Cincinnati Bell and ESPN Sign Distribution Agreement for SEC Network


August 11, 2014

SEC Network available to Fioptics customers starting Aug. 14


CINCINNATI, Ohio – Just in time for this season’s college football kickoff, Cincinnati Bell has added ESPN’s new SEC Network to its Fioptics lineup. Cincinnati Bell Fioptics customers will have access to the new network on Aug. 14 when it launches.

The SEC Network will broadcast 45 exclusive SEC football games this season. During its first year on-air, the collegiate network will also air 75 baseball games, 100 men’s basketball and 60 women’s basketball games.

We are happy to enter into a new agreement with ESPN and offer the SEC Network to our Fioptics customers,” said Michael Morrison, director of video & entertainment product development. “There’s no better way to watch sports than with the razor-sharp picture quality of our Fioptics TV.

The Southeastern Conference is a collegiate athletic conference that is home to some of the nation’s most storied athletic programs including the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee.

As part of a larger deal with ESPN that includes the SEC Network and all the current ESPN and Disney channels, Fioptics customers will also enjoy access to Fusion -- a lifestyle channel targeted towards millennials -- beginning Sept. 30. In addition, TV Everywhere apps like Watch ESPN, Watch Disney and Watch ABC, will be available to Fioptics customers before the end of 2014.

Starting Aug. 14, Cincinnati Bell customers can find the SEC Network on channels 204 (SD) and 604 (HD), with the Fioptics Elite package. Channel 205 (SD) will serve as an overflow channel for additional SEC games. Fusion will be available on channels 250 (SD) and 650 (HD) beginning Sept. 30.

 


About Cincinnati Bell Inc.
With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell, Inc. (NYSE: CBB) provides integrated communications solutions, including local and long distance voice, data, high-speed Internet, entertainment, and wireless services that keep residential and business customers in Greater Cincinnati and Dayton connected with each other and with the world. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States rely on Cincinnati Bell for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. Cincinnati Bell is the majority owner of CyrusOne (NASDAQ: CONE), which provides best-in-class data center colocation services to enterprise customers through its facilities with fully redundant power and cooling solutions that are currently located in the Midwest, Texas, Arizona, London, and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com.

About SEC Network
The Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network which will launch August 14, 2014. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year. The network will televise 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men's basketball games, 60 women's basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC's 21 sports annually. Programming will also include in-depth commentary and analysis in studio shows, daily news and information original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, and more. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively on the digital platform.

Media Contact

Steve Boehmker
Manager, Corporate Communications
513-397-4771

Stephen.Boehmker@cinbell.com