Comments on: Report: SEC Getting Closer To Starting Its Own Television Network

By: dchauncey21

dchauncey21 — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:56:52 +0000

I would like the SEC to go to a 16 team league which I believe would allow for traditional rivalries to continue. As a Gator, I would like to play Auburn again every year and enjoy our rivalry with Tennessee that has developed over the past 25 years. I also believe adding Florida State might be the best move for the SEC. Florida State is a brand name that CBS will pay for! FSU fits in culturally and locks in the state of Florida which is by far the largest state in the Southeast. Virginia Tech also provides a brand name I think CBS would pay for as well as opening up the Virginia/DC market.

By: Homepage | MrSEC

Homepage | MrSEC — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:33:38 +0000

[...] Yesterday it was reported by The SportsBusiness Journal that the SEC is once again considering the launch of its own television network as part of its ongoing contract negotiations with ESPN. It was also revealed the CBS is “balking” at making any significant increase in pay to the conference just because it’s added Missouri and Texas A&M in the past few months. [...]

By: RoadTrip

RoadTrip — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:10:37 +0000

Silly question. If this were to happen would ESPN then support the SEC schools not named Bama, LSU or Florida with their announcers and media corp? They all openly prefer the Big 10 and PAC 12 and worship the Rose Bowl.They will talk up a mediocre Penn State and ignore a good South Carolina every day. If not those leagues they always talk up the Big 12 and ACC before the SEC. It’s not just football we are talking about here. Sounds like the SEC would be making another deal with the devil if they did this with ESPN in my opinion. Understand it’s the devil we know – but it’s still the devil. As you point out they are your friend as long as you are perceived to be on top. Is there a way to get the national exposure by owning your own network without having to stay in bed with those guys?

By: AllTideUp

AllTideUp — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:34:57 +0000

@safety guy If Texas and ESPN were smart they would renegotiate the LHN deal to form a Big 12 network instead. It was their tunnel vision from the outset that aided in the big 4 leaving.

By: safety guy

safety guy — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:40:03 +0000

ESPN needs a partner to go with the longhorn network so if they get the SEC Network, they will be able to leverage that to have cable companies pair up the two for distribution. No way can they distribute the longhorn network on its own merit. ESPN tried to strongarm cable companies to attach it to other ESPN products for distribution but the cable companies did not bite and there is no widespread demand for the lhn. It is niche programming with no broad appeal. That is why the high school content was going to be so important. With the lhn and an SEC Network, cable companies will be more apt to pair the two up in a Tier for subscribers to purchase. But I still say that the lhn should be a stand alone network that should be supported by the longhorn faithful and not by non-interested parties.

By: WillieT

WillieT — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:19:13 +0000

Lots of things going on across college football. Mike Slive is a shrewd businessman & his legal training & history have honed his skill at deception while keeping him focused on securing a favorable outcome for his clients, namely, the SEC.

Slive has moved deliberately and has increased the value of the league exponentially. It hasn’t hurt that the likes of LSU, Florida, Auburn, & Alabama have gathered a half-dozen crystal footballs or that UK & Florida have brought home NCAA banners to hang in their basketball arenas.

Expanding into Texas & Missouri added television markets and TV drives revenue. Creating the Southeastern Conference Television Network (SECTV) regardless of the structure, should be a huge cash cow – as long as the league continues to produce a top quality product. We obviously expect this to continue.

Wonder if the SEC can claim breach of contract if CBS continues to balk at renegotiating in good faith under contractual provisions? Could their preferred rights to the best match-up be lost? What else might be at stake?

I personally find CBS’s treatment of the SEC game to be insulting. They always assign a lousy broadcast team to this game. Of course, they don’t actually have a good broadcast team do they.

In the end, we fans of the SEC should get more and better viewing options with the creation of a new network.

By: AllTideUp

AllTideUp — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:04:27 +0000

@John at MrSEC Thanks. I’d have to believe the SEC would be the most valuable league-oriented product out there just based on demand. Hopefully there are huge windfalls.

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:52:04 +0000

@AllTideUp

There are folks throwing out all kinds of numbers ($500m, $1b, etc) based on other deals and projected negotiations, but it’s all talk right now. There’s no telling how such a network would even be formed — who controls what percentage of it? — how it would be sold, how much distribution it would get, etc, etc.

The bottom line is, IF the SEC and ESPN do partner on a network, those fans who’ve fretted that other leagues have passed the SEC in TV dollars (even though the SEC’s 3rd tier rights have never been included in those comparisons) can stop fretting. The SEC would be as rich or richer than anyone.

Right up until the next round of expansion and TV negotiations, that is.

It’s a lot like NFL quarterback salaries. QB 1 sets the bar with his deal in 2010. In 2011, QB 2 passes him. Then QB 3 passes him in 2012. And on and on.

Bottom line: It appears that the SEC will be financially secure well into the future as a 14-school league.

If it and others go to 16… then all bets are off.

Thanks for reading,John

By: AllTideUp

AllTideUp — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:42:48 +0000

Are there any projected figures on the revenue from an SEC Network? I’ve heard some throw out the idea that within 10 years the league could be raking in over $1 Billion annually from such a venture. I believe those figures were based on inclusion in the NC and VA markets though so it if that doesn’t happen it would obviously be less. Any idea if that was just bluster?

By: gatorwhisperer

gatorwhisperer — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:32:45 +0000

Isn’t a league-owned network simply one more reason the ACC $ucks? And one more reason for Free Shoes University to get out of it?

If it’s all about money:
* A confernce championship game that they can’t sell out
* No “Champions” bowl affiliation/ ownership
* Inferior TV payout for Tier 1 rights
* Little value/ ability to pool Tier 2 rights
* Recruiting disadvantages because of all of the above

I’m with MrSEC – I hope realignment slows down… not for tradition (or fear of nuclear war), but for fear of FSU (or Miami) getting parity with the Gators.