by Brian hand Executive Editor Rosalyn Durant came to the University of South Carolina in 1995 with a love of media. But just like most young students she did not know exactly what that meant. “My first work experience – I wouldn’t call it an internship – I went to WOLO (in Columbia) to shadow. It was my first real exposure to the network business. I loved it from the beginning,� Durant said. Fast forward to 2015 and the 1999 University of South Carolina graduate with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a minor in marketing is now the Senior Vice President, College Networks, at ESPN. In her role, she oversees ESPNU, the SEC Network and the Longhorn Network. Herpositionincludesbeinginchargeofthe strategic programming direction for each of the above networks. ToDurant,“it’scompletelysurreal�that16 years since graduating from the University of South Carolina she is now in charge of the direction of the SEC Network as the network commences its second year. “I had such amazing internships when I was at South Carolina,� Durant relayed. “I interned at WIS, Turner Networks in Atlanta and then at ESPN the summer before my senior year. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to work in media and the different internships that I was able to experience throughSouthCarolinahelpedmefindmy place in the industry. My new role brings together my love for media with my love for the SEC.� Durant took over her new role officially on May 13 of this year. She replaced Justin Connolly, who was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President, Affiliate Sales and Marketing, Disney & ESPN Media
Networks earlier this year. Recently named to Sports Business Journal’s40under40list,Durantstartedherfulltime duties at ESPN as a coordinator after graduating from South Carolina in 1999. Durant had a rapid ascension through the organization. Most recently before taking over her new role, Durant was ESPN’s Vice President, College Sports, Programming and Acquisitions, overseeing ESPNU, management of NCAA Championships, football, men’s and women’s college basketball, Olympic sports and conference relations in addition to ESPN’s coverage of high school sports. Under Durant’s guidance and supervision, ESPNU more than found its place in households across the nation with the network picking up distribution to approximately 75 million homes. The SEC Network had the most successful cable launch in history during its inaugural year and Durant could not be happier to be a part of the network that despiteunprecedentedsuccessinyearone is still really a growing network. “I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunity,� Durant noted. “I’ve said before that not only am I a fan of the network, I am a fan of the conference and a product of the conference, so it feels like a home-
coming.� The weeks since mid-May have been fast and furious for Durant as in addition to settlinginhernewroleshealsorelocatedfrom Bristol, Conn. to Charlotte where the SEC Networkisoperatedinafacilityalsoutilized by ESPNU. “The first few months for me have been a lot of listening to the people who are closest to the network – here at ESPN, at the conference office and at the schools,� Durant said. Durant has been overwhelmed with how supportive everyone is to the SEC Network product. “Everyone is super committed to the network.Thefolksattheconferenceofficeand institutions have been great to work with,� Durant remarked. The SEC Network’s second year and Durant’s first year will include both learning together along the way. “There are specific things I know now that I would like to see us accomplish. I’ll continue to assess and revisit the goals along the way,� Durant said. Durant is excited about some of the new things that the SEC Network will be offering in the upcoming year to continue the network’s commitment to providing content never seen before. “We announced a new program this year at SEC Media Days, ‘SEC Inside,’� Durant said. “The beauty of ‘SEC Inside’ is it allows us to dig deeper into storytelling to show fans more than they’ve seen before with unique elements and access they haven’t had before now. The SEC Network is for the fans, the conference and the institutions. We want to deliver on their expectations and ensure a one of a kind experience. That’s important.� This upcoming year the SEC Network will
also continue its focus on the “SEC Storied� series. “We want to do more storytelling and even better storytelling. There are so many unique stories in the conference,� Durant commented. “We’re not even a year old, so we’re only just beginning to tell them.� Another area that Durant hopes will continue to grow is the use of SEC Network + where schools have the opportunity in addition to the programming on the SEC Network linear channel to produce their own events utilizing the SEC/ESPN platform. South Carolina athletics led the way in this regard in the first year of the SEC Network with the department producing more in-house events than any other institution in the SEC. “First off, I’m very proud of South Carolina and the way the University embraced SEC Network + and the opportunity to produce events for the network,� Durant said. “I think that it’s (SEC Network +) good for everyone. It provides exposure for events that may not otherwise be produced for a national audience.� This is an area where it also comes fullcircle for Durant as she knows the SEC Network + broadcasts garners students at South Carolina and really throughout the SEC the unique chance to get real-world opportunities that maynot have been possible before. “It’s such a tremendous opportunity for students,� Durant said. “I was a broadcast major at South Carolina. Just thinking about it now, I can’t tell you how much I would have enjoyed working on productions for an SEC/ESPN platform,� Durant said. “I’m excited for all that lies ahead for the network and look forward to even more students on our SEC campuses getting involved. The future is bright.�
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