TLDR
- Lumen Technologies stock jumped 12.69% after announcing partnership with Pac-12 Enterprises for sports broadcasting
- The deal will use Lumen’s Network-as-a-Service technology to deliver live college football games remotely
- First broadcast starts August 30 with Washington State vs Idaho game on The CW network
- Technology allows bandwidth scaling up to 10 gigabits within minutes for live event production
- Stock remains down 10.3% year-to-date despite recent gains
Lumen Technologies saw its stock price surge Wednesday as investors reacted positively to news of a new partnership in the sports broadcasting sector. The telecom company’s shares closed up 12.69% at $5.29 after announcing a deal with Pac-12 Enterprises.
Pac-12 Conference is reimagining what’s possible in live sports broadcasting! With support from @LumenTechCo #NaaS, @Pac12 delivers hundreds of live, ultra-low latency broadcasts each year — supporting the speed & performance needed in modern production. https://t.co/nE5vjUG65f
— Lumen Partner Program (@LumenCPP) August 27, 2025
The partnership centers around Lumen’s Network-as-a-Service technology, which will power live sports broadcasts for the Pac-12 college football conference. This marks a new approach to sports broadcasting that relies on remote production capabilities rather than traditional on-site setups.
Pac-12 Enterprises will debut this technology with the Washington State versus Idaho football game scheduled for August 30. The game will air on The CW network, marking the first test of this new broadcasting model.
The technology offers impressive flexibility for live event production. Broadcasters can scale bandwidth up to 10 gigabits within minutes, allowing them to adjust capacity based on real-time needs. This capability proves essential when delivering multiple live events to millions of viewers simultaneously.
Remote Production Revolution
Pac-12 Enterprises described the technology as a “gamechanger” for their operations. The remote production model eliminates many traditional broadcasting constraints while maintaining broadcast quality standards.
The partnership allows the sports broadcaster to produce live events from centralized locations rather than deploying full production crews to each venue. This approach can reduce costs while maintaining the technical capabilities needed for professional sports broadcasts.
Lumen’s Chief Technology Officer Dave Ward highlighted the technology’s key benefits. He emphasized that clients can “instantly dial up bandwidth” while getting the speed, reliability, and control that modern productions require.
The company did not disclose financial terms of the agreement with Pac-12 Enterprises. However, the partnership represents a validation of Lumen’s NaaS offerings in a demanding, high-profile application.
Market Response and Context
Wednesday’s stock movement stands out in Lumen’s recent trading history. The company’s shares have experienced 48 moves greater than 5% over the past year, indicating high volatility in the stock price.
Despite Wednesday’s gains, Lumen remains down 10.3% since the beginning of 2025. The stock currently trades 50.2% below its 52-week high of $10.12 reached in November 2024.
The telecommunications company has faced challenges in recent years as the industry undergoes transformation. Traditional telecom services face pressure from new technologies and changing customer demands.
Technology Advantages
Lumen’s NaaS technology offers several advantages for broadcasters seeking flexibility in their operations. The ability to scale bandwidth quickly addresses one of the main technical challenges in live sports broadcasting.
Live sports require consistent, high-quality streams that can handle sudden spikes in viewership. The technology’s 10-gigabit scaling capability provides the headroom needed for major sporting events.
The remote production model also opens possibilities for smaller broadcasters who may lack resources for traditional on-site production setups. This could expand Lumen’s potential customer base in the media sector.
The partnership with Pac-12 Enterprises provides a high-profile testing ground for the technology. College football broadcasts draw large audiences and require professional-grade reliability and quality.
The deal positions Lumen to pursue similar partnerships with other sports broadcasters and media companies. Success with Pac-12 could serve as a reference point for future business development efforts.
The Washington State versus Idaho game this Saturday will mark the first live test of the new broadcasting approach.
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