Pac-12 Secures New Media Rights Deal with USA Sports Through 2031
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A revitalized Pac-12 Conference has announced a significant media rights partnership with USA Sports, ensuring coverage of its athletic programs through the 2030-31 season. The deal, announced on Thursday, will see 22 football games, 50 men’s basketball games, and up to 10 women’s basketball games televised by USA Sports annually, beginning next year.
Rebuilding the Pac-12: A New Era Begins in 2026
The agreement arrives at a pivotal moment for the Pac-12,which has undergone significant realignment in recent years. The conference will consist of nine teams starting in the 2026-27 academic year: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State, and Washington State. This new configuration represents a persistent effort to stabilize and rebuild the conference’s identity.
USA Sports: A New Player in College Athletics Broadcasting
USA Sports is a newly formed entity created by Versant, a company spun off from Comcast/NBC. It consolidates all sports programming from USA Network, The Golf Channel, and CNBC. According to a company release, the Pac-12 deal marks USA Sports’ first foray into major college sports media rights.
broadcast Details and Coverage
Beyond the games on USA Network, Pac-12 football will also be broadcast on The CW, CBS Sports network, and CBS. USA Sports will also carry the Pac-12 men’s basketball tournament, with the championship game airing on CBS. All games produced by USA Sports will leverage the existing infrastructure of Pac-12 Enterprises,the conference’s in-house broadcast production arm.
Long-Term Stability and Future outlook
The multi-year agreement, extending through the 2030-31 season, provides a crucial foundation for the Pac-12’s future. One analyst noted that the deal demonstrates a commitment to providing consistent exposure for the conference’s athletic programs during a period of significant change. The partnership with USA Sports signals a new chapter for the Pac-12, as it navigates a rapidly evolving landscape in college athletics broadcasting.
Why did this happen? The Pac-12 needed a new media rights partner after its previous deals with ESPN and Fox dissolved in 2023, prompting significant conference realignment.Who is involved? The Pac-12 Conference and USA Sports,a new entity formed by Versant (spun off from Comcast/NBC),are the primary parties. What is the deal? USA Sports will broadcast 22 football games, 50 men’s basketball games, and up to 10 women’s basketball games annually through 2031. How will it work? Games will air on USA Network, the CW, CBS sports Network, and CBS, utilizing Pac-12 Enterprises for production. The deal effectively ends the period of uncertainty for the conference and provides a pathway for rebuilding its brand and financial stability with a new, albeit less established, broadcast partner.
