Pac-12 Networks Strike First Over-The-Top Deal With Sling TV

Fans of sporting events featuring the University of Arizona. Stanford University, the University of Oregon and others that are part of the collegiate alliance known as the Pac-12 can now watch games on the go.

Pac-12 Networks, the multimedia company of the Pac-12 Conference that is wholly owned by the 12 university members, has struck a pact with Dish Network’s Sling TV service that makes all six of its regional feeds available to customers who subscribe its “Sports Extra” add-on package. Sling TV is Pac-12 Networks’ first over-the-top provider and will let customers watch Pac-12 games regardless of their location, the companies said in a statement Thursday. The deal will make the Pac-12 feeds available on a national basis, helping fans avoid regional broadcasting restrictions.

“Our six regional networks, featuring 800 live sporting events and all-access original programming, will now be available over-the-top on Sling TV for Pac-12 fans across the country,”said Pac-12 Networks’ president, Lydia Murphy-Stephans, in a statement. “Sling’s innovative delivery model and great interface makes it incredibly easy for our fans to stay connected with their favorite Pac-12 school, team and sports.”

The deal gives Pac-12 Networks a foundation of sorts to negotiate similar deals with other carriers. The feeds include Pac-12 Arizona which features sports content from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University; Pac-12 Bay Area, which represents University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University; Pac-12 Los Angeles, which represents University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California; Pac-12 Mountain, which highlights University of Utah and University of Colorado; Pac-12 Oregon, which features University of Oregon and Oregon State University; and Pac-12 Washington which broadcasts games from University of Washington and Washington State University.

The agreement could serve as a foundation upon which Pac-12 might seek other streaming deals with different carriers.

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