The league's current contracts expire in 2024. The Pac-12 has already initiated its media rights negotiations with its current partners, but Kliavkoff said he doesn't expect any new deal to be reached anytime soon. While losing the two Los Angeles schools is no doubt a big loss for the Pac-12, they still represent only about 30 percent of the league's overall media and market value. When Oklahoma and Texas leave the Big 12, national reports have indicated they will take with them roughly 70 percent of that conference's media value. Indeed, after the initial speculation and mostly unfounded reports concerning more schools from the Pac-12 allegedly interested in leaving the conference, it is becoming apparent that the conference very likely still has more media appeal than the Big 12. I get it, I get why they're scared, why they're trying to destabilize it. "I understand why they're doing it, when you look at the relative media value between the two conferences. "That remark was a reflection of the fact I've been spending four weeks trying to defend against grenades that have been lobbed in from every corner of the Big 12 trying to destabilize our remaining conference," Kliavkoff said. Kliavkoff has remained relatively quiet on the topic, but evidently chose Friday's Media Day as an opportunity to clear the air. Many reports had more Pac-12 schools - including Colorado - allegedly involved in discussions with the Big 12 about joining that conference. The statement was a thinly veiled response to rumors that began flying in the wake of the announcement from the two Los Angeles schools. We haven't decided if we're going shopping there or not yet."
"With respect to the Big 12 being open for business, I appreciate that. "Looking my colleagues in the eye, understanding their commitment, that their first priority is making sure that the Pac-12 survives, thrives and grows and is successful. "We've had two board meetings a week for the last four weeks," he said. Then, he directed a pointed shot at the the Big 12 for that conference's behind-the-scenes activity in the recent realignment sweepstakes.Īsked why he remained confident that the remaining 10 members of the conference would maintain their solidarity, Kliavkoff said he had received that assurance in the regular meetings of the schools over the last month. LOS ANGELES - Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff took the gloves off Friday at the conference's football media day.įirst, Kliavkoff expressed confidence that the remaining 10 members of the conference would remain a cohesive unit in the wake of the announced departures of USC and UCLA.