The Pac 12 is taking a beating in the actual media and social media with a TV negotiation they can’t seem to draw to a close.
In the end, I think they do get it done. The Pac 12 stays together, and we all move on. We will see because it’s not 100% certain.
There’s a lesson out there the ACC needs to learn from Pac 12 while they deal with their rough revenue waters.
Pac12 analyst John Canzano has a good take on the Pac 12 waiting game in his recent piece.
A few comments really struck me….
Former Fox Sports Networks president Bob Thompson said earlier this week, “Give the Pac-12 credit; there haven’t been any leaks. They’ve kept things very tight.”
That’s probably appreciated by the Pac-12’s negotiating partners. Beyond that, though, I think it’s been a misfire by the conference to allow so many other parties to tell the conference’s story and muddy up the public conversation.
“Imminent demise”?
“Pac-12 teetering”?
…Still, that’s the narrative being peddled by the spin doctors and their puppets. It’s hurt the brand. It’s damaged public confidence.
Ah, the narrative… Do you know who’s good at controlling the narrative? Despite being gutted over and over the past 12 years of their biggest brands, it’s the Big 12. The Big 12 is a pieced-together league of mismatched members, with a contract that was celebrated even though it will have the conference trailing the SEC and Big 10 by at least $25 Million a year.
They have managed to appear in a position of power, and I say well done.
The state of the ACC is not as dire (at the moment) as the Pac-12, but their management of the narrative is just as poor.
Andrea Adelson’s and David Hale’s excellent deep dive look at the ACC’s money battles was written just days after Florida State AD Mike Alford publicly said something had to change in the ACC. I have no problem with anything Alford did, as nobody was speaking publicly from the ACC’s side. Clemson’s AD Graham Neff made similar comments.
From Adelson’s and Hale’s pieces.
commissioner Jim Phillips told ESPN. “We’ve been open about our league’s discussion on revenue generation and business innovation, and have been exploring all options to enhance overall revenue.”
Really? How about building some transparency into this Jim Phillips? Fans and donors would like to know exactly what’s going on. If you’re not expanding, tell people why. What are you doing?
The Pac 12 let the narrative get so far out of hand that the end of Pac 12 seems imminent to some.
As Canzano said, it is hurting their brand and public perception.
The ACC is getting precariously close to letting outside perception drive the narrative.
Take control of the narrative of ACC and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips.
Do it before you’re dealing with the same things as the Pac 12.
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