How the SEC Network Can Serve Basketball Fans
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Photo courtesy of the Clarion Ledger[/caption]
The SEC Network's inaugural college football season was a huge success, but midway through the basketball season it's (not surprisingly) apparent that it remains primarily a football network for twelve months. The Paul Finebaum Show has continued into the off-season from 3-7 p.m. ET, as it should. Finebaum and his passionate callers provide the best entertainment the network has to offer.
In addition to Finebaum, fans were treated to a traveling SEC Nation show on Saturday mornings during the football season. Throughout the week, there was just the right amount of replays and highlights. Also, coaches' press conferences were featured daily. Evenings were wrapped up with a SportsCenter-style show known as SEC Now.
During basketball season, SEC Now has shifted its focus to the hardwood, but all of the other great stuff the SEC Network was doing during football season has not been replaced with original, live content. Before 3 p.m. on weekdays, the programming is almost entirely replays and reruns.
I expected the SEC Network to be heavy on football, of course, but currently no programming at all specific to basketball exists. Below are four ideas to give basketball a needed presence on the network.
1. A weekday afternoon basketball call-in show, teeing up Finebaum's show.
There is currently no other live programming during this time window, so why not? Kentucky fans alone would drive the ratings. We here at KSR have a few personalities who would be great. The show could have a Kentucky focus, just as Finebaum's show focuses on Alabama and Auburn. It's time for America to meet John Short and Chester.
2. Coaches' press conferences in their entirety, just as they do for football.
With John Calipari, Bruce Pearl and Frank Martin in the league, the SEC has some of the best personalities in the sport. I'd even rather listen to Kevin Stallings talk than watch an SEC Storied film for the tenth time on a Tuesday afternoon. Streaming press conferences are easy and they provide valuable information to fans.
3. Content produced by each school, such as their own coaches shows.
I was under the impression that this was supposed to happen, but the only productions done by the schools I have noticed so far have been online streams of games for lower revenue sports. Allowing schools to produce their own shows could prevent excessive reruns and ensure that everyone is getting quality time on the network.
4. A live remote show throughout March Madness.
Finebaum's show relocated to Atlanta for the week of the SEC football championship and to New Orleans for the week of the Sugar Bowl. At the bare minimum, there should be a show set up in Nashville for the SEC Tournament and one in Indianapolis for the Final Four if Kentucky or any other SEC team is there. Louisville for the first weekend of the tournament would be a solid option too.
What would you like to see on the SEC Network? Share with us in the comments section below and on Twitter.
@JohnWilmhoff
Photo courtesy of the Clarion Ledger[/caption]
The SEC Network's inaugural college football season was a huge success, but midway through the basketball season it's (not surprisingly) apparent that it remains primarily a football network for twelve months. The Paul Finebaum Show has continued into the off-season from 3-7 p.m. ET, as it should. Finebaum and his passionate callers provide the best entertainment the network has to offer.
In addition to Finebaum, fans were treated to a traveling SEC Nation show on Saturday mornings during the football season. Throughout the week, there was just the right amount of replays and highlights. Also, coaches' press conferences were featured daily. Evenings were wrapped up with a SportsCenter-style show known as SEC Now.
During basketball season, SEC Now has shifted its focus to the hardwood, but all of the other great stuff the SEC Network was doing during football season has not been replaced with original, live content. Before 3 p.m. on weekdays, the programming is almost entirely replays and reruns.
I expected the SEC Network to be heavy on football, of course, but currently no programming at all specific to basketball exists. Below are four ideas to give basketball a needed presence on the network.
1. A weekday afternoon basketball call-in show, teeing up Finebaum's show.
There is currently no other live programming during this time window, so why not? Kentucky fans alone would drive the ratings. We here at KSR have a few personalities who would be great. The show could have a Kentucky focus, just as Finebaum's show focuses on Alabama and Auburn. It's time for America to meet John Short and Chester.
2. Coaches' press conferences in their entirety, just as they do for football.
With John Calipari, Bruce Pearl and Frank Martin in the league, the SEC has some of the best personalities in the sport. I'd even rather listen to Kevin Stallings talk than watch an SEC Storied film for the tenth time on a Tuesday afternoon. Streaming press conferences are easy and they provide valuable information to fans.
3. Content produced by each school, such as their own coaches shows.
I was under the impression that this was supposed to happen, but the only productions done by the schools I have noticed so far have been online streams of games for lower revenue sports. Allowing schools to produce their own shows could prevent excessive reruns and ensure that everyone is getting quality time on the network.
4. A live remote show throughout March Madness.
Finebaum's show relocated to Atlanta for the week of the SEC football championship and to New Orleans for the week of the Sugar Bowl. At the bare minimum, there should be a show set up in Nashville for the SEC Tournament and one in Indianapolis for the Final Four if Kentucky or any other SEC team is there. Louisville for the first weekend of the tournament would be a solid option too.
What would you like to see on the SEC Network? Share with us in the comments section below and on Twitter.
@JohnWilmhoff
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