations. also wide connections.

I want to emphasize that I do not promise or guarantee anything and what I say may change as new information becomes available. What I’m saying, however, is that I think things are going in that direction right now, based on the information that’s available to me right now.

Is the Pac-12 doomed?

I don’t believe. At least not this detour. Talk to me again when media negotiations start in five to six years and I might disagree, but we’ll have to see what the landscape offers us at that point.

I realize there have been some loud and timely reports from some spheres that the Pac-12 has been in trouble over the last eight months, but based on the information I have been able to gather from my sources which is good- placed in Utah and in the Pac-12, I have yet to find solid evidence to corroborate these reports.

Here’s what I think I know at this point to share.

  1. I have several sources in Utah and the Pac-12 who have said from the start that it is Utah’s desire to stay with the Pac-12. One of those sources with the Pac-12 specifically told me they spoke to one of the seniors in the conference who attends all the sessions and they said Utah led much of the prosecution. ASU was another school that was mentioned to me as being very involved in these meetings. Add to this what John Canzano said in this article last week about Colorado AD Rick George on record that they are not going to the Big 12 and the tweet below from Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan, it doesn’t sound like the so-called Four Corner schools are just as interested in leaving the school as some of the reports have pointed out.
  2. When the news broke that USC and UCLA were heading to the Big Ten, I began actively researching and thinking about what each possible scenario could be for Utah specifically and the Pac-12 in general. I left no stone unturned, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 – all based on the rumors circulating at the time. It was important at this point to speak to everyone possible to verify the realignment pulse. I received feedback from a well-placed Utah official on the Big 12 rumors with a warning to watch out for bad sourcing. Fast forward to last week, I spoke to a Pac-12 source and the same warning was issued.

That being said, it’s not that I don’t think the Big 12 haven’t had some talks with Utah, ASU, Arizona and Colorado, I just can’t find recent evidence from anyone in a good position that those talks are as serious as some of them report.

Why are these negotiations taking so long? Is the money that bad?

There’s been a lot of talk that the media rights negotiations for the Pac-12 have taken some time, so that must mean money is an issue.

From talking to people associated with Utah, the Pac-12, and people used to making big deals, I can’t find any evidence that the Pac-12 is struggling to do a good deal.

In fact, it sounds like the Pac-12 has found a mix of ESPN, Amazon and Apple they like and is just busy working out the details.

I didn’t get exact numbers, just a general range. However, I’ve been told time and time again by my Utah and Pac-12 sources that the money will likely be around the Big 12 — give or take some spare change, but not enough difference to get anyone to break through. This information aligns with what other Pac-12 reporters speaking to people in the negotiation room in Las Vegas are saying, along with this tweet from former Fox Sports Networks President Bob Thompson, who has also insisted that the money should be fine.

So where’s the stop? I’m told that Pac-12 is currently negotiating streaming with both Amazon and Apple TV, and because this is new territory, the process will take longer and require more lawyers than simply negotiating with one of the classic TV powers . There is a general precedent for contracts with classic TV powers such as ESPN, Fox Sports etc. and the various sports conferences, but there is none for streaming services and that makes the contract design more complex and therefore more time-consuming.

Could something change drastically with the realignment of the conference and media rights?

Naturally. Until all is said and done, there is always room for change. What I just shared might change slightly next week. I chose to cover them in this article because they have remained constant in my conversations over the past few months, leading me to believe that this is ultimately all.

Things to keep an eye on in the meantime

This was a stressful process for everyone involved. There is no doubt about it. Humans are creatures who want instant answers. When immediate answers aren’t available, we panic and cling to anything that could possibly be an answer, whether or not it actually is an answer.

My best advice when it comes to wading through the barrage of information being tossed about Pac-12 media rights is to ask yourself a few questions.

  1. Who would actually be involved in these discussions?
  2. Are the sources cited appropriately specific to the people involved?
  3. Has the message/attitude of those who would be involved changed?

As a general rule, keep a close eye on those involved in the negotiation room and take your cues from them. If they don’t seem to be panicking, you probably shouldn’t be either.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE TO) And The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10am-12pm) at the KSL Sports Zone. keep following her Twitter And Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports

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