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SEC Network leader 'alarmed' more carriers haven't signed up to carry channel
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:14 am
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:14 am
https://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/blog/2014/06/sec-network-leader-alarmed-more-carriers-havent.html
The SEC Nation Show, which is going to be very similar to ESPN Gameday, will debut in Columbia, SC for the A&M at SCAR game before traveling to Nashville on Sept 6 to cover the Ole Miss at Vandy game.
quote:
Excerpted:
The fact that Dish Network is still the only major nationwide carrier to sign on to offer the new SEC Network that goes live Aug. 14 is “alarming” to Justin Connolly, head guru of the station.
As fans start to express angst over the possible stalemate with their television provider, the crowd at the Birmingham Kiwanis Club Tuesday asked Connolly what the network plans to do about getting them broader access to Southeastern Conference games on the new channel. Currently, only Dish Network and AT&T U-Verse have signed up to carry the network, as well as smaller providers Google Fiber and National Rural Telecommunications Cooperatives. Every SEC team will appear on the channel within the first month of the 2014 college football season.
......
“To be honest, it’s alarming (Charter) hasn’t signed up already, but deals often are made closer to launch,” said Connolly,
Continued MASH HERE
The SEC Nation Show, which is going to be very similar to ESPN Gameday, will debut in Columbia, SC for the A&M at SCAR game before traveling to Nashville on Sept 6 to cover the Ole Miss at Vandy game.
quote:
From official SEC press release:
SEC Nation will premiere Thursday, August 28 from Columbia, S.C., where the Gamecocks and Texas A&M Aggies square off to open the season at 5 p.m., CT. Later that day, Vanderbilt opens its 2014 campaign by hosting Temple from the Mid-American Conference, with opening kick scheduled for 8:15 p.m., CT. Both Thursday night games will be televised by the SEC Network.
Besides announcing Williams-Brice date on Thursday, August 28 and the LP Field date on Sept. 6, SEC Network officials also revealed that SEC Nation will broadcast Saturday, Sept. 13 from Gainesville, Fla., and Saturday, Sept. 20 from Tuscaloosa, Ala. The show will travel to all 14 SEC schools by season's end.
Paul Finebaum (Alabama via UT), who will host a daily SEC Network show, and Marcus Spears (LSU) will join previously announced host Joe Tessitore (Boston College) and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow (Florida) as SEC Nation cast members.
"Our SEC Nation team encompasses the veteran voices our fans expect and insider knowledge they deserve. Paul and Marcus bring a variety of experiences that will complement Joe and Tim, providing viewers with a high-caliber, full view of SEC matchups each week," said Stephanie Druley, ESPN vice president, production for college networks.
The SEC Network is a new national sports network launching August 14. It will operate out of Charlotte, N.C., by ESPN in conjunction with the SEC. The Network will air 45 college football games, more than 100 men's basketball games, 60 women's basketball games and 75 baseball contests during the upcoming 2014-15 season. With its accompanying digital platforms, the SEC Network will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 total sporting events from the conference.
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Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:18 am to scrooster
This is theatre. They are raising the "alarm" for leverage.
There was going to be one season when almost no one had it and we are all pissed or money was going to be left on the table.
The SEC is counting on us all not getting it and ripping these cable companies a new one in the fall as a result.
This will all be settled by 2016, with most providers caving.
There was going to be one season when almost no one had it and we are all pissed or money was going to be left on the table.
The SEC is counting on us all not getting it and ripping these cable companies a new one in the fall as a result.
This will all be settled by 2016, with most providers caving.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:33 am to scrooster
quote:
Paul Finebaum (Alabama via UT), who will host a daily SEC Network show, and Marcus Spears (LSU) will join previously announced host Joe Tessitore (Boston College) and 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow (Florida) as SEC Nation cast members.
Off topic, but did not know this was the full cast. Why does this seem like it will be either a HR, or a strikeout in tee ball bad.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:36 am to scrooster
Damn. No more Joe Tessitore / Matt Millan color commentary? They were our good luck charms last year. 
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:36 am to scrooster
Build it (SEC Network/demand) and they (providers) will come.
Fortunately, I have Dish.
Fortunately, I have Dish.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:36 am to Wanderin Reb
I blame Brando.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:38 am to cardboardboxer
quote:
This is theatre. They are raising the "alarm" for leverage.
There was going to be one season when almost no one had it and we are all pissed or money was going to be left on the table.
The SEC is counting on us all not getting it and ripping these cable companies a new one in the fall as a result.
This will all be settled by 2016, with most providers caving.
If it goes to 2016 for most carriers, then DISH is going to mop the floor with the rest of them.
