This coming yesterday, a big pickup for ESPN’s SEC Network, Time Warner Cable and Bright House which have customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Texas and other markets spread across the South, announced that they will carry the new college sports network when it launches on August 14.
ESPN has been picking up cable providers rather quickly over the last few weeks with Cox and Comcast announcing that they are on board. They join AT&T U-Verse and Dish Network as the other major cable and satellite providers which will carry SEC Network.
Cablevision, Charter, DirecTV and Verizon Fios are still holding out, although it’s expected that DirecTV will be on board soon.
Here’s ESPN’s announcement regarding Time Warner Cable and Bright House.
ESPN, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks Reach Agreement to Carry SEC Network for August 14, 2014 Debut
ESPN, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks have reached an agreement for carriage of the SEC Network when the channel launches on August 14, 2014. The network will be available to fans and followers of the Southeastern Conference in all Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks markets ahead of the first SEC 2014-15 college football season game, Texas A&M vs. South Carolina, on August 28 at 6 p.m. ET. With the addition of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, the SEC Network will be available to approximately 60 million households nationwide.
“We know we have customers who want the SEC Network, and are pleased to bring it to them,” said Andrew Rosenberg, Senior Vice President of Content Acquisition for Time Warner Cable. “This deal will help ensure that fans and alumni of SEC universities won’t miss any important games.”
Added Sean Breen, Disney and ESPN Media Networks senior vice president, affiliate sales, “By delivering the SEC Network across Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks’ nationwide footprint, including key markets within SEC territory, we are meeting the demands of fans while also adding value to customers’ video subscriptions in advance of the network’s launch next month.”
The SEC Network will air more than 1,000 live events in its first year, including at least 45 exclusive SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, 50 softball games and events across all of the SEC’s 21 sports. The network will be an all-access pass to nationally competitive events, news and information, expert analysis, classic games and in-depth features on the most storied conference in college athletics.
“It is great to have Time Warner Cable as a distribution partner for the SEC Network,” said Mike Slive, Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. “Time Warner Cable customers, particularly those in South Carolina and Texas, will have the opportunity to enjoy our football season opener exclusively on the SEC Network when Texas A&M visits South Carolina on August 28.”
“Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks customers reside in some of the most intense fan areas of the Southeastern Conference,” added Justin Connolly, ESPN senior vice president, college networks. “We look forward to providing an array of outstanding SEC programming to Time Warner Cable customers across the country when the SEC Network debuts on August 14.”
Time Warner Cable TV customers can find the SEC Network on their channel lineup upon its launch by visiting www.twc.com; Bright House Networks customers can go to www.brighthouse.com.
That is all.
