Report: ACC, Pac-12 discussing unique broadcasting partnership

The ACC and Pac-12 have been hot topics of conversation during the latest round of conference realignment. Now, a new report suggests a partnership could be in the works.

The two leagues have had discussions about a new broadcast partnership, according to Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger. It would involve either the ACC Network or another ESPN network broadcasting Pac-12 games on the west coast — which would also help the exposure of a league that just lost USC and UCLA.

The big question left to answer is whether or not it would create enough TV revenue to be worth it, according to Dellenger, who also clarified the leagues wouldn’t be merging. It would simply be a broadcast partnership to help keep up as dollar signs increase across college football media rights deals.

USC and UCLA are leaving for the Big Ten by the 2024 season, which lines up with the end of the Pac-12’s current media rights deal. Just this week, the Pac-12 board authorized immediate negotiations for a new agreement, and Dellenger’s report suggests the league is looking at all options to maximize the opportunities without two of its highest-profile programs.

Pac-12 to begin negotiations for next media rights agreement

Changes are coming to the Pac-12. With that in mind, the league took a big step toward its next media rights agreement on Tuesday.

The Pac-12 announced it’s moving forward with media rights negotiations immediately. The league’s board of directors met Tuesday morning and decided to go forward with the move, according to a brief statement.

“The Pac-12 Board of Directors met this morning and authorized the Conference to immediately begin negotiations for its next media rights agreements,” the statement read.

The announcement came less than a week after two of the league’s highest-profile programs to the Big Ten. USC and UCLA announced their departures, leading to questions about the next round of media rights negotiations.