SNL Kagan, a media research firm, has published a report detailing the average subscription fees for 26 national sports networks; data that reflects just how far Pac-12 Networks (P12) lags behind the Big Ten (B10) & SEC Networks. While the B10 and SEC command average subscriber fees of $.48 (+30% since ‘12) and $.74 (launched in ’14), respectively, P12’s average subscriber fee has declined 63% to $.11, over the last 5 years. Just 4 of the 24 national sports networks that existed in 2012, have failed to increase their average subscriber fee since (Olympic Channel -11.5%, Tennis Channel -17.5%, beIN Sports -35%) and P12 experienced the sharpest decline among the group. The Sportsman Channel ($.06), Outdoor Channel ($.06), Outdoor Television ($.05) are the only national sports networks that command less per subscriber than P12 does.
Howie Long-Short: College networks operate on a tiered structure where subscribers within “home markets” pay higher subscription fees than “out of market” subscribers. So, as a network expands distribution and adds out-of-market subs, the average per sub fee will decline. In 2016, P12 signed distribution deals with Dish Network (DISH) and DISH owned Sling TV; a conscious decision to add viewers at the expense of their average subscription fee. One would imagine the average fee would drop even further if the network wereable to work out its long-time impasse with DirecTV and add 37 million households nationwide.
To be fair, P12 has added 7 million subscribers within the last 5 years and the network is on solid financial ground; paying out $2.75 million to each member institution in 2018. Of course, that’s just a small fraction of the estimated $8 million that each SEC and B10 member institution earned, from their respective conference networks, in 2016.
Fan Marino: You can’t buy Pac-12 Networks, as the outlet is wholly owned by the conference’s member institutions, but you can buy shares in both the B10 and SEC. Fox Entertainment Group (FOXA) controls 51% of B10 (Universities own balance) and SEC, is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (DIS, 80%) and Hearst Communications.
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