Pac-12 Commissioner Reportedly Proposes Media Deal With Apple Amid Potential Exodus

The proposal comes as the league fights to keep its schools from jumping ship.

With the Pac-12 and Big 12 locked in a turf war following Colorado’s decision to leave the former and return to the latter, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff finally presented a long-awaited media rights proposal to the league’s presidents and chancellors on Tuesday. The proposal is reportedly a short-term, primarily subscription-based deal with streaming giant Apple, according to ESPN’s Heather Dinich and Pete Thamel.

The deal would begin in 2024-25 with “relatively low” payouts, though with the potential to grow incrementally if certain subscription goals are hit. It remains to be seen whether this proposed deal will be viewed favorably by Arizona, Arizona State and Utah, schools that the Big 12 has set its sights on poaching following the acquisition of Colorado.

Apple currently has streaming deals with MLB and an exclusive deal with MLS, the latter of which has seen its value boost considerably with Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami.

The Pac-12’s bargaining power in negotiating its next media deal was first handcuffed by the departure of USC and UCLA for the Big Ten. The two Los Angeles schools and Colorado will leave the conference following this upcoming school year.