What Is Going On With The Latest Pac-12 Media Rights Reports?
Feb 24, 2023, 2:30 PM | Updated: 2:39 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Like the sands through the hourglass, so are the days of the Pac-12 media rights reports.
Every day it seems like something new and sometimes rather odd pops up when talking about what is happening with the Conference of Champions and their media rights negotiations. Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a different answer.
Naturally this has led to frustration for fans who just want to know what to expect after being dragged in every direction through this process. It’s been a very emotional and tumultuous eight months since USC and UCLA announced their intent to join the Big 10, leaving the remaining 10 conference members scrambling to figure out what to do. Even worse, it’s often felt like there is no end in sight due to the constant and often ridiculous rumor mill that’s been going nonstop and the latest is a doosey.
So, What Happened Now?
Friday morning got off to a bang after 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!
What in Sam Hill is this? https://t.co/Ah1iYkHVit pic.twitter.com/010W368oS5
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) February 24, 2023
About an hour later, Stewart Mandel of The Athletic contradicted the report saying ION television was not discussing a partnership with the Pac-12 leaving people wondering what, if anything, is true?
I hate it here. I hate it here so much. https://t.co/n6sAYOgXub pic.twitter.com/t2ORFRztwm
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) 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.
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
