The Pac-12's distinct approach to TV and marketing "continued to keep it ahead" of the Big Ten and SEC in terms of total revenue during FY '13-14, according to tax returns cited by Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott also "remained the nation's most highly paid conference CEO," credited with just over $3.5M in total compensation for '13. The total included $2.4M "in base pay and $900,000 in bonus pay." The conference reported just over $374M in total revenue for the FY ending June 30, 2014 -- "a figure that includes income from the wholly conference-owned Pac-12 Networks; the conference's marketing and media arm, Pac-12 Enterprises; and Pac-12 Broadband Network." While the Pac-12's payouts to its schools "have grown substantially during the past two years, the expenses associated with its television and marketing ventures mean that in 2013-14, Pac-12 schools continued to get smaller shares of conference revenues" -- about $21.2M per school -- than did schools in the Big Ten, which distributed about $27.6M "per school receiving a full share." The Pac-12's expenses not related to school payouts -- primarily network production and payroll costs -- "have been increasing significantly." Pac-12 VP/Public Affairs Erik Hardenbergh said this is because of spending related to "a three-year ramp-up" of live telecasts on the Pac-12 Networks. The conference also reported $34.1M in payroll expenses for '13-14, up from $14.9M in '11-12 (USA TODAY, 5/22).
