Four years into the Pac-12 Networks' existence, revenues "continue to lag far short of expectations," according to a front-page piece by Jacob Thorpe of the Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW. With other college conference networks "distributing more money per school, it appears that the Pac-12 needs a partner to extend its reach into more households to keep pace with its rivals." Each member school received $1.4M in '15. Reports indicate the SEC Network, which debuted in '14, distributed about $5M to each school in its "first full year of operation." The Big Ten Network "averaged payouts" of $6.6M per school during its first six years. One remedy the Pac-12 is considering "calls for the sale of an equity stake" in the Pac-12 Networks. This would "provide an immediate, one-time influx of cash to each member school and allow their athletic departments to remain competitive while hiring coaches, recruiting student athletes and building sports facilities." Finding a network partner -- such as the SEC’s alliance with ESPN, or the Big Ten Network’s arrangement with Fox -- would "give the networks more leverage in negotiations." The Pac-12 has been "unable to come to an agreement" with DirecTV over distribution (Spokane SPOKESMAN-REVIEW, 3/16). In Seattle, Stephanie Loh noted Washington State AD Bill Moos "likes the conference having full ownership of its network." However, he said that the conference has "explored the possibility of taking the network to the open market." Moos: We've had discussions with the presidents to some degree, to look at some of the advantages and disadvantages. It's something we're exploring. It's an option" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/16).
