The SEC Network’s launch date of August 14 is fast approaching and there’s been no movement on carriage agreements since ESPN signed Dish Network and AT&T U-Verse along with some smaller providers. Other major providers such as Bright House, Charter, Comcast, DirecTV (especially DirecTV) and Time Warner have not signed for SEC Network.
Despite the fact that each SEC team will be featured in the first month, it has not made any of the major providers budge in their refusal to pick up the channel.
Speaking to a gathering in Birmingham, AL, ESPN Senior Vice President for college networks Justin Connolly said it was alarming that companies weren’t lining up to sign SEC Network. He said discussions have been ongoing, but not to the point where any progress was being made.
ESPN is hoping the rabid SEC fanbase will call providers en masse, but that apparently has not happened. In the meantime, ESPN is left holding the bag wishing that the providers will start picking up the network.
As the launch approaches, we should see providers start signing agreements, but the cable and satellite companies also want something in return. It all comes down to money and what the cable and satellite providers feel is a fair carriage price.
It took Fox to make concessions on its per subscriber price to get Fox Sports 1 carried on all of the major providers. ESPN may have to do the same if its wants SEC Network on cable systems throughout the conference footprint.
The launch is just over a month and a half away. There’s still a lot of work that has to be done. Fans are waiting. This is not going to be easy.
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