The multiplatform SEC Network will carry it’s 997, 998, 999 and 1,000 exclusive SEC Network + events with the Tennessee at Alabama softball game, Mississippi State at Arkansas, Alabama at Ole Miss and Missouri at Vanderbilt baseball games all airing on Friday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. ET. SEC Network + events are primarily produced by the Southeastern Conference schools and made available exclusively through WatchESPN.
At launch, SEC Network committed to airing 450 games on SEC Network and an additional 550 games on SEC Network +. The network is on track to surpass both estimates and will likely hit 1,400 events by its one-year anniversary.
“The 1,000 milestone is remarkable for the volume it represents, but also for exceeding even our most optimistic expectations,” said Justin Connolly, ESPN senior vice president, college networks. “Eight-months into the network to nearly double the number of digitally exclusive events is an incredible testament to each SEC school’s production capabilities and the priority they’ve placed on content for fans.”
The 1,000 SEC Network + events comprise 13 sports (men’s & women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s & women’s basketball, swimming, gymnastics, track & field, softball, baseball, women’s lacrosse, sand volleyball and tennis) and an average of 70 events per school.
“The fact that the milestone will be reached by four events playing simultaneously is a prime example of the high volume of competitive content available at any given time on SEC Network + and the scheduling benefits of a multiplatform approach” said Connolly.
“I take a tremendous amount of pride in the role our schools have played in the success of the SEC Network.” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive “The investment we have made in first-class production facilities on each campus and the ambitious goals set by each school to deliver more action to their fans than ever before is why the network is a success by every standard.”
Other relevant 1,000 marks in SEC sports history:
- Three SEC baseball coaches have 1,000 wins: Paul Mainieri (LSU), Ron Polk (Mississippi State/Georgia), Ray Tanner (South Carolina)
- Polk, the winningest coach in conference history, reached all 1,000 wins coaching in the conference at Mississippi State and Georgia
- A college basketball player has scored 1,000 points in a season 19 times; LSU’s Pistol Pete Maravich reached it on three separate occasions
- The SEC freshman who was the fastest to reach 1,000 rushing yards is Florida’s Emmitt Smith (1987)
- Tennessee Women’s Head Basketball Coach Emeritus, Pat Summitt, reached 1,000 wins on February 5, 2009; She still currently holds the record for most Division I Women’s Basketball wins
- In February (2015) a pilot accidently dropped a MacBook Air from 1,000 feet. Upon recovery it was discovered to be in working condition. While unconfirmed, it is suspected that they promptly began viewing an SEC Network + event via WatchESPN.
The SEC Network
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network which launched August 14, 2014. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will carry SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year. The network will televise 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include in-depth commentary and analysis in studio shows, daily news and information, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, and more. AT&T U-verse® TV, Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast Xfinity TV, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH, Google Fiber, LUS Fiber, Mediacom, PTC Communications, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS Wilkes Telephone, and members of the NCTC, NRTC and NTTC and will carry the television network nationwide at launch. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively as SEC Network+ events on WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com through authenticated access from AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DIRECTV, DISH, Google Fiber, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS and members of the NCTC, NRTC and NTTC.
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Media contact: gracie.blackburn@espn.com
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