The SEC Network, a new pay-television sports channel dedicated to college sport’s Southeastern Conference, has further expanded its reach by agreeing a carriage deal with pay-television provider Verizon FiOS.
Terms of the deal were undisclosed, but SEC Network operator ESPN said that Verizon FiOS is expected to begin showing the channel prior to August 28.
It will be available to all FiOS television customers in Florida and Texas who receive ESPN in their FiOS TV package and to FiOS Extreme and Ultimate customers in all other markets at launch. With the addition of Verizon FiOS, the SEC Network will be in more than 62 million households throughout the US.
Terry Denson, Verizon’s vice-president for content acquisition and strategy, said: “The preseason college poll lists eight SEC teams in the top 25; SEC football ratings are head and shoulders above other conferences; and SEC fans are extraordinarily and uniquely passionate about not only those teams but the entire conference as well. This deal with Disney-ESPN reinforces our already strong partnership with them which involves much more than this great new network.”
SEC Network is now available on nine of the top 10 multi-channel video distributors in the US, with the channel having launched on August 14.
The first year of SEC Network programming will consist of more than 1,000 live events, including 45 American football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games and 50 softball games.