Apple Emerging As Possible Leader To Land PAC-12 Media Rights

Apple is starting to appear to be the top contender to land the PAC-12's new media rights.

The PAC-12 and commissioner George Kliavkoff have been attempting to land a new media deal as the conference enters the final football season of its current one.

So far, no deal has been reached, and the situation as a whole has pretty much been chaos.

It now appears there might be a little clarity. Jim Williams reported Friday that the tech giant "wants the ENTIRE tier one package" in a new media deal.

That means Apple would get all of the PAC-12's best games. It would still leave the door open for Amazon to possibly stream a Friday night game. Williams also reported the main holdup is finding a traditional broadcast partner, which the PAC-12 has been adamant about needing.

Will the PAC-12 team up with Apple?

This isn't the first time there's been smoke surrounding Apple and the west coast conference. A report from back in February indicated Apple could ultimately end up landing the PAC-12's new media deal.

The PAC-12's main goal is to earn at least what the Big 12 does annually. The Big 12's new media deal will pay conference members $31.7 million annually.

That's the number the PAC-12 is desperately attempting to reach.

Teaming up with Apple is a bit of a mixed bag. The tech giant has deep pockets and could easily give the conference at least $31.7 million annually per conference member.

If there's one thing Apple isn't short on, it's definitely cold, hard cash. However, the PAC-12 wants to remain visible and have at least a large chunk of games on traditional TV.

It seems unlikely that can happen if Apple lands all the tier one rights. The games would be streamed on Apple TV+, and casual fans won't watch. While the conference might get paid, it could lose relevance if the best games are all on streaming. It's a tough call to make.

A final decision likely has to be on the horizon. If not, the Big 12 is going to start making phone calls, and that should terrify Kliavkoff and other PAC-12 leaders.

Written by
David Hookstead is a reporter for OutKick covering a variety of topics with a focus on football and culture. He also hosts of the podcast American Joyride that is accessible on Outkick where he interviews American heroes and outlines their unique stories. Before joining OutKick, Hookstead worked for the Daily Caller for seven years covering similar topics. Hookstead is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.