Pac 12 TV Negotiations

Happy Tuesday evening Cougar fans!  Normally I hit you with a morning post, but I got home late last night after wining and dining a WSU alum who was in Seattle from Belgium, before he heads east to Pullman for his Golden Grad Celebration.  So I don’t think all of the wine I consumed would have made for a good post this morning.  Anyways…

With Spring Ball winding down and the academic calendar coming to a close, we enter the dreaded slow time of the year.  Things just aren’t that exciting in May, June and July, honestly.  It’s like sitting through those previews to the  previews at the movie theater, only it lasts three stinking months!  At least the previews will begin in August, and the Feature Presentation in September

Over the next 120 days or so, we will attempt to bring you updates and insights regarding everybody’s favorite football team.  If any of you out there have any burning comments, thoughts, opinions, contact one of us (click on our names in the column to the left to get our emails) and we would love to have some guest commentary around these parts.  Seriously, we’d love to have outside opinions!

That being said, something I would like to discuss tonight is the ongoing Pac 12 TV negotiations.  Read more after the jump.

So I am not going to even pretend to be well informed about the ongoing negotiations.  For up-to-the-minute details regarding the TV deal, you must read Jon Wilner at the San Jose Mercury News.  You will not find better reporting on the deal than you can get from Jon.

In regard to the deal, Wilner recently wrote:

“That, by the way, could happen in mid/late May if things move quickly, but it might extend into late June. The timing depends partly on the number of serious bidders. (We can be sure of at least two: Fox and Comcast.)”

Here is my opinion based on the limited information I have reviewed thus far.

Sports deals are at an all-time, stinking, record high right now.  You know all of those obnoxious ads you see on TV, in the newspaper, or hear on the radio for people wanting to buy your gold and bullion? 

CoughPorcellosJewelersCoughCough.

Well, that’s because the value of gold is at an all-time, stinking, record high right now as well!

I work with one such advertiser, and his business is absolutely through the roof for the little four man shop he runs.  It’s crazy. 

Sports TV Deals are in the exact same boat as gold, and as my customer says, “who ever has the gold, makes the rules.”

I recently heard TV sitcoms are failing at a 66% rate.  Reality TV meanwhile is soaring and taking off like none other.  There are so many programs that fit this category, such as No Reservations, Jersey Shore, 16 & Pregnant, Rehab House, Axe Men, Deadliest Catch, and Swamp People.  People have been sucked into this drama, and let’s face it, sports are the greatest, longest running reality show, known to man.  Watching a game on TV is also a lot cheaper than taking a family of four to Safeco Field to watch the Mariner’s lose 7-2, with two runs scored on sacrifice ground outs.  In tough economic times, lots of people cannot afford to see their teams in-person.

Hell!  The NHL was even able to land a bonkers TV deal.  Originally the fair market value of Pac 12 rights was pegged around $220M/annually, but last week, Commissioner Scott asked Fox for $300M/year for access to the Pac 12 TV rights.  Granted, that number may be a bit of a high sticker price, but honestly, his next move will be to threaten these networks and media groups with the potential creation of a proprietary Pac 12 Network.  The SEC did this a few years ago to ESPN and CBS, and those two ponied up big time.  Threatening to create a Pac 12 Network will force the media groups hands and likely result in them over paying for the rights to televise every Pac 12 football and basketball game.

How stupid does the Big Ten feel for launching their own network, now that the rest of the conferences are cashing in?

You might be asking yourself who the biggest winner is in a new TV deal where the revenue is shared equally amongst conference affiliates?  That would be good old Washington State.  With annual revenue around $39M, WSU will begin receiving $20M or more each year, just based on this TV deal alone!!

Let me reiterate this to you one more time.  Bill Moos will increase the Cougar Athletic Fund by up to 70%, overnight, with the new tv revenue!

This budget will allow him to hire and fire the coaches he needs to make WSU competitive, at his discretion.  It will pay for facility upgrades that we are in dire need of.  We all know what great facilities and great coaches can bring in.  The answer is great players, and I can see it all now, coming through the picture on my TV.

Have a great night, rest better knowing better days are ahead!