2010 SEC TV projections

Printer-friendly versionSend to friendEarly guesses and projections for 2010 SEC TV are in a slightly different format than before. We now have a year (of 15) under the new TV contracts to see how CBS and ESPN will do things. As always, this projection is offered as a guide as to how the schedule might unfold, and especially for adjusting as surprises develop during the season. Hopefully it is helpful for traveling fans, those planning viewing parties and even those who have had to cut back on cable or satellite during this recession.

Based on announcements from the SEC and the various TV partners, the TV pecking order will be approximately as follows.
• CBS has first pick for its 3:30 game each week. CBS will also have one prime time game and one 12:00 game, with generally exclusive time slots. ESPN can encroach slightly in the evening a couple of times per year, with SEC approval.
• ESPN will then pick its prime time games for ESPN and/or ESPN2. On occasion, they can take an SEC game at 12:00 provided it is not in conflict with CBS. This will be rare, though, since ESPN/ESPN2 typically uses the 12 noon slots for Big 10 or Big East games.
• ESPNU will typically have a game in prime time – usually 7:00 pm, and sometimes also games in other time slots.
• The ESPN regional games are branded as SEC Network and are indicated here as “SEC Net.” That game kicks off around 12:20 pm.
• Fox Sports Net (FSN) will have up to 7 games during the season, mostly at night.
• CSS will have up to 6 games during the season. These will be mostly night games.
• Each school is allowed one PPV during the season. I will try to identify those.
• No game is projected to kick off earlier than 12 noon ET.

Some games will be listed as “other TV.” These games will be televised, but no guess is made here as to how that will be assigned to ESPNU, FSN or CSS.

The Chattanooga Times-Free Press recently published a projected schedule of CBS TV games for 2010. (h/t – Get the Picture). I don’t agree with two of the projected games in Paschall’s article and have noted those below.

Here goes with a projection – all times eastern. Games confirmed as of posting are boldfaced

September 2 (Thurs.):

Southern Miss at South Carolina – 7:30 ESPN

September 4:

LSU vs. North Carolina (Atlanta) – 8:00 ABC
Northwestern at Vanderbilt – 12:00 ESPN2
Memphis at Miss. St. – 12:20 SEC Net
Kentucky at Louisville – 3:30 ESPN2
San Jose St. at Alabama – 7:00 ESPNU

Other TV: Arkansas St. at Auburn, UL-Lafayette at Georgia

PPV: UT Martin at Tennessee, Jacksonville St. at Ole Miss, Miami, OH at Florida, Tennessee Tech at Arkansas.

September 9:

Auburn at Miss. St. – 7:30 ESPN

September 11:

Oregon at Tennessee – 4:00 ESPN
Georgia at South Carolina – 7:00 ESPN2
Penn St. at Alabama – 8:00 ESPN
LSU at Vanderbilt – 12:20 SEC Net
South Florida at Florda – 7:00 ESPNU
Ole Miss at Tulane – 9:00 ESPN Classic

Other TV: UL-Monroe at Arkansas, Western Ky. at Kentucky

This week is loaded, especially after most teams are playing warmup games for openers. There are lots of scenarios for stacking games this week. ESPN has a lot of flexibility as CBS has US Open tennis finals.

September 18:

Florida at Tennessee – 3:30 CBS
Alabama at Duke – 3:30 ABC
Vandy at Ole Miss – 12:20 SEC Net
Arkansas at Georgia – 7:00 ESPN2
Miss. St. at LSU – 7:00 ESPNU
Akron at Kentucky – 7:00 CSS
Clemson at Auburn – 7:45 ESPN

PPV: Furman at South Carolina

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