ESPN has scored carriage deals with three independent cable operators to launch SEC Network.
LUS Fiber, Wilkes Telephone and PTC Communications will roll out the multiplatform SEC Network in time for its Aug. 14 debut.
The announcement comes on the cleats of last week's news that Cox Communications has inked an affiliate pact with SEC Network across its footprint. The service, which will present more than 1,000 live events during its freshman season, including 45 exclusive football games from what it is widely deemed to be the nation's top collegiate pigskin circuit, also has deals with AT&T U-verse, Dish Network and Google Fiber. As part of a comprehensive renewal announced today with The Walt Disney Co., members of the National Telco Television Consortium can also opt in to carry SEC Network.
“The demand for the SEC Network is coming from all levels of operators,” said Sean Breen, Disney and ESPN Media Networks senior vice president, affiliate sales. “With these latest agreements with LUS Fiber, Wilkes Telephone and PTC Communications, we continue to grow our distribution footprint both in SEC territories and nationwide so that fans will be able to access the network’s quality content and services in time for launch on August 14.”
