Report: The CW expected to be part of new Pac-12 media rights deal

The Pac-12 is set to announce The CW as part of its next media rights deal, John Canzano reported. CBS is the primary media partner under the deal, which will take effect in 2026.

The Pac-12 and The CW started their partnership in 2024 as the conference continued to build around Oregon State and Washington State. The CW is also one of three networks part of the conference’s 2025 media deal, along with ESPN and CBS.

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As Oregon State and Washington State charted a path forward, they struck an agreement with The CW as a media rights partner for the 2024-25 season. Their matchup drew 695,000 viewers in Week 13, which came in as the most-watched game on the network. The CW also aired ACC games in 2024.

More teams are on the way, though. Next year, the Pac-12 will add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State will as full members. Gonzaga is also coming aboard, but does not sponsor football, and Dallas Baptist announced it will be part of the league as a baseball-only member.

Pac-12 aiming for multiple networks in next media deal

In June, the Pac-12 announced CBS would be its primary media partner under the five-year agreement starting in 2026. Conference commissioner Teresa Gould has said she expects multiple networks to be part of the deal, and The CW would be the second part of the contract. Canzano also reported TNT Sports has “kicked the tires” on possibly adding Pac-12 basketball and football.

“The one thing I keep saying to potential partners is given where we are as a league, I don’t want these partnerships to be transactional partnerships,” Gould said on Next Up with Adam Breneman earlier this year. “I don’t want this to be a media rights partner writing us a check and televising a bunch of games. We need these partnerships to be transformational at this point, and for somebody to really jump in with us and say, we want to help elevate and reimagine the new Pac-12.”

As part of the 2025 media deal, The CW will air a “New Pac-12” double feature in September. That slate will include Fresno State at Oregon State and San Diego State at Washington State, giving fans a sneak preview of two teams set to join the conference.

Additionally, both CBS games will be in primetime. The annual Apple Cup game between Washington State and Washington will be Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ET, and the Pac-12 featuring Wazzu at Oregon State will be No. 4 at 8 p.m. ET.