Pac-12 Networks, Twitter Sign Streaming Pact

Expanding deeper into live event steaming, Twitter has been named the premier streaming partner for Pac-12 Plus, a broadband network that’s poised to offer more than 150 live Pac-12 events this year and in 2017.

The  final roster of school-produced Olympic events for Pac-12 Plus are still in the works, but the service will feature Olympic sports such as soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, baseball, ice hockey, swimming & diving, softball, track & field, wrestling, lacrosse, tennis, and water polo, they said.

Twitter won’t hold the exclusive rights, however, as those events, produced by Pac-12 universities, will also still be streamed on university official athletic sites and via Pac-12.com. The Pac-12 is comprised of Arizona, Arizona State, Ca

The Pac-12 deal expands Twitter’s foray into live streaming. Twitter, for example, recently locked up a deal to stream the National Football League’s Thursday night games package.  Tied to its streaming video ambitions, Twitter recently acquired Magic Pony Technology, a London-based startup that has developed a bandwidth-friendly technology that can automatically improve and sharpen the resolution of online video and images.

“The Pac-12 Networks’ collaboration with Twitter reflects our ongoing commitment to increasing exposure for Pac-12 universities and their live, school-produced events,” said Pac-12 Networks President Lydia Murphy-Stephans, in a statement. “By expanding our digital footprint, Pac-12 Plus also allows us to connect more fans with more, live Pac-12 sports content through a platform they use every day.”

“Twitter is the fastest way to find out what is happening in live sports,” added Anthony Noto, Twitter's chief financial officer. “Our partnership with the Pac-12 Networks will give sports fans a great way to view live sporting events along with the live Twitter conversation they are already accustomed to.”