US broadband communications and entertainment company Cox Communications has agreed a carriage deal with sports broadcaster ESPN for the SEC Network, a new pay-television sports channel dedicated to college sport’s Southeastern Conference.
The SEC Network and its accompanying digital platform will air more than 1,000 live events in its first year, including at least 45 exclusive SEC American 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 multiplatform network launches on August 14 and will be available to Cox customers across all its markets.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive said: “The addition of Cox is another very important step in the development of the SEC Network, bringing millions more viewers nationwide to the network when it launches on August 14. As one of the largest cable television distributors in the US, including five states in the SEC footprint, this agreement with Cox has a significant impact on exposure for the SEC.”
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate the network.