ESPN deal good for recruiting

Sure the ESPN deal means big money for the SEC member schools; however, the really important news is the increased exposure for the schools.

None other than the recruiting maestro Nick Saban said the reason the SEC has been successful is due to the tremendous exposure through its national television games on CBS and ESPN. Saban said the new deal is only going to enhance the league’s exposure.

“When I was at Michigan State and I went to LSU, very few people knew a lot about the Big Ten and had seen very few Michigan State games because we would probably play Notre Dame on tv every year and maybe one more game that was a national (tv) game,” Saban said. “At LSU we would play seven to ten every year. And the people in Michigan who were my friends would see us play eight or nine games per year. That’s a fact.”

And you can’t miss that additional exposure in the details of the ESPN deal. The deal means SEC fans can watch “more than 5,500 SEC events – including football, men’s and women’s basketball, Olympic sports and SEC Championships,” according to a press released issued by the SEC and ESPN.

The over-the-air broadcast via ESPN Regional Television will bring SEC games not only to the South, but into some major television markets that Raycom didn’t reach, Slive said. That gets you more exposure into important recruiting territories.

Basically, every SEC home game should be available on television over one of the many platforms available. ESPN broadband should offer persons traveling opportunities to watch games when away from their home.

“This agreement makes the SEC the most widely distributed conference in the country,” Slive said.

Here are the details regarding the only two sports people really care about football and basketball:
Football

ESPN has acquired rights to every SEC home football game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and will serve as the exclusive national cable home and the syndication rightsholder for the conference.

ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will increase coverage by combining to televise a minimum of 20 SEC games annually, including Saturday night and two primetime Thursday matchups.

ESPNU: The 24-hour college sports network, which launched in March 2005, will present a package of SEC football for the first time, with a Saturday game-of-the-week (generally in primetime and a minimum of 13 games annually).

ESPN Regional Television (ERT): The nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, becomes the official over-the-air syndication home for the SEC and will feature a game-of-the-week package (generally at 12:30 p.m. ET), with a minimum of 13 games each season throughout the SEC footprint and beyond. In addition, ERT will produce and distribute a studio show.

ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network.

ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones.

ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations.

ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC football on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.

ESPN GamePlan: The out-of-market college football pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action.

ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations.

ESPN.com: Extensive SEC content, including highlights, will be presented online.

Men’s Basketball

As the exclusive national cable home and syndication rightsholder, an ESPN outlet will offer every SEC intra-conference game (excluding those on the network broadcast package) and numerous inter-conference matchups.

ESPN and ESPN2: The networks will triple the offerings by featuring SEC action three nights per week through a minimum of 24 intra-conference games plus an additional six inter-conference matchups involving the SEC each season. Highlighting the increased schedule will be the return of the SEC to ESPN’s Super Tuesday and the addition of SEC slots on Thursday and Saturday (ESPN or ESPN2). The SEC will also continue to participate in an annual inter-conference basketball challenge event (e.g. – SEC/Big East Challenge).

ESPNU: The network will televise exclusively a minimum of seven intra-conference and five non-conference games.

ESPN on ABC: A minimum of two regular-season games each season plus the addition of a national telecast of the SEC Tournament Semifinals and Championship Game, giving ABC its first entry into the annual Championship Week.

ESPN Regional Television (ERT): Similar to football, ERT takes over the rights to SEC syndication and will produce and syndicate a minimum of 37 intra-conference games each season throughout SEC territories and beyond. Highlights will include weekly doubleheaders on Saturdays, Wednesday night games, a studio show and the first two rounds of the SEC Tournament.

ESPN360.com: Simulcasts of SEC game telecasts will be offered on the broadband network.

ESPN Mobile TV: Live games will be simulcast on mobile phones.

ESPN International: The agreement includes global rights to present live games and encore presentations.

ESPN Deportes: ESPN has acquired domestic Spanish-language rights for SEC basketball on the 24-hour, U.S.-based network.

ESPN FULL COURT: The out-of-market college basketball pay-per-view service, will offer SEC action.

ESPN Classic: The network may telecast select SEC live games as well as historic and immediate encore presentations.