DirecTV adds SEC Network

[Steak Snabler]

http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2014/08/directv-provide-new-sec-network-august-14-2014/

Makes it 85 million households at its launch. Bow ye before the vortex of dominance.

Also notable in that DirecTV DOES NOT carry the Pac-12 Network.

 

[Pancamo]

The backing of ESPN put the pressure on DTV. Most of the games on the SEC network are shut. Good start with fake USC and AM but most are garbage.

 

[Batman]

The backing of ESPN put the pressure on DTV. Most of the games on the SEC network are shut. Good start with fake USC and AM but most are garbage.

1) Of course they are. CBS and ESPN still get top pick of games, with the SEC Network largely picking from the leftovers.
2) The only games they've released so far are during the largely non-conference part of the schedule.
3) This is largely replacing the JP/Raycom game, which was always the runt of the litter.
4) And this is the most important thing ... if you're a fan of whatever team is playing, I doubt you care. You're going to find your team whatever channel they're on. If this gets a game on TV that otherwise wouldn't have been (like LSU-Sam Houston State in September), then that's not a bad thing.

 

[Armchair_QB]

SEC Network: The Official Channel of Kentucky Football

 

[Batman]

SEC Network: The Official Channel of Kentucky Football

Just like the crew working the JP game probably should have kept apartments in Nashville.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Very disappointed ESPN didn't keep the Three Daves around.

 

[BurnsWhenIPee]

Anyone know if they doing a thing like the Big Ten Network, where every team has to have 'X' number of games on the network every season?

 

[BTExpress]

I think by definition it has to be a step up from JP/Raycom, since SEC Network will show 45 games and JP/Raycom was less than a third of that.

 

[Batman]

Anyone know if they doing a thing like the Big Ten Network, where every team has to have 'X' number of games on the network every season?

Not sure if it's a requirement, but it is a selling point -- and one that's not too hard to obtain. There's enough of those Florida-Eastern Michigan and LSU-Sam Houston State games to provide plenty of opportunity. There's even enough second-tier league games to provide an occasionally decent matchup. A&M-Carolina was handpicked, obviously, but Auburn-Arkansas on opening weekend might not be too bad.

 

[I'll never tell]

Will the SEC network eliminate the need for any PPV games? I know there weren't many of those left for many schools. Just wondering.

 

[DanOregon]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogstv/58260497-63/network-sec-directv-launch.html.csp

Pac-12 will probably re-think it's strategy now.

 

[JackReacher]

Any word on FIOS yet? Isn't that the only major provider yet to reach a deal for the SEC Net?

 

[Steak Snabler]

Will the SEC network eliminate the need for any PPV games? I know there weren't many of those left for many schools. Just wondering.

It seems that way. They're showing the likes of UT-Martin at Kentucky, Florida Atlantic at Alabama, Eastern Michigan at Florida and Lamar at Texas A&M in the first four weeks.

http://www.fbschedules.com/2014/05/sec-network-football-schedule-first-four-weeks-2014-season/

 

[Steak Snabler]

The backing of ESPN put the pressure on DTV. Most of the games on the SEC network are shut. Good start with fake USC and AM but most are garbage.

1) Of course they are. CBS and ESPN still get top pick of games, with the SEC Network largely picking from the leftovers.
2) The only games they've released so far are during the largely non-conference part of the schedule.
3) This is largely replacing the JP/Raycom game, which was always the runt of the litter.
4) And this is the most important thing ... if you're a fan of whatever team is playing, I doubt you care. You're going to find your team whatever channel they're on. If this gets a game on TV that otherwise wouldn't have been (like LSU-Sam Houston State in September), then that's not a bad thing.

Right, those contracts were hammered out a long time ago.

I think the SEC will always want some kind of national broadcast presence, so that it can reach people where there's no cable or where satellite TV is not an option (such as in large cities where the signal is blocked by buildings and such). And just because broadcast ratings (and ad dollars) are still bigger these days.

But I think as time goes on, you'll start to see some bigger games on the SEC Network. With it available on practically every cable and satellite outlet in the country, there's no reason not to.

I think the plan is for it to evolve much like the NFL Network. It started out getting crap games as well, but they've slowly migrated some of their choice programming there.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Good stuff from the "Fake Bo Pelini" Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/FauxPelini/status/496517744511053824/photo/1