ESPN Close to SEC Syndication Deal

Thanks to the people at Sports Business Daily for allowing me to bring you this story. John Ourand writes that ESPN which holds the syndication rights to the Southeastern Conference starting this coming season through 2023-24, is close to a deal with two regional sports networks and about to sign a deal with another.

Here’s the story:

ESPN Nearing Deal With FS South, SportSouth For SEC Syndication

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

ESPN is close to a deal that will see it sell local cable syndication rights to SEC football and basketball games to two Fox Sports Net RSNs: FS South and SportSouth, according to industry sources. The deal would cover additional sports and Olympic events, as well. ESPN still is negotiating a separate package of local cable rights with CSS, the local RSN Comcast jointly operates with Charter. ESPN acquired the SEC’s cable syndication rights as part of a 15-year, $2.25B rights deal struck with the conference last year. FS South (12 million homes), SportSouth (9 million homes) and CSS (3 million homes) have distribution across the SEC’s footprint.

The full details of the ESPN/SEC deal can be seen here. This would conclude the cable portion of the syndication rights. John tells me that there is an over the air package still be sold. I incorrectly assumed that this was the syndication deal. I did not understand that there would be two syndication packages. My mistake.