ESPN Unlikely to Renew Pac-12 Media Rights Deal

ESPN and the Pac-12 are having “no substantive talks” at this time, and the network seems “very unlikely” to strike a new media rights deal with the conference, reports Andrew Marchand of The New York Post. 

The Pac-12’s current 12-year deals with Fox and ESPN expire July 1, 2024, and carry an average combined annual value of $250 million. Fellow Power 5 conferences, the Big 12, SEC, and ACC, have long-term broadcast deals with ESPN, leaving the Pac-12 on the back-burner for the World Wide Leader.

“ESPN passed on the Big Ten, Sunday Ticket, Premier League, Champions League, and MLS, so the idea that it will be completely out on the Pac-12 is not in the least bit surprising,” Marchand wrote. “Things can always change, and maybe the Pac-12 can figure out a creative way to get ESPN involved, but right now, that seems very unlikely.”  

CBS Sports reported earlier this month, “It has been assumed that an approximate $300 million rights deal might be needed to keep some Pac-12 schools from jumping to the Big 12.” Schools could follow UCLA and USC in departing the conference if the Pac-12 doesn’t secure that annual rights fee level.

Amazon has been “playing hardball” with the Pac-12 in media rights negotiations, sources told Front Office Sports in February. Other potential media suitors for the Pac-12 include Apple, Fox, and NBC.