Apple TV Reportedly Emerges as Possible Media Rights Partner Amid Conference Expansion Talks

The future of the Pac-12 remains uncertain due in large part to the lack of a long-term media rights deal.

Pac-12 conference expansion has been a dominant topic in college football discussions this offseason since the news of USC and UCLA leaving the conference for the Big Ten in 2024 broke in December.

With the Bruins and the Trojans headed for the nearest exit, schools like Oregon are left with a murky future. The Ducks are undoubtedly the biggest brand in the conference aside from the Los Angeles schools, but Washington and Stanford also find themselves using caution while navigating the road ahead. 

A big part of the Pac-12's problem right now aside from trying to find more schools is a media rights deal. 

After the Pac-12 Network experiment became a massive failure under former Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott, commissioner George Kliavkoff is battling for a new media rights deal that could help give his conference some relevancy in a college sports landscape that is largely dominated by the SEC and Big Ten. 

Earlier this week, New York Post writer Andrew Marchand reported that Apple TV+ is emerging as a potential landing spot for Pac-12 college football rights.

NEWS: Apple has emerged as a potential landing spot for Pac 12, The Post has learned.

More in story ...https://t.co/MMALO2BkFO

— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) February 21, 2023

Other media outlets like ESPN, Fox Sports and streaming service Amazon Prime Video have all reportedly discussed making a deal with the Pac-12, but nothing concrete has materialized.

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Marchand goes on to report that it's unclear if Pac-12 universities would be interested in an all-streaming deal and whether or not it would be profitable enough to prevent them from leaving the conference of champions to find a new home. 

Whoever ends up landing the Pac-12 media rights deal faces a clear uphill challenge, particularly in college football, as the conference has failed to send a team to the playoff since the Washington Huskies were selected during the 2016 season. The Pac-12 media rights deal could end up being a hybrid of broadcast and a streaming service after how up-and-down negotiations have been this offseason.

Schools like San Diego State, SMU, Fresno State and Boise State have been suggested as possible expansion options for the Pac-12. 

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