CBS choosing NFL empire over SEC
CBS’s sweet deal with the SEC is coming to an end after the 2022-23 football season.
Several outlets including Fox Sports’ Clay Travis are reporting that chances of an extension to the current $55 million a year deal are slim to none. Last May, CBS restructured their long-term contract with the SEC after the announcement of ESPN’s SEC Network and additional revenue brought in by league newcomers Texas A&M and Mizzou.
ESPN currently owns all rights to SEC games besides the ‘Game of the Week’ and the league championship game every December, but CBS pays next to nothing — about $3.5 million — for the primary 3:30 p.m. ET time slot, two flex games and the big one in Atlanta.
CBS pays $40 million — a week — for its Thursday NFL spot, but likely won’t fork out the money needed to maintain its relationship with the SEC in nine years.
The result? A bidding war ensues and CBS will tap out.
‘SEC on CBS’ TV Schedule 2014
Saturday, Sept. 27
3:30pm ET – Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Saturday, Oct. 4
3:30pm ET – Alabama at Ole Miss
Saturday, Oct. 11
Noon ET – SEC Game of the Week No. 1
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week No. 2
Saturday, Oct. 18
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week
Saturday, Oct. 25
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week
Saturday, Nov. 1
3:30pm ET – Florida vs. Georgia
Saturday, Nov. 8
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week No. 1
8pm ET – SEC Game of the Week No. 2
Saturday, Nov. 15
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week
Saturday, Nov. 22
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week
Friday, Nov. 28
2:30pm ET – Arkansas at Missouri
Saturday, Nov. 29
3:30pm ET – SEC Game of the Week
Saturday, Dec. 6
4pm ET – SEC Championship Game