SEC announces TV times, channels for Week 5 slate, featuring Alabama vs. Georgia clash
The SEC has announced TV times and channels for Week 5. Most notably, Georgia and Alabama will get the primetime window on ABC with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will cap the slate of SEC on ABC games. Kentucky at Ole Miss could be in the Noon ET window on ABC, although it could move to ESPN, depending on what happens Saturday.
Three games are in play for the coveted 3:30 p.m. ET window. Arkansas vs. Texas A&M, Oklahoma vs. Auburn and Mississippi State vs. Texas will be at that time – but the TV channel will be decided based on Week 4. LSU vs. South Alabama will be on SEC Network at 7:45 p.m. ET, as well.
The SEC is in the first season of a lucrative media rights deal with Disney, making ABC and ESPN networks the league’s exclusive home. That means the conference will be in the afternoon window previously held by CBS, which now is in partnership with the Big Ten in that slot.
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ABC’s broadcasts have revamped graphics packages and a new theme song. This week’s 3:30 p.m. ET window will see UCLA take on LSU in Baton Rouge.
The SEC on ABC debut proved worth it. Those games were two of the top four most-watched games from Week 1, according to data from ProgrammingInsider and Sports Business Journal.
USC’s win over LSU took the top spot from the first full week of college football, drawing 8.62 million for the standalone Sunday night game. For Saturday’s slate, Notre Dame’s thrilling victory over Texas A&M led the way with 7.92 million viewers. That matchup was in ABC’s SEC nightcap, and the first 3:30 p.m. ET game finished fourth on the Week 1 slate.
Miami cruised to victory against Florida in a highly anticipated matchup at The Swamp that day. The game drew 6.35 million viewers, which came in as the No. 4 most-watched game in Week 1.
During Week 2, ABC’s slate didn’t perform as well considering some strong games on NBC and FOX. Still, Tennessee’s win over NC State – which saw another strong showing from freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava – drew 2.96 million viewers to become the fourth most-watched game of the week, according to data compiled by On3. Week 3 TV information will be available at a later date.
The SEC won’t have a Noon ET game on ABC this week, but the doubleheader will start with UCLA vs. LSU at 3:30 p.m. ET. Then, it will be a Game of the Week candidate with Tennessee traveling to Oklahoma in the Sooners’ SEC debut.