Lumen Powers Pac-12 Enterprises' New Era in Live Sports Broadcasting with Network-as-a-Service

Pac-12 Enterprises has partnered with Lumen Technologies to utilize Network-as-a-Service for live sports broadcasting. The new broadcasting model, debuting with Washington State's game on August 30, leverages Lumen's bandwidth scalability and low latency to enhance broadcast quality while reducing production costs and complexity. This collaboration enables Pac-12 Enterprises to scale bandwidth on demand and position itself to offer real-time, high-performance sports production.

Pac-12 Enterprises has partnered with Lumen Technologies to revolutionize live sports broadcasting by implementing Network-as-a-Service (NaaS). The new broadcasting model, set to debut with Washington State's home-opener against Idaho on August 30, leverages Lumen's advanced bandwidth scalability and low latency to enhance broadcast quality while reducing production costs and operational complexity.

Using Lumen NaaS, Pac-12 Enterprises can scale bandwidth on demand in minutes, allowing for seamless, high-quality broadcasts with fewer boots on the ground. This tech-forward approach supports hundreds of broadcasts this year and positions Pac-12 Enterprises to scale its innovative remote production model as the conference welcomes new schools and expands services for external customers [1].

Dave Ward, chief technology and product officer at Lumen Technologies, highlighted the importance of flawless execution in live sports broadcasts. "Live sports broadcasts demand near zero delay, rock-solid reliability, and the power to spin up bandwidth instantly," he said. "With our Network-as-a-Service platform, Pac-12 Enterprises can instantly dial up bandwidth, delivering the speed, reliability, and control that modern productions demand" [1].

Michael Molinari, SVP of business development and studio operations for Pac-12 Enterprises, noted the flexibility and efficiency of Lumen NaaS. "The ultra-low-latency and flexibility to get high-bandwidth connectivity – up to 10 gigs – when we need it and within minutes with NaaS has been a gamechanger in how we deliver a spectrum of live events year-round," he said. "Lumen has been a true partner, helping us pioneer creative solutions and think beyond conventional norms to ensure we remain at the forefront of sports broadcasting technology as the Pac-12 Conference evolves and as our technology needs continue to grow" [1].

In addition to NaaS, Pac-12 Enterprises leverages a range of Lumen network connectivity services, including Vyvx Broadcast Solutions, Lumen DIA, and Wavelength. These services help maintain diversity, redundancy, and reliability at their media production facility, ensuring high-quality broadcasts across multiple feeds [1].

As demand grows for multi-angle content and ultra-low latency streaming, Pac-12 Enterprises is exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into its facilities and live production workflows to support enhancements such as content creation and live captioning. Lumen's network services are poised to play a pivotal role in enabling these next-generation fan experiences.

Pac-12 Enterprises supports all Pac-12 Conference member schools across all sports, as well as internal school broadcasts and services their schools' intranet. Their state-of-the-art media production facility also serves multiple broadcasting companies, media partners of the Pac-12, schools and conferences outside of the Pac-12, and is the primary production studio for the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League.

References:
[1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250827014084/en/Pac-12-Enterprises-Taps-Lumen-to-Power-its-New-Era-in-Sports-Broadcasting