Tuesday, March 06, 2007

XM Plays Ball With SEC

March 6, 2007

XM Satellite Radio is the Official Home of the Southeastern Conference Under New, Long-Term Agreement

The SEC on XM Tips Off March 8 With Complete Coverage of SEC Men's Basketball Tournament

WASHINGTON and BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and XM, the leader in college sports on the radio, today announced a five-year broadcast and marketing agreement under which XM will become the official satellite radio provider of the SEC, broadcasting football, basketball and other sports to XM subscribers nationwide. XM will provide complete coverage of SEC championships, starting with the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament live from the Georgia Dome in Atlanta March 8 through 11 on XM channel 201.

XM will have the most SEC games on the radio with coast-to-coast live broadcasts of the University of Arkansas, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi and University of Tennessee football, basketball, and other sports starting in fall 2007. The University of South Carolina will join XM in fall 2008, followed by the University of Florida in fall 2009. For each school, XM plans to air every regular-season football game, the vast majority of basketball games, and other sports, plus comprehensive coverage of the SEC football and basketball championships.

"The Southeastern Conference is pleased to enter into this agreement with XM," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. "XM's commitment to the SEC gives our league a tremendous boost in our national radio coverage. Our fans will be able to listen to their favorite schools on a branded SEC channel that will feature programming from our schools and the conference."

"The SEC has one of the greatest traditions of competition in college sports," said Eric Logan, XM's executive vice president for programming. "This agreement means SEC fans can tune into games on the radio, even if they live thousands of miles away from their favorite school. XM will have a group of channels dedicated to the SEC, making it easy for fans to find games and special SEC programs. As the official satellite radio provider for the SEC, XM is extending its position as the leader in college sports on radio."

In addition to live play-by-play, XM will carry the SEC Football Championship, the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, the SEC Women's Basketball Championship and other SEC sports. XM will also produce programs throughout the week covering the SEC.

SEC fans can go to http://xmradio.com/sec for a special offer on XM radios. SEC fans can also get special deals on XM radios this week at the SEC men's basketball tournament and the SEC FanFare in Atlanta. This will be the first in a series of joint marketing efforts by XM and the SEC.

Labels: college sports, the secret, xm