One of the best sports reporters covering the conference expansion and realignment drama is Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News. Wilner provided some interesting nuggets of information about the SEC, Missouri and conference television packages.

Wilner reported, “Now … with two new schools that bring 11 million TV homes … and the sizzling market for televised sports … and the intense demand for football within its massive footprint … the SEC stands to sign media deals that will likely zoom past the Pac-12′s average of $20.8 million per school per year.We’re talking $25-30 million school/yr for the SEC. And don’t be surprised if SEC commish Mike Slive attempts to form his own TV network — just as the Big Ten and Pac-12 have.” (Source)

Wilner provides much more at the above link, so check it out.

The idea the SEC could launch its own network is interesting. There was little appetite to launch a network when the SEC inked its last deal with CBS and ESPN.

However, things have changed. The Big Ten Network has shown this type of enterprise could work. With Texas launching its own network, perhaps the SEC is ready to try it.

If there is more money on the table with such a network, the SEC presidents will try to grab it.

9 thoughts on “Conference Expansion: SEC could net big payday from realignment; is a conference network back on the table?”

  1. Why not just let the SEC bargain a better deal from ESPN and CBS and let the games stay in the national market???

    1. My assumption is that the SEC will get more from CBS and ESPN. The question is what could the SEC do with those Pay Per View games that happen now. These games could be put onto a conference network with other minor sports and some of the basketball games that aren’t shown now along with gymnastics and many other growing sports.

    2. I agree — STAY with ESPN and CBS — it really is the best platform on a National level — especially for voting, etc. — I don’t want a SEC network — it will isolate the rest of the country from a lot of important games.

      #READTHISMIKESLIVE

  2. Conferences and college sports are moving at breakneck speed toward being pseudo professional operations. But at the same time the NCAA is tightening down on any kind of compensation or stipend for the athletes of whom less than 5% will ever see a profit from their athletic experience and many of whom have ridiculous majors just to get them through school but which will not assure them of any type of above average lifestyle. For example, Heisman winner George Rogers is a grounds keeper at either Charlotte’s NFL stadium or USC’s stadium.
    It would be funny (as in Lane Kiffin telling recruits if you go to South Carolina you’ll end up pumping gas for a living) except that it is so sad! RTR!

    1. George Rogers was a first round draft choice and played at least six years in the NFL. If he is not living an above average lifestyle, he’s got nobody to blame but himself.

  3. The SEC splits the bowl money, CBS and Espn contract. Each team owns the rights to one SEC game per year. All of those games are played on PPV. Once the conference expands the extra game. The 12h game will become a conference game. Each team will lose that revenue from that PPV game if they dont renegotiate 3rd Tier tv rights (PPV) games. Those 14 games will be probably picked up by ESPN. If that happens the SEC will recieve more money per team each year and want have to deal with the Hassle of PPV and inturn get more eyes infront of the SEC product. This will inturn eliminate one of the out of conference trash games. The idea of a SEC Network is a perfect idea.

    1. Don’t think you can expect the SEC to add a conference game. I was told the it was highly unlikely the presidents or ADs would embrace adding an SEC game. It would be better for scheduling; however, there seemed to be little enthusiasm for it…from what I was told.

  4. My bad I ment an additional conference game within your division. If you add one team to each division you have to play everyone in your division. That will eliminate one game from the other side. So, with that being said after thinking about it, I could see ppv game becoming a SEC Network or ESPN Game. Thanks for catching that. RTR!

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