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The Pac-12 Network

Last Updated on June 5, 2014

After writing on how media market size will keep Boise State out of an automatic-qualifying conference, I decided to take a look at the new Pac-12 Network that will be available in August 2012.

Most you have probably heard the basic details at this point: there will be a nationwide network and six regional networks: Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Mountain, Northern California, and Southern California.

Obviously, the nationwide network gets you the entire country. What I want to focus on are the regional networks, which will presumably feature region-specific programming. The Pac-12 will get to broadcast region-specific material to a whopping thirteen of the nation’s top 100 media markets. On cable! The national network will be available on basic cable (!) in the regions with Pac-12 schools and regional networks will be available on expanded basic cable through partnerships with Comcast, Bright House Networks, Time Warner and Cox Communications. Commissioner Larry Scott says he also hopes to see additional distribution through the satellite television providers.

Exact details haven’t been provided in terms of coverage, but assuming each state is covered in its entirety here are the thirteen top 100 media markets the Pac-12 will have access to with its regional networks:

Los Angeles (2)

San Francisco (6)

Phoenix (12)

Seattle (13)

Denver (17)

Sacramento (20)

Portland (22)

San Diego (28)

Salt Lake City (32)

Fresno (55)

Tucson (67)

Spokane (75)

Colorado Springs (92)

Do you think the Pac-12 could have convinced cable companies to have a regional network in the 120th media market (Boise)? Each regional network the Pac-12 announced has at least one city in the top 25.

Author

  • Kristi Dosh

    Kristi A. Dosh is the founder of BusinessofCollegeSports.com and has served as a sports business analyst and contributor for outlets such as Forbes, ESPN, SportsBusiness Journal, Bleacher Report, SB Nation and more. She is also the author of a book on the business of college football, Saturday Millionaires. Kristi is a sought-after consultant and speaker on topics related to the business of college sports and a former practicing attorney. Click to learn more

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. Drew

    August 2, 2011 at 2:57 pm

    Love the post. I believe you are diluting the argument though. PAC12 will have its’ product in 9 of the TOP 32 media markets (roughly one-third). That’s a large number of eyeballs for advertisers to be able to place their products. They are also located in Silicon Valley and Hollywood. So they have added technology (silicon valley) and media distribution (Hollywood) as partners.

    • Kristi Dosh

      August 2, 2011 at 3:01 pm

      Good point, Drew!

      • Drew

        August 2, 2011 at 3:10 pm

        Kristi,
        I just heard your interview with Mike Leach and Jack Arute. Very well spoken. Keep up the good work. Do you have a link for the Super Conference article? I would love to read it. I’m a PAC12 brat (Ariz St) living here in Big12 country (Dallas, TX) , it’s just a matter of time before this fly-over conference goes Bye-Bye.

      • Kristi Dosh

        August 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm

        Thanks! Love going on with Jack and Mike. Always a good discussion.

        The super conference post will be up tomorrow, so check back then.

  2. Scott N

    August 2, 2011 at 5:55 pm

    Washington State and Boise State would probably have been forced to share one regional network. I don’t know if advertisers would have been in with market No. 75 by itself. So it would have to have been a Spokane-Boise-Yakima regional network.

  3. Brian

    August 2, 2011 at 10:05 pm

    Wouldn’t they just extend the mountain regional network to include Boise and the rest of Idaho?

    The problem is I think Cable One (plus the telcos and satellite, of course) is the top provider in Idaho, and they don’t have a piece yet. They are big in AZ, too, so maybe the P12 will get a deal with them. If so, then adding Boise shouldn’t be a big problem.

  4. David Smock

    August 3, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    The Pac-12 Network is just a stroke of brilliance by the conference. With the numbers you list in your post, no wonder they were able to sign four high profile cable MSOs to the deal a year before “going live.” Question now is, will there be a Pac-12 Radio Network somewhere in the future either traditional (radio stations) or satellite (Sirius XM)?

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