I mentioned this info in the Notebook a few days ago, but because this is such a big $ deal for the Pac-10 Conference, it deserves front page exposure.
Larry Scott has spent his nearly two years as Pac-10 commissioner bolstering the conference's brand by expanding its reach. The former professional tennis player unfurled his latest and greatest ground stroke on Wednesday, announcing the launch of the conference's own television network and a joint 12-year deal with ESPN and Fox the's the richest in college sports at a hefty $3 billion.
The roughly $250 million a year for the conference puts the new Pac-12 (Colorado and Utah are set to join the next two years) ahead of the Big Ten ($220 million) and SEC ($205 Million) for top dog in TV deals. For a conference that made less than $60 million in media rights this past season, that's a big deal.
Sounds like the Pac-10 has a "get things done guy" for a commissioner.
The money does NOT even include the revenues that each school will receive from the new Pac 12 Television network, which will televise all Pac 12 football games NOT carried by ABC/ESPN and Fox, as well as a host of other sports, mainly "Olympic" sports. The Pac 12 is now targeting the pacific Rim nations as potential viewers. Larry Scott is easily the smartest commissioner in the NCAA as of now. Colorado will make more than every Big 12 team with the possible exveptions of Texas and Oklahoma. This deal could be the beginning of the end for the Big 12-2. Their new T.V. contract does not come close to this, and there will be no "Big 12-2 Network". Texas will see to that because they have their own network and wants no competition.
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PAC 10 hits GOLD
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