Social Media Reactions To Pac-12 Conference Media Rights Negotiations

SALT LAKE CITY – College sports fans went to social media and posted their reactions amid conflicting reports on the Pac-12 Conference’s media rights negotiations.

On Friday, February 24, Brett McMurphy of Action Network reported ION television put their name in the hat for some of the Pac-12 media rights.

Naturally, throwing out the name of a network that few if anyone knows much about caused a lot of angst and helped double down on the narrative the Pac-12 is in big trouble. But wait- it gets better!

Apple still has not made formal offer for Pac-12’s media rights, but ION television has emerged as a potential Pac-12 partner, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. ION TV is owned by E.W. Scripps Company, which has 61 local TV stations nationwide & launched Scripps Sports this year

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) February 24, 2023

About an hour later, The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel contradicted the report saying ION television was not discussing a partnership with the Pac-12 leaving people wondering what, if anything, is true?

ION/Scripps Sports is not involved in the Pac-12's TV negotiations, a source with direct knowledge of the situation tells @TheAthletic.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) February 24, 2023

RELATED: What Is Going On With The Latest Pac-12 Media Rights Reports?

ICYMI: Mercury News Pac-12 Insider Jon Wilner joined Hans & Scotty G to discuss the future of the conference and if he believes the conference will add SDSU & SMU.

🔊 https://t.co/Qlsexa5fUC. pic.twitter.com/DTIPNGSx1C

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2023

Following the contradicting reports and days of speculation in the college football world, people shared their reactions on social media.

Social Media Reactions on Pac-12 Media Rights Negotiations

We're a few days away from the Pac-12 buying airtime on The CW. https://t.co/doozMPQLz0

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) February 24, 2023

SOURCES: George Kliavkoff is “excited” to announce newest Pac-12 broadcasting partner, which promises to distribute college football content on a global TV network system.

Source says commissioner expects Cal and Stanford will “get over it eventually, I think.” pic.twitter.com/Q3ebuM9BCv

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) February 24, 2023

I guess you could say the fan reaction to the Pac-12 potentially doing a deal with ION has a profoundly negative charge huh

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) February 24, 2023

Pac-12 announces new media deal with The Channel On The TVs At The Gas Station. “College sports is a social experience, and while supporters of other leagues watch games at home, fans of the Conference of Champions can gather round the pump to cheer on their favorite teams.”

— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) February 24, 2023

PAC 12 after dark on @ComedyCentral is going to hit different

— Albert Valdez IV (@AValdezIV) February 24, 2023

The question I have about Ion and the PAC-12 is who leaked it? It can't be the Big 12, because surely they would have loved to keep that quiet until ink was dry.

Disgruntled PAC-12 school leaking Ion to McMurphy?

— Jeff Hansen (@rakoto10) February 24, 2023

The Pac-12 collapsing would be bad for college football, full stop. But if we’re in the ION and Apple TV+ round of rights negotiation… what are we doing here?

— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) February 24, 2023

soon pic.twitter.com/B64JrPttwx

— Barstool Colorado (@CUBarstool) February 24, 2023

The Pac-12 could revive Versus pic.twitter.com/otGamOTYCW

— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) February 24, 2023

The PAC 12 on PBS pic.twitter.com/CYGaDfr5ol

— Cameron Wake (@CameronWake) February 24, 2023

After careful consideration, I’ve decided to partner with the Pac-12 to broadcast games on the Valley Circle Pizza Instagram account, the account of my exclusive fake pizzeria https://t.co/2Efft8pmr8

— Dan Rubenstein (@DanRubenstein) February 24, 2023

the new network for the PAC-12 pic.twitter.com/oyX8K62MEj

— Hector Diaz (@iamHectorDiaz) February 24, 2023

Oh cool Blue Bloods re-runs following Pac12 after dark

— Brenden Schaeffer (@bschaeffer12) February 24, 2023

The Pac-12 trying to find a new TV network to partner with. pic.twitter.com/pbMPIEOQG0

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) February 24, 2023

When the PAC12 said “blue bloods” this wasn’t what they meant. pic.twitter.com/Uu0SkNp6Ry

— TB (@TBGoPokes) February 24, 2023

Hawaii-Five-0 fans are gonna be furious when Washington State-Cal cuts into their show

— Kevin Borba (@Kevin__Borba) February 24, 2023

What Does This All Mean For The Pac-12?

Again, this is the million-dollar question that has no answer until the Pac-12 and whoever they really have been negotiating with is ready for us to have it.

With that said, it is very important to note most of the ruckus surrounding the Pac-12 and whatever their negotiations are or are not hasn’t been coming from the people who would be directly involved with such talks. Basically, if it sounds too good or too awful to be true it likely is.

The only concrete fact we have is that when the Pac-12 has decided to speak, which has not been often, their message has never once waivered from being united and feeling confident about their future.

Some contradicting thoughts about what is going to happen with the #Pac12MediaRights came out this morning. What does it all mean?#Pac12 #ConferenceofChampions#MediaRightshttps://t.co/AGKGRb3jcR

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 24, 2023

Until they show something to the contrary, it’s probably best to believe the ones who are actually having the conversations to determine their future and not outsiders trying to speculate on something they may or may not have actually heard.

Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports