PAC-12 CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF PAC-12 NETWORKS Add Comment    Jul 27, 2011

PAC-12 CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF PAC-12 NETWORKS IN HISTORIC JOINT DEAL WITH COMCAST,TIME WARNER CABLE, COX COMMUNICATIONS AND BRIGHT HOUSE NETWORKS

 Deal to bring 850 Pac-12 events annually to almost 40 million cable TV households nationwide

Agreement also includes six regional networks across Pac-12 footprint

 NEW YORK --In an innovative arrangement providing unprecedented exposure for its athletic and academic programs, the Pac-12 Conference announced today the creation of Pac-12 Networks, which will include a national network and six regional networks, in conjunction with four of the nation's largest cable operators: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks.

 In addition to broadly distributing the Pac-12 Networks, the four cable operators are utilizing iN DEMAND to provide certain production and operations services to the Pac-12 Networks, which will continue to be wholly owned by the Pac-12 Conference.  

This transformative arrangement, set to begin in August 2012, marks the first time a U.S. collegiate conference or any other programmer has launched a collection of networks across a variety of platforms rather than a sole network. And it includes TV everywhere rights, permitting the networks to be viewed outside customers homes on any digital device, such as smartphones and tablet computers, creating a virtual Pac-12 Everywhere.

 Expressing his excitement with the new agreement, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said, As we explored the potential for a Pac-12 network, it became clear that we could customize programming towards local interests and provide our students, alumni, and many fans the widest possible range of events with the best opportunity to see the schools they care about most.

 Scott praised Melinda Witmer as Chairman of iN DEMAND for bringing iN DEMAND and its potential to the discussions. This is an example of how innovative organizations can collaborate to create something that is entirely original and that willserve the college sports fan better than anything that has existed before, he said. We look forward to taking advantage of our cable partners vast production, marketing and advertising resources to serve our fans both through the regional networks and the national network.

 Ms. Witmer, who is also Executive Vice President and Chief Video and Content Officer for Time Warner Cable, said: iN DEMAND is proud to be part of this groundbreaking plan to bring millions of Pac-12 fans a unique blend of national and regional programming. This innovative deal demonstrates the strengths of the cable platform, and the unique ability we have to provide deep local, regional and national programming on multiple platforms and multiple devices giving our customers the ability to watch their favorite teams anywhere. We are pleased to be associated with these leading universities, and look forward to working with them and the Conference to make this innovative arrangement a success.

 The six regional networks will be established in Northern California, Southern California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Mountain regions.

 The deal complements a major national broadcast and cable agreement announced in May. At that time, the Conference announced the creation of Pac-12 Media Enterprises, the first step in creating the TV networks that are being announced today. Pac-12 Media Enterprises is also expected to eventually announce distribution arrangements covering satellite and telco transmission.

 Regional and National Network Programming

 Under the agreement announced today, Pac-12 Networks eventually will telecast a total of 850 live events annually 350 on the national feed and 500 on the regional feeds -- including every football game and every mens basketball game that isnt carried by national telecast partners. Additional events will include spring football, and every sport played by Pac-12 programs including all conference championships. Pac-12 also will be working to launch additional content on broadband.

 The agreement will provide unprecedented exposure for womens sports, as well as exposure for both mens and womens programs that have been traditionally underserved on television.  This includes extensive coverage of Pac 12 athletes in Olympic sports, where the Pac-12 has had more success than any other U.S. conference. Over 200 Pac-12 athletes competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and if the Pac-12 were its own country it would have finished sixth in the total medal count.

 Pac 12 Networks will feature extensive educational, academic and lifestyle programming from the Pac-12 Institutions, some of the most renowned and recognizable higher education institutions in the world. Programming will extend beyond athletics to other subjects of interest to students, faculty, alumni and fans of the Pac-12 universities.

Through this agreement Pac-12 Networks will be available nationwide to almost 40 million cable customers.  Within the Pac-12 Conferences six-state footprint, Pac-12 Networks will be broadly distributed and available to Pac-12s far-flung alumni and fans across the country.

Terms of the arrangement were not disclosed.

About the Pac-12 Conference

The Conference has a tradition as the Conference of Champions, earning more than 175 NCAA team titles over the past 20 years, and has led the nation in NCAAChampionships in 44 of the last 50 years. The Conference comprises 12 leading U.S. universities: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, theUniversity of California-Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Washington, Washington State University, the University of Utah, and the University of Colorado (joining in 2012). Conference offices are located 25 miles east of San Francisco in Walnut Creek, CA. For more information on the Conferences programs, member institutions, and Commissioner Larry Scott, go to www.pac-12.org.

About iN DEMAND L.L.C.

iN DEMAND L.L.C. is a pioneer and world leader in providing exciting transactional and subscription entertainment delivered through televisions most innovative technologies. iN DEMAND creates and delivers programming through cable Pay-Per-View (PPV), Video-On-Demand (VOD) as well as on digital platforms.  PPV programming includes movies, boxing and mixed martial arts events and the digital out-of-market subscription professional sports packages for MLB, the NBA, the NHL and MLS. The company also offers a range of VOD products including first-run movies and serves as the exclusive TV home of Howard Stern via its Howard TV On Demand offering. Content is delivered in Standard, High Definition and 3D. iN DEMAND also launched a new, multi-platform Subscription VOD (SVOD) movie service called Vutopia.  iN DEMANDs owners are Comcast iN DEMAND Holdings, Inc., Cox Communications Holdings, Inc., and Time Warner Entertainment - Advance/Newhouse Partnership. Further information about the company can be found at www.indemand.com <http://www.indemand.com>www.indemand.com.

About Comcast

 Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content fo

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