USC "has moved into exclusive negotiations with Fox Sports for the school's multimedia rights," according to sources cited by Smith & Ourand of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. While USC and Fox "have not completed a deal for the rights, the two are in talks for a comprehensive package that would include radio, corporate sponsorships, venue signage, digital and other marketing rights." With the Pac-10 "moving toward the creation of its own TV channel, local TV rights are not part of the discussions." A deal with USC "would represent Fox's first move into the multimedia rights space since 2008, when its Sun Sports RSN signed a media rights deal with the University of Florida worth about $100 million over 10 years." But the USC deal "would be a different model for Fox, as it would work directly with the school." Additionally, Wasserman Media Group, "which worked with Fox on a valuation for the USC property," is expected to "work with Fox as a sales agent if the network secures an agreement with the Trojans, but Fox would take the lead on the relationship with the school." It also is "possible that Fox could use the executives and resources at Pac-10 Properties to manage the marketing relationship with USC." USC has handled its marketing and media rights "in-house in the past" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/11 issue).
