Turning up the heat on Direct TV

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The big question remains on how satellite companies like DirectTV and Dish (or broadband-based services like AT&T U-Verse and FiOs) will be willing to accept the channel and negotiations will probably progress long into the spring, perhaps even into the summer. Just remember that these sort of negotiations generally take time regardless, and eventually there'll be widespread demand on the West Coast, particularly if the Pac-12 decides to keep a premium allotment of games with some of the best matchups available on its network. It'll be hard for these providers to turn down the clamor. Regional sporting events must be distributed or providers will suffer the wrath of their customers.

In many ways, the Pac-12 Network is the first bridge to the future of college athletics. Brian Floyd of Coug Center wrote about this topic when the deal was first inked.

But the former, creating a network carried widely throughout the country, could only be accomplished by withholding a significant stable of inventory. And it couldn't just be the leftovers; There had to be premium content on the Pac-12 Network. Essentially, Scott withheld half the inventory of Pac-12 football games, an average of three a week, for the conference network. And he still secured a $3 billion primary contract with ESPN and FOX.

To call it a coup would be an understatement. By keeping the inventory and promising premium programming on the Pac-12 Network, Scott has sent a message: Carry our network or face the backlash of fans. He's forced the hands of carriers.

In addition to the Pac-12 inventory, the conference should also have room to add inventory from others. For a premium price, a conference such as the Mountain West could, in theory, broadcast games on the Pac-12 Network. It's why you see the Pac-12 creating a media entity to go along with the new television deal. Unlike the Big Ten, the Pac-12 will have full ownership over its network, not a minority stake in it. It all adds up to more profit.