The 12 Pac12 schools collectively have fewer fans and are in a much smaller footprint than the ACC's 12 schools were back in 09. However, they signed a much better tier 1 and tier 2 deal than the ACC only a few months later.

Additionally, they intentionally did not include tier 3 content so they could begin THEIR OWN network. So without the help of ESPN, or any other network, they built all the infrastructure required on their own. Then they launched this thing.

The Pac12 Network has been making millions of dollars each season for years now. Each Pac12 school has been profiting $1-$2 million each season from it for a while. You could conservatively say that each Pac12 school has made $5million off the thing ALREADY, after infrastructure costs. That's enough to make some decent facility upgrades.

Now moving forward, the Pac12 schools will be making in the neighborhood of $3 million each year, which is what the ACC is planning to be making off its digital "network" for 16,17, and 18. And ACC schools are still having to fork out millions each to build the network infrastructure. And consider that the ACC is going to be splitting profits with ESPN. The Pac12 will not be splitting profits with anyone. Their infrastructure is paid for too. Every new customer for them will be paying almost directly into their pockets.

The gap from a per school basis between the two will likely reach $10 - $15 million by 19. That's a whole lotta facility upgrades. That would nearly pay for VT's fieldhouse.

So tell me how exactly Swofford's done such a wonderful job for the ACC? Yes, ESPN is supposed to be granting the ACC a network in 2019, but the Pac12 has and will continue to have options for such a collaboration too. IF, and that's a BIG IF, the Pac12 ever feels the need to, they can always sell off a share of their network to an ESPN or a Fox. If distribution ever becomes too big a problem for them, they can then shop around their already up and running, and quite profitable, network to the highest bidder. I'm not sure that they'll want to. By 2019, their model might very well be the preferred network model. They have a ton more OTT options due to their not being hitched with a newtork.

And again, they're generally dealing with many less fans in collectively smaller states.

[Post edited by chuckd4vt at 07/22/2016 6:07PM]