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 (6 million homes) have distribution across the SEC's footprint.