DISH is already fast becoming to the TV world what Verizon is to the mobile phone market. Matter of fact, with DISH now breaking into the high speed Internet market and with talk of them soon offering mobile coverage for phones and other mobile devices ... we could be seeing a big move by Verizon and DISH to becoming the two major players in the broadband/satellite/mobile market for decades to come.
Well, Verizon already is as is AT&T of course, but DISH is sure making a move in a big way and I suspect this one one of the smartest moves they could have made.
If DISH ever corners the NFL market, takes it away from DirecTV, then it is katy bar the door.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:39 am to GridironLeatherhead
quote:
they carry the LHN so I am sure they would enjoy a better product.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:42 am to Cheese Grits
I missed that awesomeness.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:49 am to cardboardboxer
quote:How is the sec network guy expressing his concern supposed to give the network more leverage?
This is theatre. They are raising the "alarm" for leverage.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 11:50 am to Politiceaux
Gets customers pissed off, pissed off customers call trifflin' arse cable companies.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:02 pm to scrooster
I'm giving my provider (Charter) till August 8th - if they haven't added the SECNetwork then Dish will have my buisness. That should be plenty of time to get Dish up and running in time for the SECNetwork premiere of the Cocks/Aggies - Vandy/Temple games on Aug 28th.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:02 pm to cardboardboxer
It's going to start early around here. They've announced that Kentucky Basketball's August trip to the Bahamas will be partially televised on ESPNU and partially televised on SEC Network.
Shots have officially been fired.
Shots have officially been fired.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:09 pm to Blake R
quote:A guy saying he's concerned would get people pissed off? Those who would call will do that regardless. His admission of alarm isn't some grand bargaining chip, contrary to the original stupid assertion that it was.
Gets customers pissed off, pissed off customers call trifflin' arse cable companies.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:12 pm to scrooster
The SEC needs to pay someone in the main office to get out and approach the cable providers and get them on board now
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:14 pm to RT1941
quote:
I'm giving my provider (Charter) till August 8th - if they haven't added the SECNetwork then Dish will have my buisness.
I was talking to my parents on the phone the other day. They are giving Comcast just 3 weeks. If they haven't added the SEC Network to their programming by then, they're going to DISH.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:29 pm to scrooster
The SEC Network holds all the cards in this negotiation and the tv providers know it. This stalemate won't last long. A few points:
1. A cable provider simply cannot be profitable in the South without carrying the SEC Network so long as others are providing it.
2. Most in the South are willing to pay whatever increase the SEC Network is asking.
3. If a fan wants to watch the aTm/USC game, etc, there is no alternative other than the SEC Network. However, there is an alternative to Directv, Charter, etc if they don't carry it.
If execs in NYC really think this standoff is the equivalent of negotiating with the Weather Channel or Big Ten Network, they will soon realize they have made a huge mistake. There is no more passionate group of tv watchers than SEC fans on a Saturday in the Fall.
1. A cable provider simply cannot be profitable in the South without carrying the SEC Network so long as others are providing it.
2. Most in the South are willing to pay whatever increase the SEC Network is asking.
3. If a fan wants to watch the aTm/USC game, etc, there is no alternative other than the SEC Network. However, there is an alternative to Directv, Charter, etc if they don't carry it.
If execs in NYC really think this standoff is the equivalent of negotiating with the Weather Channel or Big Ten Network, they will soon realize they have made a huge mistake. There is no more passionate group of tv watchers than SEC fans on a Saturday in the Fall.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:34 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
How is the sec network guy expressing his concern supposed to give the network more leverage?
Ever hear of Dish network? Practically everyone, everywhere can get it. It has SECN.
This is definitely some marketing gamesmanship going on but what this really means for the average fan is that the longer these other providers hold out, the better it will probably be.
Here is the reason why.
Remember who is behind this, it's not just the SEC but ESPN as well. The longer this plays out THE MORE LIKELY that ESPN will shift more high profile games from the Deuce to SECN. They can and will do this to add even more pressure to the holdout providers to cave in. People who flip to Uverse or Dish are not just going to automatically flip back to cable when those providers pick up SECN and the cable co's know this, and it goes double for those who don't get or want high speed internet.
Those who can pick up Uverse are set, those who need a Dish install want to be checking it out, you may well not wind up having to switch but in the meantime it's good to get your options ready and remind your tv provider that you have those options.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:43 pm to Jagd Tiger
No Comcast yet.
Posted on 6/26/14 at 12:45 pm to RollTide1987
I didn't wait that long. DirecTV sent me an email a couple months ago stating they would not have the SEC network. I switched to U-Verse about two weeks later.
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