Georgia Sports Blog FanShop

August 15, 2008

15 More Years of Verne, 3:30 Kickoffs, and Tim Brando's Wig

Rejoice SEC football fan! The Columbia Broadcast System ("CBS") has reupped its TV deal with the SEC for another 15 years. Not only will we continue to get the normal afternoon kickoffs for the national showcase games, but it sounds like CBS will step up its online offerings and reair games on their college sports network (the old CSTV). I haven't seen any financial terms yet, but I'll bet the new deal is one of the largest college sports TV contracts in history. Just a guess.

If you've watched much of the CBS college sports channel, it looks like a default SEC-TV with a few C-USA and NCAA basketball tournament games thrown in, too. They've been airing classic SEC football all summer.

I'm generally pleased. Verne and Todd Blackledge were the best play-by-play team since Franklin and Gottfried. Gary Danielson has done a fine job filling Blackledge's shoes after he left for ESPN. We could have it much, much worse. After last year's FOX Sugar Bowl coverage, I'll take Verne and Gary for the rest of my life. Imagine listening to Thom Brennaman for 15 years. Plus, what other broadcasting crew will attempt to Soulja Boy?


So, are you pleased with CBS or did you want to bolt for someone else?

See Also:
-- CBS College Football Theme

Quinton

23 comments:

Mike said...

Lundquist apparently has a hard time seeing the field, and CBS could do a lot better, but as you say, we could have it a lot worse (i.e. Musberger (ABC), Brennaman (B10 Network), etc.).

JasonC said...

It least it's not Bill Curry.

Anonymous said...

An HD broadcast with two announcers who are very tolerable. I'll take it...we could do A LOT worse.

T(h)om should be taken out behind the barn and shot.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The SEC would never be the same if Fox got their hands on us...I love Fox's NFL coverage, but they treat the BCS like they're just happy to not have another station showing it...

Anonymous said...

CBS's SEC coverage is the best of any sport going right now. I couldn't be more excited.

Richard said...

Just as long as we don't get Fox. They are obnoxious! CBS could do better with the post-game slot. They should do some sort of THE SEC TODAY show after the 3:30 game. Overall, though, CBS does a good job. The fact that CBS broadcasts nation-wide (not regionally) only helps us. This enables Rodney to tell Mrs. Lynch that b/n ESPN and CBS, she 'll be able to see little Arthur play + times per year up in the Peoples Republic of Mass.

Anonymous said...

Anything is better than ESPN. Two rednecks from Worth County with a camera is better than ESPN!

ugakerri said...

Its great, and with CBSCS it gives them a chance to squeeze out more double headers in the future...it could save us from a view VHS LF/JP/Raycom Dave & Dave variety shows.

Unknown said...

I love the CBS broadcasts. Only somewhat related but it's a shame the Athens area won't be able to watch over-the-air Georgia games starting in 2009 (see paragraph 3 under history, I've also heard this elsewhere). Then again, based on the channels I do pick up (WNEG and a bunch of Ashville and Greenville stations), I'm not so sure another network would've been any better.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to keep the SEC on CBS. I have actually been enjoying Danielsen's analysis over the last year. Lundquist spoke at the Athens Touchdown club last year, and you could tell he enjoyed what he does and where he does it.
As far as over-the-air in Athens goes, it has been a long time since I've had to rely on an antenna, but I seem to remember being able to pick up WGNX 46 when I was a kid from southeastern Clarke County. I would think WGCL would come in as well. You can bet that if Charter didn't have to carry it, they wouldn't.

Andrew said...

I find Verne has trouble keeping up with the pace of the games sometimes. I also agree that we could do much worse, and I'm sure Verne deeply enjoys what he does, but hopefully sometime in the next 15 years we get someone who can see the field and commentate along with the games a bit better than Verne has in the past few years.

Anonymous said...

This is fantastic!

I wish ALL our games were on CBS. They have the best of everything (production equipment, quality staff, etc.).

Plus, Vern Lundquist LOVES Athens and so does Gary Danielson. They are the anti-Gameday crew.

I think Tim Brando is as good as it gets, too. When you hear Tim, you think college football or basketball.

There's a reason why Augusta National sticks with CBS every year. Because they are the best.

dawgnotdog said...

Fox would be a hell of a lot better if they did football full time, with a real crew, instead of their regular season regional crap followed up with BCS games being announced by guys who haven't seen 5 college football games all season.

dawgnotdog said...

And....for me in SE Clarke, I get 46 over the air much better than that Toccoa station.

Unknown said...

I've lived east and west of town in Athens and never been able to pick up WGNX. I'm glad some people are able to. I'm trying out a new antennae in a few days (from plans I've seen online). I'll see how that goes.

Anonymous said...

I don't who it is as long as its not Mike Patrick. The only thing worse than his "Britney" comment at Alabama is his obsession with Cinderella in cleats.

JasonC said...

Dante,
Can you get WSPA 7 from Spartanburg? They are the CBS in that market.

Anonymous said...

about the 2009 antenna thing, I think he is refering to the gov't mandate that all channels start broadcasting in digital. This doesn't mean that you can't get channels over the air, but you will need to have a digital converter box. Some tvs already have a digital tuner box built in, so would be no need for the converter box. Also pretty much everyone that is with a cable company or sat service already has a digital box from the company. There are coupons the govt is giving out to help people buy a converter box just visit www.dtv2009.gov. I only know so much because their phone number they advertise on telemundo is one digit off from my work # so i get about 3 calls a week wanting some coupons

Anonymous said...

atleast its not the commentators from the Sugar Bowl

ZzZzZzZz...... THAT WAS THE WORST GAME IVE EVER LISTENED TO

Anonymous said...

Best intro music to CFB...ever.That music gets me jacked with an adrenaline rush that would make a chug-a-lugged double espresso seem like a warm milk and lunesta cocktail.

Unknown said...

Anon @1:10, I was actually referring to the current Toccoa/Athens/Royston CBS affiliate WNEG being bought by the University of Georgia. They've made it clear they have no intention of carrying CBS after the takeover. I personally can't pick up WGNX but apparently some people in Athens can. I can kind of sort of pick up WSPA (thanks, jasonc) so all isn't lost.

I wonder if UGA will keep Billy Dilworth around on WNEG?

Anonymous said...

Last year I heard Lundquist utter the phrase "very Tebow-esque" when Stafford scored on a carry. I think I vomited in my mouth a little. When a Doctor cures cancer is that considered "very Tebow-esque?"

Anonymous said...

I miss Ron Franklin on ESPN. It really is just not the same without him doing the game.

Very much like Verne and Gary.

 
Copyright 2009 Georgia Sports Blog. Powered by Blogger Blogger Templates create by Deluxe Templates. WP by Masterplan