History of SEC Network in Timeline

SEC Network (SECN) is an American sports network owned by ESPN, a joint venture between Disney and Hearst. It's dedicated to covering Southeastern Conference (SEC) collegiate sports. The network offers live and recorded events, news, analysis, and other content centered around the SEC's member schools.

2011: ESPN launched Longhorn Network

In 2011, ESPN had launched the University of Texas-specific Longhorn Network, which would provide direction on implementation and much of the original staff of the SEC Network.

May 2, 2013: SEC Network Formal Announcement

On May 2, 2013, SEC Commissioner Michael Slive and ESPN president John Skipper formally announced the launch of SEC Network as part of a 20-year agreement lasting through 2034. The agreement included an accompanying digital platform.

December 30, 2013: Tim Tebow Joins ESPN as College Football Analyst

On December 30, 2013, ESPN announced that former University of Florida, Denver Broncos and New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow had signed a multi-year deal with ESPN to serve as a college football analyst. Tebow also will make appearances on SEC Nation.

January 13, 2014: ESPN Seeking Carriage Rate

On January 13, 2014, Sports Business Journal reported that ESPN was seeking a carriage rate of $1.30 per subscriber per month in SEC markets, and $0.25 in non-SEC markets for SEC Network.

March 12, 2014: Brent Musburger Named Lead Game Announcer

On March 12, 2014, ESPN named Brent Musburger and Jesse Palmer as lead game announcers for SEC Network's football telecasts. As a result, Musburger was no longer assigned to Saturday Night Football or post-season bowl games.

March 2014: Dish Network Agrees to Carry SEC Network

In March 2014, Dish Network reached an agreement to carry SEC Network as part of a wider carriage deal with Disney–ABC Television Group for its ABC owned-and-operated stations and cable television networks.

March 24, 2014: Greg McElroy Hired as College Football Analyst

On March 24, 2014, it was announced that former University of Alabama and New York Jets quarterback Greg McElroy was hired as a college football analyst for the SEC Network on a multi-year contract.

April 30, 2014: Google Fiber Added as Carrier

On April 30, 2014, Google Fiber was added as a carrier for the SEC Network.

June 2014: Concerns Expressed Over Lack of Carriage Deals

In June 2014, network head Justin Connolly expressed concern for the lack of carriage deals for SEC Network beyond those with AT&T and Dish Network, and considered the situation to be "alarming."

July 9, 2014: Cox Communications Agrees to Carry SEC Network

On July 9, 2014, Cox Communications, whose subscriber base includes four SEC markets, reached an agreement to carry SEC Network. Exact terms were not disclosed.

August 2, 2014: Suddenlink Communications Agrees to Carry SEC Network

On August 2, 2014, Suddenlink Communications announced that it had reached an agreement to carry the SEC Network on the launch date.

August 4, 2014: DirecTV and C Spire Wireless Announce Agreements

On August 4, 2014, DirecTV, and C Spire Wireless both announced agreements to carry the network (the latter deal was made through the National Cable Television Cooperative, in which C Spire would provide its Fiber to the Home HDTV subscribers with access to the SEC Network App).

August 6, 2014: Charter Communications Reaches Agreement

On August 6, 2014, Charter Communications reached an agreement to carry the SEC Network.

August 14, 2014: SEC Network Official Launch Date

During the announcement of the SEC's football schedule for the 2014 season, Michael Slive officially announced that SEC Network would launch on August 14, 2014.

August 2014: SEC Network Launch

In August 2014, ESPN launched SEC Network, a network devoted to the Southeastern Conference. This was formally announced on May 2, 2013.

August 21, 2014: Verizon FiOS Agrees to Carry SEC Network

On August 21, 2014, Sports Business Daily reported that Verizon FiOS had reached a deal to carry the network in its Texas and Florida service areas (which are within the SEC footprint).

August 28, 2014: First Live Football Games Aired

On August 28, 2014, the first live regular season football games aired on SEC Network, between Texas A&M and South Carolina, and Temple and Vanderbilt.

2014: SEC Network Programming Plans

In 2014, SEC Network planned to broadcast at least 1,000 live events within its first year, with at least 450 on television, across the 21 sports sanctioned by the conference. The network planned to broadcast football games featuring all fourteen of the conference's member schools within the first month of the season.

August 2016: Estimated Availability in 70 Million Households

In August 2016, SEC Network was estimated to be available in 70 million television households in the United States. This was more than any other conference-dedicated sports network and more than several professional league networks such as NBA TV, MLB Network, and NHL Network.

Loading Video...

August 2016: Jordan Rodgers Hired as College Football Analyst

In August 2016, former Vanderbilt University quarterback Jordan Rodgers (brother of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers) was hired as a college football analyst for the SEC Network.

2017: Musburger Leaves ESPN

In 2017, Brent Musburger left ESPN to pursue his new Las Vegas-based sports betting network VSiN, and was replaced on the flagship SEC Saturday Night by the new team of Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic.

2017: SEC Network Available in Mexico

In 2017, SEC Network became available in Mexico.

March 2018: Sirius XM SEC Radio Launched

In March 2018, Sirius XM SEC Radio launched, carrying some of SEC Network's programming, including The Paul Finebaum Show.

Loading Video...

2018: Premiere of True South

In 2018, the network's first non-sports series, True South, premiered, where food writer John T. Edge travels throughout the Southeast and highlights local cuisine and history.

Loading Video...