The Pac-12 Has Turned To The CW To Hopefully Have Literally Anyone Show Its Games On Television

The Athletic — The Pac-12 first opened negotiations on its next media rights deal last July, shortly after USC and UCLA announced their departures for the Big Ten. Since then, the expected timeline for a completed deal has been pushed back more times than an overmatched defensive tackle.

The delay may be in part because of the emergence of a new potential partner. Two sources indicated there have been recent discussions between the Pac-12 and The CW, a national over-the-air broadcast network better known for scripted shows like “Gossip Girl,” “Supernatural” and “Riverdale.” Since purchasing The CW Network last year, parent company Nexstar Media Group has expressed interest in procuring live sports rights, announcing in January a deal with LIV Golf.

This Pac-12 rights story has gone from funny to sad very quickly. If you've always wanted to watch a Utah-Oregon State football game followed by a One Tree Hill re-run, though, you could soon be in luck.

I don't know if Pac-12 football and basketball actually ends up on The CW, but it certainly seems at this point like they definitely won't be on a channel you've seen them on before. The last report was that the conference was talking to ION and Apple TV, so the traditional sports networks appear out of the question.

The CW, while a ridiculous network to have broadcasting Power Five football, is still a channel everyone has heard of, though. I want the Pac-12 to end up on something truly laughable. We deserve to watch a Pac-12 Championship Game on CSPAN-2.

Best of luck to the league losing its two biggest members in trying to get people to pay for the privilege of broadcasting its games!