One of the final pieces of the puzzle for ESPN and the SEC Network was filled into place when Charter Communications picked up the new channel which will launch on August 14.
The 4th largest cable provider in the United States will carry SEC Network and its 45 football games, over 160 men’s and women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games and plenty of Olympic sports.
It means that SEC Network will be available in 90 million homes across the country making it one of the more successful launches for a new cable sports network.
The only major holdout for ESPN is Verizon Fios and it’s likely that it won’t be picking it up by launch date.
Overall, ESPN now has AT&T U-Verse, Bright House, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV, Dish, Suddenlink and Time Warner Cable all picking up SEC Network plus the NCTC which negotiates for a group of smaller cable providers across the country.
Here’s the ESPN announcement.
ESPN and Charter Communications Sign Distribution Agreement for SEC Network
STAMFORD, Conn. and BRISTOL Conn. – August 6, 2014 – ESPN and Charter Communications have reached an agreement for distribution 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 Charter markets. Subscribers will also have authenticated access to additional live events scheduled for the SEC Network’s digital platforms – including WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com – with the ability to watch SEC Network live and on-demand content anytime, anywhere on their television, computer, tablet or mobile device. With the addition of Charter, the SEC Network will be available to more than 91 million households nationwide.
“We are excited to be bringing the SEC Network to Charter customers,” said Allan Singer, SVP of Programming for Charter Communications. “We know that there are many SEC fans and grads in our footprint who are ready to cheer on their team and we are glad that the SEC Network will be available to them when it launches on August 14th.”
“With the addition of Charter, SEC Network is currently slated to be available to eight of the top ten distributors nationwide at launch, covering 90 percent of all U.S. cable homes,” added Sean Breen, Disney and ESPN Media Networks Senior Vice President, Affiliate Sales. “We look forward to serving Charter customers nationwide, including many SEC markets.”
The SEC Network and its accompanying digital offering 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.
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said, “Millions of fans nationwide – including those in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas – will be pleased to know that this latest agreement with Charter will ensure that the SEC Network will be available to them at launch.”
Added Justin Connolly, ESPN Senior Vice President, College Networks, “The SEC Network continues to attract greater demand as we inch closer to its debut, and with Charter, we will be able to serve their customers nationwide with quality content and coverage across all of the SEC’s 21 sports on multiple platforms.”
Charter TV customers can find the SEC Network on their channel lineup upon its launch by visiting charter.com.
That will do it.
