The SEC Network launched in August of last season to much hype and curiosity. The first year saw cable and satellite distributors jump on board quickly and that has helped the network do something they didn’t think they would do so quickly…turn a profit.
South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner told the school’s Board of Trustees on Friday that projections indicated it would take until the third year of the SEC Network for schools to earn a revenue check. Just six months after launch, Tanner says the network has exceeded expectations and each school will receive a payout this summer.
Tanner was asked by one of the Board of Trustees members how much each team was expecting to receive and Tanner conservatively estimated that schools would receive $5 million.
“Long story short, when we first started talking about the network, they said we’d probably realize a benefit in Year 3,” Tanner told the BOT. “Obviously it’s been more successful than that. This summer we’ll receive a distribution (and) I think it will be at least $5 million. I’d like to think that’s on the conservative side. Each school will receive a $5 million gain.”
That’s a huge win for the SEC and for ESPN. As a huge college sports fan and someone that lives in the SEC footprint, and attended a SEC school, the only time I’ve really ventured to the SEC Network is for live sporting events (college football and basketball). I consider myself an above average sports fan and if I’m only going to the channel a couple of times a month, I have to think other fans are doing the same if not less.
For the SEC Network to already be turning a profit, without really generating a buzz for any of their original programming is quite an accomplishment and speaks to the popularity of their core brand, SEC Football.
Can you imagine what a monster the SEC Network could be, if they amped up their original programming and really gave fans a reason (other than live events) to seek out their channel?
