Why can’t Sun Sports air their own live broadcast of all Gator Football games?
CBS and ESPN pay millions of dollars each year in rights fees. In order to protect their investment, it is written in the contract that the only other company that can air games live (in the conventional manner) is the syndicator designated by the conference in which that team belongs. In the SEC, that syndicator is ESPN Regional Television, producing games as the SEC Network. In 2009, games not broadcast on CBS, ESPN, or the SEC Network will air live on several FOX Regional Sports Networks, including Sun Sports. In the event that none of the SEC rights-holders select a UF game for live broadcast, Florida can air a game live on a pay-per-view basis in the home states of the participating schools. More information about the SEC television contract can be found here.
