The SEC Network Becomes Official: Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money

Mo money, mo money, mo money.

Yes, the new SEC Network from your friends at ESPN has been made official. The Network will being in August of 2014 of course, since that would be in time for the 2014 season.

And yes, while it's going to be an expensive undertaking, it's going to make the already rich football schools of the SEC even richer. Though apparently neither ESPN or the SEC want to say HOW rich they'll become from this.

So, now some of the details. At least the ones they've released:

--Yes, we already mentioned the Network starts in August of 2014. Duh! Just in time for the football season.
--The SEC Network and ESPN have a media rights agreement that runs through 2034. ESPN will run all SEC programming on all platforms through that time. Each school will apparently produce their own content as well.
--No comment was given when asked about the ownership split. This will be interesting to find out.
--Your 1st Cable/Satellite company to sign on: ATT U-Verse. So there is distribution. No word on anyone else signing on. 
--As of right now, the plan is for the Network to run 45 football games in the 2014 season. Which is apparently 3 games a week for 13 weeks. 
--In addition, the plan is for 160 basketball games, 75 baseball games and other minor sports to all be televised or broadcast on the SEC's digital network
--They are shooting for clearance 1st in the states with SEC schools (11 of them) and then will work for national clearance 
--Studio HQ--Charlotte, where ESPN already has some facilities. 

Here's the ESPN Press Release if you'd like to read it. The link is RIGHT HERE

Your SEC Coaches/No Fighting reported

The football programming will not be top shelf, despite their arguments that it will
. You won't get the Alabama/LSU football game on the SEC Network. You might see the Tuesday rerun, but you won't get the game. All you are getting is the former Raycom Saturday Noon game. Best we can tell, CBS won't be losing the main Saturday game and ESPN isn't gonna fork over their prime time Saturday night games either.

But--you will get more basketball, more baseball, gymnastics, tennis and other sports along with coaches shows.

So there's that.

This of course the SEC fan is great news. In most SEC states, they'll eat this shit up. But financially, it will be hard for anyone to compete with them for a long time because as we all know, that money could never be used for anything other than facilities and uniforms...right.

But the Network has a shelf life.

The Sports TV Network model of revenue is eventually going to change and the question is: How long will that money be around.

To explain: If, say, Comcast decides to add the network at $1.50 per subscriber. Guess what? If it's on the "Primary Tier" of channels, you are paying for it. Even if you don't like SEC Football. Or if you aren't a Sports Fan. Your cable bill goes up.

Imagine living in Chicago and finding out on your latest bill that yes, you are funding the SEC. Well, guess what, that's exactly what you are doing. You may have no interest whatsoever in This Week in Alabama football, but congratulations, you're help footing the bill for the show.

At some point, the model is not going to be sustainable anymore. We don't know when. Heck, we have ATT U-Verse at home, featuring the Longhorn Network, a network we'll NEVER watch.

But in the meantime, congratulations SEC Fan, you've got your network. And your network will be worth $25-$28 million per team. No, none of your students will see any of it, the football program will, but that's okay. And yes, it will be available in most of the southeast. But just remember where that money is coming from. Not from ESPN, not from the League, no, most of it is coming from YOU.