Report: USC's departure drops Pac-12 media rights estimation by $150 million per year

When USC and UCLA announced their departures from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, the sense was it would have an immediate impact on the Pac-12 media rights negotiations. At Wednesday’s UC Board of Regions meeting, that impact was given a number.

A report presented during the meeting said USC’s departure will drop the Pac-12’s media rights deal by $150 million per year, according to The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel. USC represented 30% of the league’s media rights, according to the report, meaning the Trojans’ departure will have the most drastic impact on the next deal.

The next TV deal was estimated at $500 million per year, according to Mandel, meaning the new estimation has it at $350 million.

USC and UCLA announced their moves to the Big Ten on June 30 — the last day they could leave the Pac-12 without running into grant of rights issues. The Pac-12 is currently in negotiations for a new agreement, while the Big Ten is reportedly closing in on the final stages of its discussions with NBC and CBS to partner with Fox for a new deal.

ESPN is not part of the Big Ten’s new deal, which could open the door for the Pac-12 to swoop in.

Report: ESPN targeting Big 12, Pac-12 following possible Big Ten loss

ESPN is reportedly targeting a new broadcasting deal with the Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences following the possible loss of the Big Ten. According to a Monday report, ESPN is facing the loss of the Big Ten Conference broadcasting rights in a bidding war — leading analysts to believe that they could pick up another Power 5 conference to fill the loss.

“I say Big 12 ends up with ESPN; especially if it can pluck a couple of Pac 10 schools,” explained the New York Post‘s Andrew Marchand.

“ESPN might move on Pac 12 first, but Big 12 will be in play too. It could end up with SEC (already has it), Pac 12 and Big 12. But realignment could be afoot. ESPN also likes Pac 12 because of its late windows, according to sources. It also likes the idea of controlling all the games.”

The speculation on conference realignment and future television deals began in full force again on Monday after reports began about a possible new home for Big Ten football games. ESPN’s acquisition of the SEC — which goes into effect in 2024 — consolidated a large portion of the college football world in the ABC-ESPN umbrella.