Awful Announcing provided a link to a Sports Business Journal story on ESPN’s efforts to get ESPNU to replace ESPN Classic on many cable systems. The talks between ESPN and cable operators “are expected to heat up this week,” according to the report.
Why does this matter to you? SEC football.
According to Sports Business Journal, “The channel, which launched in the spring of 2005, has been at the center of ESPN’s most recent media deals. ESPNU will pick up a significant part of ESPN’s SEC schedule and is expected to run shoulder programming that supports ESPN’s BCS package.”
ESPNU already handles much of ESPN’s recruiting coverage during the National Signing Day madness. Has anyone watched ESPN Classic much over the last year? Not according to the numbers, which show a significant decline in viewership. With the arrival of SEC football on the channel, ESPNU is sure to be a hot commodity.
