re: SEC Network FAQs

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For someone not living in an SEC state, this is much better. Here's what I experienced while living at Ft. Bragg:

-I was NEVER able to catch the CBS game of the week live in HD before the end of the first quarter because of some piece of shite ACC game of the week running way too long.

-I was often unable to catch the SEC Network regional broadcast in HD because of either some obscure NBC broadcast crap, or in the case of Fox Sports Carolinas, a broadcast of an ACC shite game, a Carolina Hurricanes shite game, or a Charlotte Bobcats shite game.

-ESPN3 feed was pretty average compared to the TV HD feed.

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we get that same crap in SC. if CBS affiliate station subscribes to the ACC package, they are required to carry it in its entirety, which happens w/ the Charleston station.

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For someone not living in an SEC state, this is much better. Here's what I experienced while living at Ft. Bragg:

-I was NEVER able to catch the CBS game of the week live in HD before the end of the first quarter because of some piece of shite ACC game of the week running way too long.

-I was often unable to catch the SEC Network regional broadcast in HD because of either some obscure NBC broadcast crap, or in the case of Fox Sports Carolinas, a broadcast of an ACC shite game, a Carolina Hurricanes shite game, or a Charlotte Bobcats shite game.

-ESPN3 feed was pretty average compared to the TV HD feed.

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I hear you, and I can relate to my many years at Bragg (325th), and how I'd have to settle for ACC games rather than SEC games twenty years ago when we first joined. If I was lucky, held my tongue right and all the stars were aligned, I could pick-up the Gamecock Radio network out of Darlington or Dillon on a good day if I wasn't in the field on the desert or the jungle or overseas somewhere.

But I think this deal is more about taking away something from those of us in the eleven state SEC footprint, and distributing it nationally instead. It seems more about reaching out and expanding the viewership over time, sure it does, but not admitting that in the short term those of us in the 11 state footprint are going to be given less of what we've become accustomed to for free.

I get it, I do. There are nine million SEC alumni living outside of the 11 state footprint and the potential for another thirty million to tune-in just to watch SEC football in other parts of the country ... but it is going to take some getting used to, and we're going to find weekends when we're not going to be happy until they get this thing carried on all providers' broadcasts. And this is not going to be an easy sell to some of the providers.

Another question this raises is ... will this be a subscription only network or will the providers simply increase their overall subscription rate by a set amount per household and then offer it up to everyone who subscribes to their service?

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I hope not. That's what we have here in Atlanta. Their footprint is all over GA, FL, and TN.

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I don't have a problem being wrong.

I base my guess off of the fact that out of the four major providers, only one is has a network which is a direct competitor to ABC/ESPN sports-wise (Comcast and the NBC Networks).

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That's a fairly recent phenomenon though, right?

I mean just recently has ESPN used their muscle and money to help local ABC affiliates secure regional broadcast rights to SEC games. I know for two decades they have mostly been on local CBS affiliate stations. I think it's been the last two years that a few ABC affiliates muscled-in on the SEC regional broadcasts.

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it's been into play for a while. affiliates aren't required to carry the national feed, but are contractually required to carry the JP/LF/?? ACC package in its entirety if they subscribe to it. ...same for the SEC regional syndication. The syndicator needs the constant reach to sell advertising for the package. otherwise, stations would drop crappy games (Duke vs. Wake) and put on Andy Griffith reruns that would get better ratings. ABC may have made a deal w/ their affiliates because they also televise some games at noon w/ ESPN.

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So where are the other 13, (or more), going to come from if not directly out of the ESPNU, ESPN2 inventory?

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They will come out of that inventory, obviously, but I think what he was implying is that it will be offset by the time a 9 game conference schedule is announced.

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They will come out of that inventory, obviously, but I think what he was implying is that it will be offset by the time a 9 game conference schedule is announced.

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Exactly.

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You assume 9 games is set

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Watch and see.

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PAC-12 already discussing going back to 8

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Link?

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Again if you don't live in the south you will love this

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I live in the south.

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The rest of us will lose coverage of our favorite team, no way around that

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I love this -- and fail to see how I will get any less coverage for my teams. I'm going to love watching a cumulative total of about 100+ SEC baseball games/yr between ESPNU and the SEC Network.

The regional syndications in MS brings nothing anyway.

While I am skeptical, as you are, about ESPN control, ESPN is the master of entertaining.

That is why I think it will be huge. There is a difference between covering sporting events ala B1G Network and the Pac-12 network and providing entertainment. ESPN has a lot of well-documented faults, but no one has ever accused them of being boring. They will create an entertaining product. They will create plots and subplots and interesting storylines to make the channel something bigger, I believe, than any other partner would. Plus, ESPN is where the nation goes for sports. This is a national network. They can wield a lot of power.

I can tell you right now, I will have baseball games on all day long on the weekend once they begin airing. I foresee nothing better than all-day SEC baseball on the bigscreen in the background on a Saturday while I'm in and out doing yardwork or cooking on the grill.

This is one of the few conferences where they will see profitable returns from the baseball portion of their coverage alone IMO.

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The regional syndications in MS brings nothing anyway.

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Exactly. No CST for me anyway. And once this thing gets rolling I guess it's theoretically possible they could have SEC games airing on any of the networks at the same time(SECN, ESPNU, ESPNII, etc.) as well as online.

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PAC-12 already discussing going back to 8

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I think you are getting confused with the B1G. They back tracked from that recently.