Pac-12 on ION Television? Conference slammed after potential TV media partner report

Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
·4 min read
11
The Pac-12 Conference on ION Television? People had jokes about a report about a potential media partner for the conference.
The Pac-12 Conference on ION Television? People had jokes about a report about a potential media partner for the conference.

The Pac-12 on ION?

A report on Friday has social media slamming the state of the conference's search for media rights partners after Action Network's Brett McMurphy reported that ION television "has emerged as a potential Pac-12 partner."

McMurphy tweeted: "Apple still has not made formal offer for Pac-12’s media rights, but ION television has emerged as a potential Pac-12 partner, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. ION TV is owned by E.W. Scripps Company, which has 61 local TV stations nationwide & launched Scripps Sports this year."

More:Pac-12 expansion, realignment: Arizona State AD addresses speculation amid media deal saga

ION Television does not have stations in Phoenix, Tucson, or Denver, three Pac-12 markets, but Scripps, it's parent company does own ABC affiliates in each of those markets (KNXV-Phoenix , KGUN-Tucson, and KMGH-Denver).

It does have two stations in Los Angeles, and one station in Portland, Seattle-Tacoma, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose and Salt Lake City.

The report brought ridicule and criticism to the Pac-12 and its search for media rights partners, which has become an ongoing saga at this point with a lot of speculation and rumors, but no resolution as to which media company or companies could pay for the right to showcase the conference in the wake of UCLA and USC leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten.

It also brought jokes …

More:Big Ten expansion, realignment speculation surrounds Pac-12 Conference, Oregon, Washington

Later Friday, The Athletic's Stewart Mandel offered a conflicting report about ION Television and the Pac-12 tweeting, "ION/Scripps Sports is not involved in the Pac-12's TV negotiations, a source with direct knowledge of the situation tells @TheAthletic."

Is the Pac-12 going to be able to find a media deal to its liking?

More:Big 12 realignment, expansion: Pac-12 school additions would alter look of conference

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Pac-12 Conference on ION Television report brings criticism, jokes