Recently, University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce discussed the factors that led to the breakdown of Pac-12 media negotiations. Cauce, who is also the chair of the Pac-12 CEO Group, spoke on the issue during a virtual town hall meeting.
Cauce explained that the Pac-12 was unable to come to an agreement with media companies due to a number of factors. She stated that the media companies had different expectations for the conference, and that the Pac-12 was not able to meet those expectations. Additionally, Cauce noted that the conference was not able to negotiate a deal that would provide enough money to support the conference’s athletic programs.
Cauce also noted that the Pac-12 was unable to come to an agreement due to the fact that the conference is smaller than other Power 5 conferences. She stated that this size difference meant that the conference was unable to command as much money as other conferences.
Finally, Cauce discussed the fact that the Pac-12 was unable to come to an agreement due to the current economic climate. She noted that due to the pandemic, media companies are not willing to pay as much for sports rights as they were in the past.
Overall, Cauce’s comments shed light on the factors that led to the breakdown of Pac-12 media negotiations. It is clear that the conference was unable to meet the expectations of media companies, and that its smaller size and current economic climate played a role in the negotiations. It remains to be seen how the Pac-12 will address these issues going forward.
