Report: Winner emerges for SEC Game of the Week TV rights; potential CBS buyout discussed
A new home for the SEC Game of the Week appears to have been decided.
After it was previously reported that SEC football would be leaving CBS after the 2023 season, ABC/ESPN has won the bidding for the SEC Game of the Week rights, according to Clay Travis of Outkick the Coverage.
Travis also reported that negotiations will now focus on whether ABC/ESPN could buy out any of the four years left on CBS’s deal, which could cost more than $350 million per year.
This will be a huge change for the SEC, as CBS has been a television partner with the conference since 1996. That was when CBS returned to broadcasting regular-season college football on a weekly basis.
The only other reported contender for the SEC rights was FOX Sports, but ABC/ESPN had appeared to be the favorite.
With the potential for a buyout, it will be interesting to see how quickly this new deal develops from here and when SEC football could begin airing weekly on ABC/ESPN.
Not enthused about this at all.
CBS could make a small fortune just off the buyout. They only pay a little over $50 million a year for the rights now. I can’t believe someone would pay seven times that to get out of that contract.
They have lots of eyes watching on Saturdays. CBS has been making a killing on that contract.
Say what you will about Gary, but Chris and Kirk aren’t a very attractive announcing duo either, assuming they’ll be calling a good bit of these primetime SEC GOTW now.
By Gary! Now maybe i can turn the volume back up during games. I hate CBS so I am happy to see them go.
BamaAtlanta why would you want to see CBS go?? Gary Danielson absolutely LOVES Bama and almost creams his pants on every yard they gain on offense and every stop they make on defense.