Cara Capuano
The SEC and ESPN have just announced the SEC Network, a regional network that will be in 73 markets, including Lexington, via WKYT.
An excerpt:
ESPN Regional Television, the new over-the-air syndication home for Southeastern Conference programming, and the SEC announced today a regionally syndicated college sports package that will air in more than 73 television markets, along with the branding of the syndication package as the SEC Network – all part of the groundbreaking 15-year agreement between ESPN, Inc., and the SEC.
Within the nine-state SEC footprint, the SEC Network will be delivered in markets by the local over-the-air carrier of SEC events. In markets outside the SEC footprint, the syndicated programming will air on either local, over-the-air television stations or regional sports cable networks.
Much like previous SEC rights-holders Lincoln Financial and Raycom, the SEC Network will carry a weekly football game, starting Sept. 5, with a 12:21 p.m. kickoff time.
Dave Neal will do the play-by-play for the network’s football games, as he did for Lincoln Financial and Raycom. Former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Andre Ware will do the color with Cara Capuano supplying the sideline reporting.
There will be an ESPN Studio show, with Rob Stone and Matt Stinchcomb, the former Georgia offensive lineman.
The announcers for the network’s regional basketball package have not been named.
Stations in Kentucky that will carry the network:
- Bowling Green – WBKO; WBKO-FOX; WBKO-This-TV ABC; FOX
- Lexington – WKYT; CWkyt CBS; CW
- Louisville – WAVE NBC
- Paducah-C.Girard.-Harrbg-Mt VN – WPSD; WPSD-DT2 NBC
Isn’t this network essentially JP or Lincoln Financial or Raycom, just under the ESPN name, with a few more cities added?
The only difference is the reporting will be worse, much worse. Reporters won’t be able to spell football or basketball, they’ll be talking over top of the game about USC, Duke, UNC, or Rick Pitino. Eventually ESPN will figure out a way for it to become part of a sports package you don’t get, and you’ll have to pony up 3 payments of $99.99 to see your team play 3 miles down the street. ESPN – Every Smuck Pays Now
i am on disk sat. how do i get sec network?
The SEC Network is the worst football coverage I’ve ever seen. I have to wait 5 minutes just to see a replay of the call that was already overturned. The commentators are terrible. They talk about the coaches and players pregame warmups, but the barely comment on the game they’re supposedly watching. Oh, what’s that? Is that another close-up of a fan that has nothing to do with the game? No, wait, it’s a 15 second face-shot of the conditioning coach. The play already started? Well dang, I had no idea. I was too busy looking at #22′s electric blue mouthpiece. Yeah, too many close-ups, not enough full field shots, long wait times for replays, and terrible commentators. That’s my summary of the SEC Network
What are the channels in the Chattanooga, TN and Atlanta,GA television markets?