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Nye: TV deals make SEC lord of the airwaves
Posted on 08.29.08
CommentsIT HAS BEEN AN unprecedented and dizzying two weeks for the SEC. In the span of 11 days, the league landed two television deals that should be the envy of all other conferences. That includes the Big Ten, which has it own network (only available on satellite in this area).
The SEC’s 15-year agreement with CBS will give the network first pick of a conference football game each week and the rights to the annual championship game in Atlanta. On the heels of that came a 15-year deal with ESPN that not only will be a boost for SEC football but also will raise the profile of the league’s basketball programs and the Olympic sports such as softball, baseball, swimming and track and field.
The combined agreements are estimated to be worth about $200 million per year, but it is worth even more than that in the amount of exposure it gives the conference. The SEC already is recognized as the best college football conference in the country but this also will allow more of the nation to sample the league’s other sports.
The ESPN deal, which begins with the 2009-10 school year, means more SEC football, basketball, baseball, etc. on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. It also means the 2010 SEC basketball tournament semifinals and final will air on ABC.
Beginning next season, ESPN will do the SEC regional football game of the week, which has been syndicated by Raycom for many years. Currently that package airs on WIS, which is owned by Raycom. Barry Ahrendt, WIS director of marketing and programming, said that does not necessarily mean WIS won’t carry the SEC games next season.
“Raycom Sports in talking with ESPN about being included in a syndication plan that would include (current) local broadcast markets,” Ahrendt said. “There’s no deal in place yet, but we are hopeful that WIS might be a part of a regional syndication network for SEC games.”
Obviously, like CBS and ESPN, WIS knows the value of being associated with the SEC.
USC and Clemson. South Carolina fans celebrating the SEC deals also should be happy with about the recent agreement between Fox Sports and Gamecocks Sports. SportSouth (cable channel 21) will be airing the weekly replays of USC football games Sundays at 8 p.m. Previously, the replays were available only on Comcast Charter Sports Southeast which is not carried by Time Warner.
The deal includes exclusive live coverage of eight USC men’s basketball games, four USC women’s basketball games and eight USC baseball games.
Meanwhile, Clemson fans in the Midlands will have to grit their teeth because replays of Tigers football games will continue to be on CSS at noon and 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
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