FSN and ESPN yesterday formally announced a multiyear deal under which FSN’s three networks in the SEC footprint -- FS South, FS Southwest and Sun Sports -- will broadcast a minimum of 91 SEC games annually across a variety of sports beginning with the ’09-10 academic year. The deal includes seven live SEC football games in primetime ( FSN ). In Atlanta, Tim Tucker notes the package "comes from the massive inventory of events ESPN controls under its new contract with the SEC." Since there is "not enough room on the various ESPN networks for all of the programming, some is being sold off to other outlets." The deal means "one place or another, all SEC football games and all non-conference home games involving SEC teams will be televised this fall." The deal also will "mean an increase in the number of SEC games played at night." FS South Senior VP & GM Jeff Genthner said that the seven FSN football games "likely will kick off between" 7:00-7:30pm ET, and that there "might be as many as three other SEC games televised elsewhere on any given Saturday night" ( ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/16 ). In Birmingham, Jon Solomon notes FSN has "aired at most one or two SEC non-conference football games" in past seasons ( BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 7/16 ). The broadcast team for the games will be play-by-play announcer Bob Rathbun, analyst Dave Archer and sideline reporter Jenn Hildreth. Fred Hickman will host the live halftime show ( ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 7/15 ). ATTENTION! In New York, Sal Interdonato cited a source as saying that Army is "planning on announcing a new TV contract with CBS College Sports next week" that would start for the '10 college football season. Army is currently in the final year of a five-year contract with ESPN. CBS College Sports currently broadcasts Navy home football games, and all Navy home games this season will air at 3:30pm ET. If Army "agrees to a noon kickoff for home games, fans may have a service-academy doubleheader on some Saturdays" ( RECORDONLINE.com, 7/15 ).
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