SEC announces 15-year deal with ESPN

August 25, 2008 The SEC-ESPN agreement gives the network the rights to some highly coveted football and basketball games as well as a host of Olympic and other sports, including a bevy of national championships. The ESPN arrangement returns the favor, giving the sports network some advantages it didn't hold under its previous deal, including the rights to the semifinals and finals of the SEC men's basketball tournament (which will be broadcast on ABC), an increase in football games to 20 per season and two additional nights of regular-season men's hoops. SEC commissioner Mike Slive told reporters Monday that the ESPN and CBS deals give the conference long-term security "without the problems and risks associated with starting a network."

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