SEC considering launching its own network

Following the model of the Big Ten. Sort of.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/05/28/sectv_0529.html

 

Hasn't the Big 10 Network struggled to get on cable systems?

 

I don't like it. This league already screws the pooch when it comes to its basketball contracts, and this is going to make things worse, not better. And where schools have some flexibility begging off the JP Lincoln Financial Raycom game now, you can bet there will be none when the in-house network slots you for a breakfast kickoff.

But for everyone who has trouble grasping that Things Are Different Down Here, the following is a valuable eucational service.

 

That's why I said sort of. The story says part of the deal would be to have that in place before it launches. Doesn't sound like that would be a problem.

To me, the interesting thing is that the conference might not launch it, but will use the possibility to pry more money out of the TV networks.

 

Yes. They didn't realize how hard it was going to be to get on the Comcasts and Time-Warners. But they have gotten in on a lot of the community cable systems.

Supposedly the BTN is close to a deal with Comcast. If that happens, the other big ones should fall before football season, because they'll strike similar deals.

In our area, one community cable system has it. The main cable provider in our area — Mediacom — does not. So Iowa fans only got to see four men's basketball games this season (not that they missed much).

Mediacom's favorite argument as to why it didn't include the BTN was it didn't want to raise customers' rates. Then, in January, it raised rates $3 a month — without the BTN.

 

Glorious, isn't it

 

What I'd like to know is, "WHEN" would be a good time to do this? ... When the economy worsens? ... When there are 50 Gazillion bowl games and Duke is in a bowl game every season ... When if you give it five years, there's an oversaturation of other conferences creating conference networks? List goes on.

Hell ... go for it. Why not, Slive?

 

They're gonna do it. They're just going to make sure they don't repeat the Big 10's mistake of not locking up cable deals before they launch.

 

In SEC country it would be hard for this thing to fail. It's like porn and the Internet. The only question is, who's going to get rich?

 

If you use that analogy, wouldn't the only question be why pay to watch it when you can find it somewhere for free?
:0)

 

Good point.

 

I've heard the SEC is also looking into a network deal with Fox.