The SEC already has a new 15-year CBS contract in hand, and this week the league will announce a similar 15-year deal with ESPN (and its family of networks) to televise everything that CBS doesn't.
Because of the maximum exposure provided by both networks, the SEC athletic directors decided this past week in Orlando that there won't be an SEC network.
The ultimate conclusion was that each school has its own pay-per-view and re-telecast agreements, and that Web was not worth untangling, especially after CBS and now ESPN has backed up the Brinks armored car to the SEC vault.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 29
OrangeKoolAid writes:
Gutless. The world would have been a better place if people in Greenland could have subscribed to SEC.Net. This may become an issue in the presidential campaign. To drill or not to drill. Air pressure vs flat tires. SEC network vs Air America
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
How are we supposed to be considered better than the Big-10 when we don't even have our own TV network? I guess they don't realize how much MORE money they could have received if they would have invested in this notion.
Also, Raycom will be supposedly televising their gamecasts in HD this year, but I don't know if I trust this situation. Having an HD SEC environment would be better for the fans and any businesses that had dreams of selling themselves through the SEC outlet.
This is ridiculous, but then again, I'm not able to see the financials that the board of directors can, so maybe there's more money being received from ESPN and CBS. But a little investment goes a long way to boot. Oh well.
jcorange98 writes:
flip it around and you got it, the big ten is so bad the real networks dont want their games, they have to televise the unwatchable phooey themselves bc no one else will pay for it
LargeOrange writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
atvolfan#654430 writes:
LargeOrange, so you think the SEC should simply start the network with no regard to money? That being asked, the Big Ten Network has continuously lost money, because the football games they do manage to show are only mildly viewed. The rest of the programing, like you mentioned, goes practically unwatched.
GreerVol22 writes:
atvolfan, yep...I agree. Outside of LV Basketball there really isn't another reason to watch ladies sports. I don't think I'm alone on this view. Sounds like a good business decision to me.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Yeah, we're really gonna miss Gamecocks v. Wofford.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Does this mean Siwash vs Tougaloo will still be on PPV?
I'm getting a little tired of the disdain for the purity of the game.
Raynoch writes:
Good. I don't want to pay extra $$ to watch the Big Orange.
GoVol writes:
I think this is good for UT and here's why - We depend on recruiting nationally, unlike several of our other strong SEC opponents. The ESPN games give us national exsposure and the SEC channel would not. IMO this will aid in national recruiting.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Call me an old fogy--and lots of people have--but I always thought the SEC Network was a bad idea. The way the sports biz is going these days, the day is not far off when the really big games, like the Super Bowl, the BCS championship game, the SEC championship game, etc., etc., will all be available only on pay-TV of some sort. I'm glad that day has been at least temporarily postponed.
KCHS63 writes:
Let Public Broadcasting stations in Tennessee do Lady Vol basketball games like it's done in Connecticut. Let it be a user pay by demand type deal in the sense that the PBS stations are always soliciting donations for their services and programming. Let them approach LV fans with the notion that if there are enough donations from them, then a select number of LV games could be broadcast. Let's be honest: Tennessee PBS stations are not known around the country for their original productions. Here's one small way they could do something, anything in that regard. Let some net site like the Summitt on Gridscape monitor the donations and see how much Lady Vol support there really is. If LV fans actully pay for the service, would all the haters of women's athletics be satisfied? Of course from my lifelong Big Orange perspective, probably not. But, who cares if they're not the ones paying.
richvol writes:
A SEC network would end up costing every one of us more money...be happy.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
I have Big Ten Network and it doesn't cost me anymore. I payed $210 a month for DIRECTV before and I pay $210 a month after BTN.
vol4gzus writes:
Either way you are paying too much money......I bet those Minnesota games with Indiana have got you riveted down in front of the that 32" tv don't they?
On topic, glad the sec network has been put to rest for at least 15 yrs. Probably great idea in concept, but wouldn't pan out in real life.
golfballs03 writes:
These conference Networks aren't a good idea. The Big 10 one has been a fiasco and hasn't panned out. The one thing the SEC needs to be working on is getting HD for all of it's games. Jefferson Pilot or Lincoln Financial or whoever carries the games now is garbage. It's 2008! Their telecasts look like they're coming from 1970
LiveFaith writes:
Look at it this way. The globalist propagandists, aka TV nets ESPN / CBS et all, were going to pay "$10" again for televising the SEC product. The SEC played hardball by dropping the 'N' word (no not that one) and effectively played hardball. The 'N' word is the only thing challenging the globalist monopoly, so in fear they are now offering "$15" for the SEC product. Looks like it didn't take a dime of investment either.
Not bad negotiating in my book!
