THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Take streaming seriously, or get washed away

It’s coming.

That’s a stone-cold fact, and we’re probably not talking about too far down the road.

One of these days, we’re going to wake up and discover that ALL live sports are being delivered via streaming services.

All of the familiar linear networks that you’ve known and (sometimes) loved already have toes in the water.

NBC insists that you pay for its Peacock service if you want to see most of the important Premier League soccer matches or some major auto races.

CBS has weighed in with Paramount Plus, which has golf and some huge soccer events of its own — plus a biggie with some NFL games that you used to assume would be on the free channel.

Then there’s the monster, ABC.

The network itself doesn’t send bills to sports fans, but remember, it’s owned by Disney.

The Mouse is losing money on ESPN, so naturally it’s charging you for ESPN+ and soon enough, the whole thing will be sold to a full streaming outfit — almost certainly Amazon or Apple.

Meanwhile, you’ve noticed that Amazon Prime has captured the NFL’s Thursday Night Football, and the trend shows no signs of stopping.

NFL Red Zone?

You’re now headed to YouTube TV.

I KEEP recalling how University of Arizona president Robert Robbins made fun of Apple’s pitch to the Pac-12 — the deal that was turned down.

That was the moment the conference collapsed, ultimately leaving Wazzu and Oregon State as the Pac-2 when everyone else scrambled for homes (some of which are clearly absurd).

Apple was willing to give each school $25 million annually, plus additional money depending on subscription to its streaming packages.

Robbins was front and center, scoffing at the whole idea.

“It would be like going out to sell Girl Scout cookies,” he said.

File that comment for future laugh value.

Meanwhile, we’re naturally concerned about Washington State at the moment, and hoping that the Cougs can survive being abandoned by their so-called “partners” in the Pac-12.

There is a very real possibility that WSU will join with Oregon State and attempt to rebuild the 108-year-old conference — through a reverse merger with the Mountain West or with some other plan.

That’s on a lot of folks’ minds in our neighborhood, especially for the near term since the rest of the Pac-12 disappears next spring.

To their credit, the Pac-2 are looking down the road, checking on what schools could join them but — perhaps more important — what media companies might step up with a decent offer to keep revenue flowing in the new conference.

Oliver Luck, the consultant that both schools have hired to help with this transition, is a savvy dude who isn’t spending any time wishing for the old days.

Luck can read the tea leaves.

He surely knows that sports media is headed for a total streaming model, and that all hell will break loose once Disney finds a buyer for ESPN.

I would be shocked if Luck hasn’t put out feelers to the various media companies, asking what sort of deal can be worked out if the Pac-12 is rebuilt.

GO BACK to Apple, say we’re sorry that the original deal didn’t work out, and that Robert Robbins is a goof?

That’s surely one option, since the tech giant (the world’s first $3 trillion company) has shown that it wants to get in the live sports streaming biz.

Apple didn’t make all that money by sitting on its hands, and the same thing can be said for its competitors.

Amazon, for instance, started in the sports game at the top — grabbing Thursday night NFL games.

Once the streaming avalanche begins, all the current linear networks — plus YouTube and heaven knows who else — will be bidding for content.

Despite what appears to be the serious current plight of the Pac-2, conferences have a two-year grace period to rebuild during realignment, and these two schools (plus their future partners) will have content to sell.

Longtime coach and broadcaster Jim Walden knows this territory.

“Washington State, Oregon State and the Mountain West schools are exactly the kind of places where subscriptions for streaming would work,” Walden said.

“They’re mostly in rural areas, so fans and alums have trouble getting to games. But they do want to watch, so spending a few bucks for a subscription works perfectly for them.”

THE NEW Big 12 has been gloating over its “success” in expanding to 16 teams — scattered all over the map, many with little or nothing in common.

Utah and Central Florida?

Colorado and West Virginia?

It will not be lost on media rights companies that the Big 12 has only a tiny slice of the Pacific Time Zone (Arizona and Arizona State, neither of which historically has been even CLOSE to Wazzu in football TV viewership).

A new Pac-12, based on the West Coast with potential subscribers from the ocean to the Rockies, almost certainly would appeal to various streaming companies who have eyes on the future.

Change is coming.

Dramatic change.

Eventually, the Pac-2 may wind up far better off than if they had been invited to the Big 12.

That would be a terrific outcome.

Also, very amusing.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”