Report: SEC football leaving CBS after 2023 season
It appears the days of the “SEC on CBS” are numbered. Sports Business Journal Daily is reporting that CBS is walking away from the bidding war for the package after the 2023 season.
According to John Ourand and Michael Smith, CBS’s bid was in the neighborhood of $300 million per year to broadcast the weekly top conference game. The network pays $55 million per year under the current agreement. The bidding is now “well over” $300 million according to the report.
“We made a strong and responsible bid. While we‘ve had success with the SEC on CBS, we are instead choosing to aggressively focus on other important strategic priorities moving forward,” CBS Sports PR told SBJ.
SBJ indicates that ESPN/ABC is now in the “final stages” of negotiating a deal, even though the report notes that FOX Sports was still planning to make a bid presentation at SEC headquarters in Birmingham.
According to the report, ESPN won the SEC over by pitching more creative scheduling by owning all the rights:
With ESPN owning all of the SEC’s football rights, it’s possible that more than one game will be produced for broadcast TV; more top-tier games can be moved to primetime; and the conference can schedule more late afternoon games without having to worry about running into CBS’ exclusive window.
As of right now, CBS is set to air SEC games for the next four seasons, but the report states it is possible that the SEC or ESPN/ABC could buy out CBS’s remaining years.
Obviously, SEC fans everywhere will be following the developments in the negotiations. For now, it appears CBS is officially out of the bidding war.
The questions that needs to be asked are as followed:
1. Where will the SEC go (ABC, Fox, maybe NBC)
2. How will this impact the ACC, B1G, XII, and Pac12.
Terrible commentators but they do stream games online for free, no sign up, only station to do that.
Count on GA-FLA going to a night game. It’s been there occasionally before but will be there regular with this.
UGA-FLA is the only decent game that week. I bet it stays at 330. UGA hates night games
Football and sports in general used to be an escape for me. I loved watching Chris Berman on Sportscenter saying, “He could go all the way.” But then things changed…..
ESPN just can’t leave social issues alone. They want to school us on what to believe and what behaviors we have to view. This also includes some of their on air personalities telling me who to vote for! On a sports network! WTH!
The final straw for me was when Michael Sam was drafted as one of the last players in the NFL draft, ESPN was there with their cameras to capture the moment Sam kissed his bf. I have nothing against any lifestyle but I watch sports to watch SPORTS and hear about SPORTS. I don’t care what your lifestyle is but it’s not an athletic event.
Also, get ready for Colin Kaepernick to call some games on ESPN after he’s done suing the NFL.
And yet here you are talking about all of the none sports related stuff on a website mostly dedicated to sports. You could just move the F*** on. Who even remembers Michael Sam. Your could just watch the sports. Who cares if Kaepernick calls a game if he’s good at it. If you don’t like it turn the volume down (not that the Kaepernick thing is real anyway).
You missed (or ignored) his point. The same point millions of sports loving Americans agree with. He shouldn’t have to tolerate a sports commentator or athlete pushing their beliefs/agendas. Sports is (was) an escape from all that. The network & team owners (not employees) have the right to allow it as it’s covered by work place law and not the 1st amendment; however, those millions of people watching have the right to tune out. Hence the drop in NFL ratings & attendance. Kneeling cost them millions. That’s why it’s not seen now and that, in part, is proof positive it’s a work place policy and not constitutional right.
Let’s see how Karpernick’s new Nike shoe sells. I doubt it’ll be in every closet.
He gave his commentary and opinion on a comments & opinion board without attacking and going in the gutter. You didn’t. Merry Christmas.
Even though they would be losing the SEC, there is still March Madness, 1/2 of the NFL and the Super Bowl once every 3 years.
Don’t forget the greatest event in golf – The Masters.
Very sad about this. I think CBS really came to understand the SEC, the schools, and the culture. The coverage was first rate. ESPN thinks SEC Football is a feeder program for the NFL, like the NCAA Basketball is. Many families are trying to cut the cord from expensive Cable TV options. Too bad big money wins again.
