Another college football season is here and yet again, it means another year for DirecTV subscribers to go without the Pac-12 Networks. Ever since the Pac-12 Networks began in 2012, DirecTV has elected not to carry the main network and its regional channels.
DirecTV has said Pac-12 needs to lower its per subscriber price and the conference says DirecTV needs to be more reasonable. Whatever the reason, the two sides continue to bicker and squabble over money and it has left subscribers without Pac-12 programming.
DirecTV’s latest statement on the issue continues its vitriol against the Pac-12 while praising the SEC Network in the process:
“We remain in contact with the Pac-12 and are open to exploring any options to provide Pac-12 Network that offer the right value to all of our customers, whether they are Pac-12 fans or not.
“Fortunately, dozens of the best Pac-12 football games are always available to all DIRECTV fans courtesy of channels like ABC, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and other networks.
“A few fans have asked why DIRECTV is able to provide the new SEC Network and not the Pac-12 Network. We were able to forge a sensible compromise with SEC Network owner ESPN that represents a good value to the people living inside the 11 states with SEC schools, as well as alumni around the nation. We remain in contact with the Pac-12 Conference about doing the same for its fans inside of the core six states and other supporters nationwide, and are open to exploring any options that offer similarly strong value.”
For its part, Pac-12 trashes DirecTV for picking up other networks without considering its content:
“DIRECTV is treating you unfairly. More than 60 TV providers carry Pac-12 Networks, and we’ve offered DIRECTV the same fair deal. But DIRECTV continues to ignore their customers and Pac-12 fans. They said “yes” to the SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and dozens of other sports networks and “no” to Pac-12 Networks. They have offered up many excuses, but the reality is that they are depriving so many customers of great content.”
So as the two sides enter the third season of their dispute, there’s no sign that there will be an agreement in place. Will the two sides ever get together? It’s anyone’s guess at this point. However, with the potential purchase of DirecTV by AT&T, there’s some optimism that Pac-12 Networks could appear on the satellite provider down the road. But in the immediate future, DirecTV will continue to keep the channels off its system and for how long, nobody knows.
[DirecTV]
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