Here’s what I think happens. We sign with:
1. ESPN - they get their Saturday “Pac-12 After Dark” slot on Saturday nights. Some ESPN2/ESPNU, E+ football content on Saturday afternoons. A lot of basketball on all of their networks.
2. Turner (TNT/TBS) - a few ADs hinted at linear via cable and I think this is what they meant. Some of our games end up here on Saturday afternoons and a decent amount of basketball ends up here too.
3. Amazon & Apple - they each get one game a week, with Friday night the best option. They might alternate weeks or it could just be one streamer and not both. But… the Pac-12 is not doing a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night game.
Can’t have half the league play night games every week. Just not sustainable. But 2 (Fri, Sat) is doable. Wild card is Amazon takes Friday and Apple invents another window. If we go with Apple, it’s the Apple+ subscription, not two subscriptions.
Partnerships:
ACC/SEC - we will likely play one game a week with the ACC on ESPN afternoons. I wouldn’t be surprised if a handful of SEC games get scheduled, too somehow. Do you want to see Alabama vs Citadel or Saban vs Prime?
Payout:
$36-38M per school.
I hypothesized $36M a month or so ago and am sticking with it.
Membership:
SDSU (full member) + Gonzaga in basketball only
SMU + Tulane possibly down the road but I’m starting to get skeptical about SMU. I’m leaning towards they get told no or they are added for just football.