SVG Sit-Down: Incoming Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken Has Deep Enthusiasm' For His New Opportunity Succeeding Lydia Murphy Stephans, Shuken looks to build on what his predecessors have created By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital
Friday, August 18, 2017 - 9:54 am
Print This Story
Story Highlights
This week, Pac-12 Networks tapped Mark Shuken, a 30-year veteran of the regional-sports-network industry, as its new president. Filling the role vacated by outgoing president Lydia Murphy Stephans, Shuken brings with him an executive/production background that recently saw him lead the creation and branding of three RSNs covering the Los Angeles Lakers, LA Dodgers, and LA Galaxy for Time Warner Cable Sports Networks.
Although he doesn't officially take over until Sept. 6, Shuken spoke to SVG about his excitement for the opportunity, how he sees the networks further innovating in production and operational techniques, and where he sees growth coming for a network that is already five years old.
Mark Shuken: There's no more passionate fan than alumni. We want to utilize that passion to help elevate the profile of the content and the networks.
What was it about this position at this network that was intriguing to you? What made you want to pursue this opportunity?
It's really an ideal opportunity. The number-one answer is [Pac-12 Commissioner] Larry Scott. There are two things about Larry that I admire most. One is, he's very focused on the environment and culture of the business, and I happen to be a big believer in the importance of that. I think great cultures make great businesses and ultimately drive your bottom line as well. The other thing is that he was so smart when the networks were built to maintain the opportunity and the rights to control Pac-12 content on all platforms. There's really no other conference or organization where, top to bottom, we have the opportunity to adapt to the changing world of streaming, multiple platforms, social media, linear TV, and all of those things within one overarching strategy, which is to help the member institutions and our shareholders.
P12N has blazed a lot of technological trails in terms of at-home production and the use of IP technology. What are your thoughts on how this network has pushed the boundaries and experimented with new ways to broadcast sports live?
I happen to be a production guy by background, and I'm very intrigued by that notion. The most recent role I had in television was running the Lakers and Dodgers networks in L.A., and we focused very much on production innovation, connectivity to lots of different locales using new technology, the at-home productions, which have become somewhat common; I think we were one of the first entities to do that. So we'll be taking some of those lessons forward.
This is one of those rare opportunities where you have all 12 member institutions completely connected to the Pac-12 Networks home base. So you have these immense resources in the form of technology and connectivity and, frankly, student-athletes and students to be able, without tremendous logistical or financial hassle, to create better content and create it faster.
Where do you see growth for the Pac-12 Networks? It has been five years since these networks launched. What could the next five years hold that might be different from the first five?
I think the product is really strong, so the next five years is continuing to innovate around that - and that could be technological innovation, production innovation, new content; I think, certainly, innovation in platform and distribution and adapting to the way consumers realize, recognize, and appreciate their content now.
The brand of these member universities and the networks themselves and the conference networks, there's no more passionate fan than alumni. In these next five years, we want to utilize that passion for the product and that passion for the universities by those alums and their fans and families and all that surrounds them to help elevate the profile of the content and the networks.
You are following in the shoes of Lydia Murphy Stephans, the first woman ever to run a national sports network. What will it be like following in her footsteps?
I've never met Lydia, but she has developed a strong team and a strong product platform. For me to be able to build upon that is a rare opportunity. I think, [with] any organization that has gone through five years of very successful growth, you need to be reminded that people need to be inspired. I want to take what my predecessors have built and make sure that we maintain the inspiration and the innovation and that hunger that is so important in a competitive world.
What do you bring to the Pac-12 Networks that's unique and will be a positive force for the organization?
Honestly, it's my legitimate, deep enthusiasm for the opportunity here. I have had many roles in this space over 30 years, and I am so excited about what is possible for these networks and the team. I think that energy can't help but inspire because it's a legitimate, heartfelt feeling.
Want to listen to this interview with new Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken in its entirety? Subscribe to The SVG Podcast today to catch a bonus episode with Shuken and to stay up-to-date on all our in-depth interviews with some of the industry's most-influential personalities.
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
01/12/2025
L3Harris and PentenAmio formalise their teaming agreement at MilCIS 2025, streng...
01/12/2025
Artemis II is NASA's first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The crew, from left: Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Vic...
01/12/2025
IRVINE, Calif. Wooden Camera has introduced its new Accessory Collection for the Canon EOS C50. The new lineup includes a low-profile, gimbal-ready cage, expand...
01/12/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for its Dec. 18 Open Commission Meeting that will include a vote on a report an...
01/12/2025
In most years, a graph of annual local TV ad spending is about as predictable as an electrocardiogram of a reasonably healthy patient in a doctor's office. ...
01/12/2025
Many industries have seen big-ticket hardware turn into software. Switchers, though, demand a combination of real-time performance and sheer bandwidth that has ...
01/12/2025
GENEVA Shanghai will host the next quadrennial Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-27) and World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27), Oct. 11-Nov. 12, 2027. This...
01/12/2025
NEW YORK Just in time for Giving Tuesday tomorrow (Dec. 2), the Broadcasters Foundation of America is seeking out donations to help television and radio industr...
01/12/2025
STOCKHOLM, Sweden Net Insight CEO Crister Fritzson has informed the company's board that he will retire from the video transport and media cloud technology ...
01/12/2025
01 Dec 2025
Kyivstar and Ukrainian Ministry of Digital Transformation Select Go...
01/12/2025
The prequel to the global hit Sky Original mob crime saga, Gomorrah' is a s...
01/12/2025
Featuring Florence Welch, Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Flea, designer Bella Freud...
01/12/2025
Back to All News
A Down to Earth, All Too Relatable Hero: Cashero' Teaser ...
01/12/2025
In the rush to deliver content to every screen, many broadcasters overlook one of the most crucial steps in the workflow: format and frame rate conversion. Get ...
01/12/2025
Fox Corporation Chief Financial Officer Steve Tomsic to Participate in Upcoming ...
01/12/2025
Arvato Systems' Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Receives BSI C5 Certification (T...
01/12/2025
Summary This short video gives you an summary of the changes in under two minutes.
--...
01/12/2025
As the festive season approaches, RT Supporting the Arts is proud to showcase a...
01/12/2025
Researchers worldwide rely on open-source technologies as the foundation of their work. To equip the community with the latest advancements in digital and physi...
01/12/2025
Festive specials of Christmas in Kilmainham presented by Marty Whelan, High Road Low Road, Callan Kicks the Year and Keys to My Life
Ring in the New Year with ...
01/12/2025
Architect and television presenter Hugh Wallace, best known to RT audiences as a long-serving judge on Home of the Year, has died at the age of 68.
In a state...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
SVG Sit-Down: Incoming Pac-12 Networks President Mark Shuken Has Deep Enthusiasm' For His New Opportunity Succeeding Lydia Murphy Stephans, Shuken looks to build on what his predecessors have created By Brandon Costa, Director of Digital 
