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If Comcast doesn't have an agreement to carry the SEC network by August 13 I will be moving to Dish Network by August 14.
Oliver Barry, CRS, GRI, SFRReal Estate BrokerBob Parks, LLC145 Maple Row BlvdHendersonville TN 37075Mobile: 615-972-4239Office: 615-826-4040Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:From: Shane Ford <goufgators@bellsouth.net>
Date: May 30, 2014 at 8:51:32 AM CDT
To: GatorNews <gatornews@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Slive promises SEC Network will be national
Reply-To: gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com----Slive promises SEC Network will be national
Published: Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 1:28 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 1:28 p.m.
DESTIN — The SEC likes to do things in a big way, and that's certainly the plan with the new SEC Network, which will be national in coverage, guarantees league commissioner Mike Slive.
But it's going to take a little more time, a little more patience, and a lot more negotiating for that to happen.
With the Aug. 14 launch now less than three months away, the SEC's network partner, ESPN, is still in the negotiating stages with the majority of the nation's television cable and satellite providers, including Cox Cable.
At this stage, only about 25 percent of the nation is set to receive the SEC Network.
Although there is a lot more negotiating to be done between now and August, the SEC seems confident that its national vision for the network will become reality.
"We're in quality conversations with all of the other major distributors over the next few months and we remain optimistic that, at some point in time, we'll have full distribution," Slive said at the SEC Spring Meetings. "I think it's unrealistic to think we'll have full distribution at the time when we launch in August.
"But we're going to be national. It's my hope that the programming will be so significant that everybody will want to carry it."
At this stage, the league and ESPN have agreements with only four major cable and satellite providers — AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, Google Fiber and NRTC. AT&T U-verse came on board when the SEC announced the launch date a year ago.
Justin Connolly, ESPN senior vice president for college networks, said negotiations are progressing and pretty much on schedule.
"We're not concerned at this point," he said. "If you look back at not just conference networks, but networks as a whole in terms of distribution, holes are filled toward the end. Sometimes you launch with distribution holes.
"We feel really good about having 25 percent of the country already on board and ready to launch. The big focus of ours is the next 75 days and continuing to have productive conversations across the board and get as many distributors on board as we can."
Connolly met with the league's athletic directors Wednesday to update them on the SEC Network and ESPN's progress in securing distribution.
UF athletic director Jeremy Foley said he came away impressed, and with no concerns about the network's distribution.
"ESPN is big time. I was very excited about their presentation today," Foley said. "I've been around those people for a long, long time. This network is going to be successful because of their professionalism, because of their efforts. So no, we're all good there.
"Obviously, we're excited about the network. When all is said and done, I think it's going to be big time. I talked to (UF associate athletic director) Lynda Tealer about this today, all the things they're going to do for this league, all the exposure we're going to get. We're very excited about being in a partnership with ESPN. Things are moving forward. It's going to be big time."
Foley was asked if it is typical for negotiations like these to go down to the 11th hour.
"I've not been involved in anything like this before," he said. "At the end of the day, I trust our partners. We have the best partners in the world in ESPN."
Connolly said the lack of agreements with cable and satellite providers is not a concern or issue at this time.
"I wouldn't say comfort. It will be comfortable when everything is done," he said. "But at the same time, I do think if someone is trying to create a narrative where there are distribution challenges here, I think it's off base just based on those we do have and the amount of time we do have prior to launch. I think it's fair (to say this is business as usual)."
With Dish Network already on board, Slive said the network already can be received in any part of the country.
"We can say to all of our fans and folks who are interested in the network that the network is now available to everybody," Slive said. "If your provider doesn't provide the network, then if you switch to Dish, then you've got the network.
"The decision now is with our fans and the people out there and our consumers. One thing that makes me comfortable is the fact it's already available to everybody."
SEC fans do have a say. The league has set up a web page (www.GetSECNetwork.com) where fans can contact their cable provider and state they want to receive the SEC Network.
Foley said he's excited about the network and the impact it will have on the SEC.
"I think more than anything else, it's going to give an unbelievable presence to the total league," he said. "From the fan's point of view, a lot of great athletic competition.
"You just look at what goes on in this league. You've got three teams in Oklahoma City (for the Women's College World Series). You've got 10 baseball teams in (NCAA regional play). I think we had 10 or 11 softball teams in. Obviously, some very high-quality competition. That's what is exciting for me, giving all the programs tremendous exposure."
Sent From Shane's iPhoneGo Gators! & Skål Vikes!ALPCA #8756Europlate #1045
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1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions
2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions
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Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996),
Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
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