Originally called “Project X” before being temporarily re-branded as “Project SEC”, the SEC’s third-tier television network with ESPN is reportedly closing in on the final stages of development.
The Sports Business Journal reports that “three issues are close to being resolved before the channel’s expected launch in August 2014.” Those issues include obtaining local TV rights and rehashing marketing rights. Local right equate to one football game per school and roughly six to eight basketball games, plus other nonrevenue sports.
IMG College currently holds marketing rights for the SEC, but ESPN will likely take over that responsibility once talks have ended, according to the SBJ. Additionally, ESPN reportedly will not partner with any other media channel on the network.
The projected amount of revenue an SEC network could generate still isn’t known, but SEC officials have stated before that it could be “every bit as big” as what the Big Ten Network brings in on a yearly basis. The SEC is still reworking its entire media rights package with the additions of Missouri and Texas A&M.
If that’s the case, expect the SEC to jump back up to one of the richest conferences in college athletics.