The SEC may launch its own TV network
ESPN, the NFL and the NBA have gone hand-in-hand for the last umpteen years - like bread and butter.
In fact, it's hard to imagine not having football or basketball without what seems like hours of ESPN commercials. Well, that could all change. For this reason, the following USAToday news story is worth sharing.
Begin SEC and Satellite TV Network News Story…
Imagine ESPN not over-covering the NFL, not focusing on the NBA and the NHL and focusing on what many believe is the No. 1 college football conference in the nation minus all those self-serving commercials and anchors. And you might have the "SEC-PN" network, or the Southeastern Conference Entertainment Network.
"No question, there would be football and basketball on it," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said recently at the SEC spring meetings. "I think there's something like 8,720 hours of programming available. Obviously, part of that would have to be significant football and basketball. The other piece that our presidents and chancellors are very interested in is it would create an outlet for non-athletic content from our universities, which have good communication schools. There are a lot of events on our respective campuses that might find their way onto an SEC network."
The SEC has been talking to various satellite TV and national networks and cable distribution companies in recent months about possibly launching an SEC network in two to three years devoted to all or almost all league sports.
The Big Ten plans to launch exactly that this August, while the Mountain West Conference has had its own network — the Mtn. (Mountain West Sports Network) — for nearly a year.
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The idea for the network came about when the Mountain West's contract with ESPN came up for renewal, and the league decided to explore other options.







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