SEC signs a 15-year TV deal with ESPN

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Aug 26, 2008 | by Associated Press

The Southeastern Conference has signed a 15-year deal with ESPN reportedly worth more than $2 billion to televise sporting events, including football and men's and women's basketball.

The agreement announced Monday is the longest ESPN has ever signed and matches the length of the powerhouse league's deal with CBS earlier in August.

"This agreement makes the SEC the most widely distributed conference in the country," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. He declined to disclose financial terms.

"The bottom line here is that fans of SEC football will have more access to games and better distribution than they ever have in the past," Slive added.

The deal begins with the 2009-10 season and ends the league's look into starting a network to carry its sporting events.

ESPN will have rights to every SEC home football game not on the network package and all league matchups will be shown on some outlet, including at least 20 a year on ESPN or ESPN2. That includes two primetime Thursday night matchups and Saturday night games.

COLORADO STATE KICKER BREAKS ARM: Colorado State senior kicker Jason Smith broke his right arm in practice on Saturday and is out indefinitely.

Smith was injured when he was hit while trying to pick up the ball after an errant snap on a place kick, coach Steve Fairchild said Monday.

"Our non-contact (drill) has a little contact, and we thudded a little too hard," Fairchild said.

No timetable has been set for his return. Smith also handled punts and kickoffs for the Rams, who open the season Sunday night against rival Colorado at Invesco Field.

"It's not a career- or season-ending injury," Fairchild said. "I'm confident Jason will get back, hopefully for conference play."

Fairchild said he didn't think the injury was serious at first.