SIAP. As noted in prior threads, ESPN has succeeded to the CBS-SEC Game of the week, including the SEC football champ game - following the 2023-2024 season (the last year for CBS). As predicted, this has created not just an "additional" revenue stream, but rather, a reset of the entire contract. It's called a ten year deal because the existing TV contract expires in ten years after the 2033-2034 season. So basically, the SEC and ESPN are adjusting the overall remainder of the pre-existing TV contract.
I don't have the numbers yet. In the deal, the "SEC Game of the week" will always be on ABC, and it appears that that game may remain mainly a 3:30 game. But ESPN has the right to put another SEC game on ABC at night on the same day. So maybe sometimes the SEC game of the week will be on ABC at night, and another SEC game on ABC . In any event, having ABC show two SEC games on any given Saturday may become common.
In addition, the agreement allows ESPN to put one non conference SEC football game for each member on ESPN+, and two SEC non conference BB games for each member on ESPN+. I find this interesting as you normally would see those games on the SECN. But hey, when you own all the inventory, you have to find the bandwidth to show it. Although there are some B12 games on ESPN+, it's a rather haphazard arrangement as FOX broadcasts a lot of the B12 games. In essence, as the sole owner of all SEC content, ESPN has found a way to move some of the content of their golden goose on to its web streaming network. As a reminder, ESPN+ is a separate charge and it does not broadcast any games that are shown concurrently on any linear ESPN channel. But of course, it's a separate fee. (And you can combine it with the Disney Channel and HULU!).
Although I don't have the numbers, it is this new deal that allowed the SEC to announce that it is CURRENTLY paying $23M to each SEC school to offset the losses due to COVID, and these current payments represent an advance of member revenue for the years beginning after the new contract revenue takes affect.
Here is what I find disturbing and interesting. It is disturbing to me that the one "Free channel" in the ESPN inventory is ABC, and it sounds like ABC is being reserved for the SEC. Historically, ABC has been the one free network that always bought into the sport of college football. ND struck its deal with NBC not just for money.. but because it created a "Free channel" on a national platform to showcase 6 home games. Similarly, CBS was a platform for the SEC, but other than the Army-Navy game, CBS has no other college football inventory. How much promotion was CBS able to give to the SEC, or NBC to ND, when you are not broadcasting any other college games? ABC is very different. Even cord cutters get ABC. Whatever views or theories we have had about ESPN bias to the SEC in the past are insignificant when compared what will happen with the new ABC-SEC relationship. I believe that whatever leverage the ACC has had with ESPN has just been significantly reduced. The SEC is sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
What I find interesting is the SEC agreeing to put any inventory in ESPN+. Granted, it's not SEC vs SEC conference games. But it's an indication that ESPN will start making more moves with ESPN+. Not sure what their next step will be for their web streaming channel.
I apologize if this has been reported before. It was the $23M payment that caught my eye.
I don't have the numbers yet. In the deal, the "SEC Game of the week" will always be on ABC, and it appears that that game may remain mainly a 3:30 game. But ESPN has the right to put another SEC game on ABC at night on the same day. So maybe sometimes the SEC game of the week will be on ABC at night, and another SEC game on ABC . In any event, having ABC show two SEC games on any given Saturday may become common.
In addition, the agreement allows ESPN to put one non conference SEC football game for each member on ESPN+, and two SEC non conference BB games for each member on ESPN+. I find this interesting as you normally would see those games on the SECN. But hey, when you own all the inventory, you have to find the bandwidth to show it. Although there are some B12 games on ESPN+, it's a rather haphazard arrangement as FOX broadcasts a lot of the B12 games. In essence, as the sole owner of all SEC content, ESPN has found a way to move some of the content of their golden goose on to its web streaming network. As a reminder, ESPN+ is a separate charge and it does not broadcast any games that are shown concurrently on any linear ESPN channel. But of course, it's a separate fee. (And you can combine it with the Disney Channel and HULU!).
Although I don't have the numbers, it is this new deal that allowed the SEC to announce that it is CURRENTLY paying $23M to each SEC school to offset the losses due to COVID, and these current payments represent an advance of member revenue for the years beginning after the new contract revenue takes affect.
Here is what I find disturbing and interesting. It is disturbing to me that the one "Free channel" in the ESPN inventory is ABC, and it sounds like ABC is being reserved for the SEC. Historically, ABC has been the one free network that always bought into the sport of college football. ND struck its deal with NBC not just for money.. but because it created a "Free channel" on a national platform to showcase 6 home games. Similarly, CBS was a platform for the SEC, but other than the Army-Navy game, CBS has no other college football inventory. How much promotion was CBS able to give to the SEC, or NBC to ND, when you are not broadcasting any other college games? ABC is very different. Even cord cutters get ABC. Whatever views or theories we have had about ESPN bias to the SEC in the past are insignificant when compared what will happen with the new ABC-SEC relationship. I believe that whatever leverage the ACC has had with ESPN has just been significantly reduced. The SEC is sucking all the oxygen out of the room.
What I find interesting is the SEC agreeing to put any inventory in ESPN+. Granted, it's not SEC vs SEC conference games. But it's an indication that ESPN will start making more moves with ESPN+. Not sure what their next step will be for their web streaming channel.
I apologize if this has been reported before. It was the $23M payment that caught my eye.
