When we last updated the situation between DirecTV and Pac-12 Network, it appeared the two sides were getting closer to an agreement. After a signal test last month on Channel 612, subscribers got excited hoping that they would see Pac-12 Network and its accompanying regional channels before the college football season. But as we’re in Week 2 of the season, Pac-12 Network is still not online with DirecTV and subscribers are getting antsy.
So what’s going on? Why has DirecTV not picked up Pac-12 Network? According to the San Jose Mercury News, DirecTV’s owner, AT&T is negotiating to potentially expand its partnership with the Pac-12 ether through getting an equity stake in the network or through more sponsorship exposure on the member schools’ campuses.
Just how much would AT&T would get in the Pac-12 Networks? The Mercury News says it would be more than just five percent. And that would influence the Pac-12’s deals with other cable providers and could possibly lower its fees to existing partners such as Comcast and Dish. Larger cable and satellite providers usually negotiate fees that are for the most part beneficial to them and a change in structure at Pac-12 Networks would cause its partners to renegotiate their deals.
But in the meantime, AT&T which carries Pac-12 Network on its U-Verse service is trying to complete the deal for DirecTV. Even as the season has started, both DirecTV and the Pac-12 remain optimistic a deal can be done.
This is certainly different when it appeared that the satellite provider was digging in for a protracted fight to keep Pac-12 Network off its systems. Now that the rhetoric is over, it’s not a question on if Pac-12 Network will begin airing on DirecTV, but when and that is much more positive than the last three seasons which has left subscribers in the middle and much in the dark.
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