Volunatic writes:
I watch a lot of women's sports on Big 10 network when nothing else is on. At least I get to ogle college girls, and they are usually wearing short shorts. An SEC Network would ensure that prettier college girls than those would get TV time. Oh well.
VOLatile writes:
Spam247-
What does "ogle college girls" mean, or do we watn to know?
Waldorf writes:
So does Raycom still get the 12:30 games, or will it be all CBS or ESPN now?
Volunatic writes:
ogle
\ō-gəl
1 : to eye amorously or provocatively
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictio...
VOL7 writes:
once again, slive has proven to be a weak commissioner. football isn't the only consideration here. UT fans get shortchanged the most, as they want to view their men's basketball team & baseball team & the lady vols basketball & softball teams. mike hamilton should have stepped up & demanded this. SEC sports are the most popular nationally. pay-per-view is a ripoff. we could have helped recruiting tremendously at UT by pushing for the SEC network.
jasonn1970 writes:
It must have been all that time Slive spent on getting Brandon Warren eligible........
VOLatile writes:
thanks, Spam...good choice of vocabulary...it was O'Reilly "esque"
DooleyNoted writes:
Has anyone seen CBS classic HD on direct TV channel 612? They replay old SEC games. I saw the UT v UK game from last year. It got me all fired up.
CoverOrange writes:
GoshDarn, the new agreement is for 2009-2010, thus Raycom will still be broadcasting for this season. Although I think my local affiliate has dropped them.
ESPN plans to use ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN360 to broadcast the SEC. While ESPN360 has been a simulcast of what's on ESPN and ESPN2 whether they continue that or go to exclusive broadcasts I wonder. Although I don't know what's been on ESPNU I do know I have to go up two tiers on DishTV to get it which I won't do.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
More in-depth TV Guidelines:
Football
ESPN has acquired rights to every SEC home football game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and will serve as the exclusive national cable home and the syndication rightsholder for the conference.
ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will increase coverage by combining to televise a minimum of 20 SEC games annually, including Saturday night and two primetime Thursday matchups.
ESPNU: The 24-hour college sports network, which launched in March 2005, will present a package of SEC football for the first time, with a Saturday game-of-the-week (generally in primetime and a minimum of 13 games annually).
ESPN Regional Television (ERT): The nation's largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, becomes the official over-the-air syndication home for the SEC and will feature a game-of-the-week package (generally at 12:30 p.m. ET), with a minimum of 13 games each season throughout the SEC footprint and beyond. In addition, ERT will produce and distribute a studio show.
ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network.
ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones.
ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations.
ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC football on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.
ESPN GamePlan: The out-of-market college football pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action.
ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations.
ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
Men's Basketball
As the exclusive national cable home and syndication rightsholder, an ESPN outlet will offer every SEC intra-conference game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and numerous inter-conference matchups.
ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will triple the offerings by featuring SEC action three nights per week through a minimum of 24 intra-conference games plus an additional six inter-conference matchups involving the SEC each season. Highlighting the increased schedule will be the return of the SEC to ESPN's Super Tuesday and the addition of SEC slots on Thursday and Saturday (ESPN or ESPN2). The SEC will also continue to participate in an annual inter-conference basketball challenge event (e.g. – SEC/Big East Challenge).
ESPNU: The network will televise exclusively a minimum of seven intra-conference and five non-conference games.
ESPN on ABC: A minimum of two regular-season games each season plus the addition of a national telecast of the SEC Tournament Semifinals and Championship Game, giving ABC its first entry into the annual Championship Week.
ESPN Regional Television (ERT): Similar to football, ERT takes over the rights to SEC syndication and will produce and syndicate a minimum of 37 intra-conference games each season throughout SEC territories and beyond. Highlights will include weekly doubleheaders on Saturdays, Wednesday night games, a studio show and the first two rounds of the SEC Tournament.
ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network.
ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones.
ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations.
ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC basketball on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.
ESPN FULL COURT: The out-of-market college basketball pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action.
ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations.
ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
Women's Basketball
ESPN and ESPN2: SEC teams will make a minimum of 16 appearances on ESPN or ESPN2 and one of the networks will also televise the conference tournament championship game.
ESPNU: The network will also feature a minimum of 16 appearances by SEC teams, in addition to the women's conference tournament semifinals.
ESPN Regional Television: ERT will syndicate a game-of-the-week during the regular season as well as the early rounds of the women's conference tournament.
Olympic Sports
ESPN and ESPN2: A minimum of three regular-season baseball or softball games will be offered on ESPN or ESPN2 as well as three regular-season gymnastics matches. In addition, the conference championships in gymnastics, softball and baseball will be televised.
ESPNU: A minimum of 25 regular-season events annually will be televised, including baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, track and field and others. ESPNU will cover all SEC Conference events not on ESPN or ESPN2, including swimming and diving, indoor track and field, outdoor track and field and women's soccer.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.