(AP) - Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive says the league is making progress toward a new television deal and he expects it to be finalized before the end of the year.
The addition of Texas A&M and Missouri to the SEC puts the conference in new, large television markets, and the upcoming deal is likely to be one of the most profitable in college athletics.
Slive says they've been negotiating with their TV partners for several months and they're encouraged by the progress they've made.
He was in College Station to welcome the Aggies into the conference and flip the coin before Texas A&M played No. 24 Florida. He planned to watch most of the first half before traveling to Columbia to catch Missouri's game with Georgia.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO