Tim Tebow is at the heart of ESPN's plans for the launch of its new The Southeastern Conference network later this year.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, even as television execs still negotiate with cable providers for channel space and subscription fees, featuring Tebow on the network set to launch on Aug. 21 is already a given.

"We've focused on football early on because it's the first thing that's going to debut on the network," ESPN senior vice president for programming Justin Connolly told The Sentinel. "The guy lives up to every bit of hyperbole that has ever been thrown out in terms of his work ethic".

ESPN hired the former Florida Gators quarterback in December as a college football analyst for SEC Nation,joining ESPN's Joe Tessitore, who will host the pregame show for the network's live football coverage. Tebow's first performance for the network as a guest analyst during the BCS National Championship Game in January drew rave reviews.

"He is methodical and dedicated in his preparations," said Connolly. "Purely from a contributions standpoint, we feel very comfortable, very early here that he is going to be a difference maker. When we made that announcement, Twitter blew up and every major media outlet whether it be sports, style or entertainment, gravitated to it. "t just reflects the kind of personality he has."