I don't think there was anything calculating about what he said. He's not trying to lay some ground work for a path he's already chosen.
He plainly states the PAC is where they want to be. That said, he needs the TV deal to at least rival what the B12 is getting, but if not he'll be taking the B12's offer. He didn't say it in those exact words, but that's what he said. Seems like a logical position to me.