Is this Gary Danielson?
Have you been in prison? CBS is terrible with the broadcast. They use two numbskulls as broadcasters who don’t know the SEC.
Agree! The only good thing about the SEC on CBS is the theme song!
History is made! We’ve discovered the single person who prefers the SEC on CBS! It’s a Christmas miracle!
Seriously? Have you listened to ABC announcers? Unless you have Todd Blackledge as part of the group they all suck
You can still cut the cord. You’re nit forced to watch football.
I miss Gary Danielson already.
No…No you don’t…
Beat me to it…
We have to start a Gary Danielson withdrawal group.
I’ll miss him talking about Joe Burrow’s “prominent side”.
I really hope Fox doesn’t win the bid. Like, REALLY hope not. If Gus Johnson starts calling SEC games with his overly animated screaming for a 4 yard play behind, I will leave the southeast.
That said, if CBS leaving means that better games can be played at night vs a mandatory 3:30 kickoff, I’m all for that. Can you imagine the Cocktail Party kicking off at 7PM?
More like we’ll be watching those awesome Alabama vs NM state games at prime time.
The WLOCP will probably never be a night game. Remember 2002? It’s more of a city of Jacksonville thing than anything else, more than likely in the contract.
Ha! My thought was… I hope Fox gets it so that Gus Johnson can call the games. I think he makes the games exciting, but just my personal preference.
Well if a more flexible schedule means no more noon games then I’m all for it.
I would think that they will show SEC games throughout the day, so noon games will continue.
You may be right about that, but Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, and Florida should never play noon games. Let the lower tier SEC teams play at noon unless playing the upper tier teams.
The SC Vs GA game should always be a noon game.
I see where you’re going with that. Lol!
“Hello and welcome to the SEC on Disney+. As always I’m Mickey Mouse joined along side me as always is Goofy, and sideline reporter Donald Duck.”
Basically what CBS is providing now.
Can cbs please sell the sec on cbs theme song to whoever gets the rights
I need that song on my Saturdays at 3:30
Honestly. Some of the greatest music on earth
Great call, Ufgatorfan. I agree with you on that.
Best CFB theme music ever
The headline is backwards. CBS is leaving the SEC.
No. The SEC started a bidding war, and CBS couldn’t compete.
They COULD compete. But they’re not. Thank goodness.
Are you NUTS?
Only one thing bothers me about this. ESPN tries to cram 4 games into a 13-hour window, with the result that they often don’t start broadcasting the next game until well into the 1st quarter. LSU usually has 2 TDs by that time. Despite their faults, CBS at least shows every game from start to finish.
100% agree.
You know ESPN has multiple channels right? They could start a game on one of their other channels until the current game ends.
I only get ESPN, ESPN2 and Classic. What I’m hoping is they put the SEC Game of the Week in primetime and treat it as it should be treated–as the national Game of the Week.
or put it on ABC.
LSU does not “usually” have 2TDs by the time the prior game is over. They did that this season. There’s nothing “usual” about that just yet. If they’re still doing that in 2023, then it’ll be the usual thing.
Disney: “I am inevitable…”
LOL
Maybe this means we will stop having the best SEC games scheduled at 2 or 3 PM instead of in prime time.
I’ll miss them. Their passion for the conference is unmatched, and their people in front of and behind the cameras are among the most dedicated professionals in the business.
They probably will get a contract with another conference, so you can still watch them.
Dedicated/passionate =/= talented.
Well, I know a few of them, and they are quite talented.
Good riddance to Gary Danielson.
Amen I got where I didn’t want Florida to play in the game of the week so I didn’t have to listen to that pompous ass!
Terrible decision CBS, but hey, good luck with North Dakota St vs Colorado School of Mines.
That’s quite a jump in the contract bidding from $55 million to over $300 million.
That shows us two things:
1. SEC schools should benefit significantly from this new contract by adding free revenue.
2. CBS has been making a killing on the SEC coverage.
Can’t believe there are people here who actually enjoy Gary Danielson. I’ll take anyone over him