Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff discusses plan for media rights negotiations

It’s that time. The next round of media rights negotiations are coming up — and Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff has an interesting plan.

Right now, ESPN and FOX decide what games go in what windows six to 12 days in advance. As part of his proposal, Kliavkoff wants the league to decide what games are in each spot. That, in turn, would put potential playoff teams in the spotlight.

He admitted it might mean a little less money in the long run during a podcast interview last week.

“One of the things I want to negotiate for, along with revenue and broad distribution, is the opportunity to have some flexibility with respect to when games are played and who plays in those games,” Kliavkoff said, via the San Jose Mercury-News. “You can imagine later in the season that [we] might still be able, as a conference, to provide the distribution partners with a prime-time West Coast game.

“But it may be negotiated — even if we leave some money on the table — that the conference gets to determine which of our schools plays in those games if you get yourself in position when there’s a potential [College Football Playoff] invitee or a kid in the final rounds of contention for the Heisman.”

The Pac-12’s contracts with ESPN and FOX, as well as the Pac-12 Network’s partners, all expire on June 30, 2024. Kliavkoff said negotiations are set to begin next winter and added he’s not going to focus on the highest bid.

“Whatever deal we do, it’s my goal to have our content available on any piece of glass connected to the internet,” Kliavkoff said. “Period, full stop.”

George Kliavkoff on his approach to Pac-12, college football

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff has a simple approach to leading his conference. In an appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show last month, the commissioner said he tries to be as honest as possible with everyone.

“I want to be transparent about what I see,” Kliavkoff said. “I do take a different perspective because I don’t have a background in college athletics. My approach has always been just to be transparent about what I see and to try more collaboratively to come to solutions. I’ve been transparent about some of the issues that I see broadly in college athletics, which are real threats to what we do collectively as a business. I’ve also been clear about the deficits I see in our conference that we have to work on, but at the same time praising the things we do well.”

Kliavkoff took over as Pac-12 commissioner on July 1. He was previously the president of entertainment and sports for MGM Resorts International.