With the Pac-12 Networks unable to reach a deal with DirecTV by Thursday, University of California at Berkeley Athletic Director Sandy Barbour took matters into her own hands.Cal-Berkeley AD Barbour dumps DirecTV
Barbour, who had been leading a campaign on Twitter to encourage the No. 1 DBS provider to add the Pac-12 Networks to its carriage lineup, fulfilled her vow to drop DirecTV on Aug. 31 if an affiliate agreement was not reached. Accordingly, she canceled her subscription and dumped the DirecTV dish into the back of a Comcast truck, as she added Xfinity service at her Oakland home.
Cal opens its 2012 campaign against Nevada on Sept. 1.
Comcast and Wave/Astround of San Bruno are the only providers offering Pac-12 Networks in the Bay Area.
While Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks and a number of smaller providers carry Pac-12 Networks, DirecTV, Dish, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-verse remain on the distribution sidelines.
Pac-12 Networks has issued an open letter to fans recommending they switch to another television provider. An e-mail -- iwantmycalbears@comcast.net -- has been set up for other Cal fans who want to switch video providers.
