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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Cheers to jobs, fish; jeers to canceled insurance ... From the council: Medford-Alba sister city bond is a special one ... Emergency Services ... Our View: Cheers to jobs, fish; jeers to canceled insurance ... From the council: Medford-Alba sister city bond is a special one ... Emergency Services ... TV SPORTS DirecTV testing Pac-12 channel, but it's not official Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 4:36 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 4:36 PM » Social News Will the Pac-12 Networks package finally appear on DirecTV? Ever since the Bay Area-based college sports programmer flipped the switch in 2012, Southern Oregon residents have had limited access. Charter Communications doesn't carry it and neither does DirecTV. If you had Ashland Fiber Network, you were fine, but elsewhere Dish Network was the only game in town. Since AT&Ts acquisition of DirecTV was approved by government regulators in July, however, there have been rumblings that the door might be opened in time for college football fans to see Pac-12 games. The buzz has grown in recent days as satellite industry insiders across the nation have stoked rumors about the possibility, dropping hints on industry forums with references to tests leading up to distribution. Nonetheless, time is drawing short with Utah, Arizona and Colorado all teeing it up Thursday. DirecTV has 20 million subscribers, but has repeatedly said it would have to raise rates and preferred charging an extra fee for Pac-12 programming. Pac-12 Networks stuck — agonizingly so for fans — to its guns, requiring it to be part of a programming bundle, knowing more people would have access. "We know that DirecTV subscribers have been frustrated not having access to Pac-12 Networks," the programmer wrote on its website. "Our biggest partner, AT&T, recently acquired DirecTV, and we are working hard on strengthening and expanding our partnership to include carriage of Pac-12 Networks on DirecTV. While we have proven to be the most reliable link between our teams and our fans, we will not be satisfied until we have complete distribution for our fans." A report on FierceCable.com reported DirecTV is testing high-definition and standard-definition signals for the Pac-12 Network on channel 612. "While it's not a guarantee that the channel will go live, it's definitely being tested by DirecTV," one industry forum poster wrote. "I don't think they would waste time and resources on that unless they were fairly sure they'd have an agreement." AT&T, a corporate partner of all 12 conference universities, carries Pac-12 Networks on its U-verse provider. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said earlier this month AT&T will be more willing to expand its relationship with the conference. A flip of the switch would thrill more than one college sports fan in Southern Oregon. Bill Macy is an ardent Oregon State fan and former DirecTV subscriber. "We ended up going back to Charter," Macy said. "We love football, our boys played high school football, and the Pac-12 is our favorite conference." When the Pac-12 Networks was formed, Macy and his wife, Vicki, were excited. Then DirecTV balked at paying the fees the Pac-12 asked. Needless to say, the excitement was short-lived. "We thought we'd get an opportunity to watch a few OSU games," Macy said. "It was a big disappointment." In a house divided, Lee Spargo would like nothing better than to watch Pac-12 football this fall. Spargo, a Beaver fan, and his wife, Judith, a Ducks fan, have been DirecTV subscribers since the late 1990s. When the Pac-12 Networks came along, it seemed a natural fit. "We were excited if we could get it, and that hope was dashed rather quickly," Spargo said. "It's seemingly stupid that with all the sophisticated TV systems that they couldn't make sure everyone gets the same access as their lowly cousins down the road." When, and if, DirecTV begins carrying the Pac-12 Networks, he said, "we will celebrate by having a diet root beer, but that will be the limit of our celebration." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 28, 2015 at 4:36 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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