The Pac-12 is "out to mix things up a bit" this college football season with the goal of shortening the length of its games, which have "continually extended" over the years, according to Christopher Kamrani of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. The conference yesterday announced "additional details on an incoming 'test program,' designed to improve game-day experiences for fans both at various stadiums around the league as well as those watching over the air." The Pac-12 will "implement new pilot initiatives at all of its non-conference games on Pac-12 Networks." Those include a "combination of shortened halftimes, adjusted commercial formats" and moving up kickoff times "depending on the game." Utah’s season-opener tonight will be the "first of many to try it out." Every non-conference game on Pac-12 Nets in '17 will "feature reduced break times between first and second quarters, plus third and fourth quarters." Select games will have a "reduced break format that will cut down on as much as four minutes of break time." To cut down on halftime, both participating programs must "agree to the proposal of slimming down from a 20-minute period to a 15-minute period." Pac-12 Nets also "plans on experimenting" with start times at one minute past the the hour, "allowing kickoff to start closer to the originally-listed game time" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 8/31). ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff noted the Pac-12 "plans to collect feedback from fans and work with the league's coaches, administrators, and broadcast partners to evaluate this program for any long-term discussions." The conference could also "bring the idea up for discussion on a national level" (ESPN.com, 8/30).
I COMMAND THEE! In San Jose, Jon Wilner notes the Pac-12 this season will use a "full-time officiating command center to oversee decisions in the replay booths at stadiums across the conference." However, more eyeballs "generating more discussions doesn’t seem like the most efficient path to shorter games." It seems "like an inevitable, objectionable step in the opposite direction, turning games that lasted three hours and 50 minutes into games that last four hours and 10 minutes." But the conference "doesn’t see it that way" and it "has the data to support trust in the new process." Pac-12 VP/Officiating David Coleman said of the process, "We’re very efficient with respect to the time." Built within the conference HQ in S.F., the command center will be "used for Pac-12 home games, regardless of day, kickoff time or broadcast network." Officials will "see exactly what the booth officials see when they see it." The command center will not "buzz down to request a booth review," as the process "must be initiated in the stadium." However, it "feels like a morsel of skepticism is warranted" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 8/31).
TARGETED GOALS: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth wrote now may be the "most opportunistic moment" for Pac-12 Nets to "punch its way out of stagnation and get back into the ring with primary holdout DirecTV." New Pac-12 Nets President Mark Shuken said Commissioner Larry Scott was "very clear about a mandate" for him in several big categories, which include the ability to "innovate with production, find long-term distribution, adapt all platforms to the world of the consumers and focus on internal culture and elevate more positive and collaborative efforts, and also connect with the member institutions to see what their goals are for the networks." Shuken: "While we’ve seen some deals that haven’t had perfect timing, I’m absolutely convinced these networks have real value to DirecTV and every other provider." Shuken was asked about the "Pac-12 After Dark" marketing strategy of airing late games on the West Coast, even if there is a "concern it’s not getting enough" East Coast viewership. Shuken: "There is the opportunity to get to the East Coast and showcase the product in a way that’s beneficial to everyone. ... This is still a five-year-old experiment." He added, "I don’t buy into the notion there is a bias no matter what the time zone" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 8/30).
