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NEW YORK (AP) -- The Pac-12 will launch national and regional conference television networks next year.
Commissioner Larry Scott announced Wednesday at an East Coast football media day in Manhattan that the Pac-12 had partnered with cable companies Comcast, Cox, Time Warner and Bright House. There will be a national network along with six regional channels: Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Southern California, Arizona and Mountain.
Once the networks launch in August 2012, they will broadcast about 850 sporting events a year -- 350 nationally and 500 regionally. Subscribers will also be able to watch games on mobile devices.
"This is an incredible opportunity for the Pac-12 institutions to promote not only their outstanding athletic programs, but their equally impressive academic departments," said Utah Interim President Dr. Lorris Betz. "The Pac-12 Network will initially be available in millions of homes and the deal was constructed to allow for continued and rapid growth nationwide. Commissioner Larry Scott did an outstanding job and has moved forward with the support of the Pac-12 presidents."
Every football and men's basketball game will be televised nationally. The conference already had a 12-year television contract worth about $3 billion with Fox and ESPN, which will air many of the most high-profile games.
"We are excited about what this will mean for all of our men's and women's teams and to our fans around the country," said Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill. "With its innovative approach, the Pac-12 Network has the potential to reach a huge market and ensures that all of our football and men's basketball games will be televised nationally.
"The scope of this television deal shows the immense power and prestige of the Pac-12 Conference and its popularity across the country. We have long felt that our sports programs at the University of Utah were well deserving of national exposure and I'm pleased to say it is now a reality."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
