SEC Announces Deal With XM
BIRMINGHAM and WASHINGTON, DC — March 6, 2007 — The Southeastern Conference (SEC) and XM, the leader in college sports on 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.
About the SEC The Southeastern Conference was formed in 1933 and consists of 12 member institutions: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The league currently sponsors championship play in nine men’s sports and 11 women’s sports. Its headquarters has been located in Birmingham, Ala., since 1948. For more on the conference, visit www.secsports.com.
About XM XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America’s number one satellite radio company with more than 7.6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM’s 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM’s industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.
XM SATELLITE RADIO AGREEMENT
Answers to common questions:
• When does this start? Coverage on XM begins with this month’s SEC Men’s Basketball Championship. For regular season games, SEC football will be carried for six programs, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. South Carolina will start in 2008, Florida will start in 2009.
• What about the other four schools? Alabama, Auburn and Vanderbilt will remain on the other service in 2007-2008 and have not yet determined where they will go afterwards. LSU has elected not to participate at this time.
• Fans that have bought service and radios with the other service will need to switch to XM, was that considered? Service to the fans was the primary consideration and the subject has been debated for almost a year. The clear conclusion is that XM Radio offered a number of items that are substantially better for fans right away, and overwhelmingly better over the coming years:
o Expanded Carriage: XM plans to carry every regular-season football game and the vast majority of basketball games. While most games have been carried previously on satellite radio, the current contracts only promise half or less of the games, which means as pressures increase on channel space, games could be dropped. We wanted to insure more games would be carried. During football season fans will be able to hear their team’s broadcast at least 8 of the 12 games. All other games will feature only the home team’s broadcast. In basketball, only the home team’s broadcast will be available.
o Fixed Channels: XM will set up dedicated channels labeled as “SEC” channels so games are easier to find. On the other satellite radio service, games are scattered all over the dial on city traffic channels, news channels or wherever space is available, often on a different channel every week. This has caused frustration for many fans and the new XM arrangement makes finding the games much easier.
o Five Years: XM has committed through 2012. Previous contracts were as short as one year meaning the potential existed for the service to be switched every year. The new deal eliminates that costly potential scenario for fans. Fans can now be assured that the programming will be on XM through 2012.
o More SEC Programming: XM will be producing and airing programs throughout the week covering the SEC. There has been no special SEC programming to date on satellite radio, creating a void in SEC coverage. Other conferences have had this programming and the new XM package equals or exceeds the current standards.
o SEC Championships will be carried on XM. Previously, there was no commitment to carry the SEC Football Championship, SEC Basketball Tournament or any of the other SEC tournaments. Games have been carried on team networks, but no guarantee existed that the championship would be carried no matter which teams make the finals. Further, many sports went without any coverage whatsoever. XM will carry the SEC Football Championship, the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the SEC Women’s Basketball Championship, and other SEC sports.
• What will the price be to fans? XM offers 170 channels of sports, music, talk radio, and entertainment for $12.95 a month, and as low as $9.99 a month for multi-year plans. Details can be found at xmradio.com/sec.
• Will XM offer a deal to fans? XM has a special offer available at xmradio.com/sec.
• When should I do this? You can sign up anytime, SEC Championships will be carried this spring with full coverage starting in September for Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Tennessee. South Carolina will start in 2008, Florida will start in 2009.
• Will the proposed XM and Sirius merger affect anything? The games will be on XM through 2012.
