First LHN provider

[Gaffords]

Then why push it and threaten the stability of the big12?

How does it destabilize the BIG 12? Because aggy says it does? I have been watching HS football on ESPN/FOXSports/SUN networks for years now. Sun Network showcases UF recruits on "Future Phenoms" every week (and makes money outside the SEC contract).

I respect you coming in here and voicing your opinion much more than Aggy!... Plain and simple, aggy was asked to do a joint venture but they turned it down!
NOTE: There was not any study done by aggy to see if they could make money. There was never any negotiations done by the schools to futher a join venture.
All we have is an official report stating that A&M didn't feel like have enough material to bother looking into a network (110 plus years of sports and no material).
And rumors that the deal was not split even. No one knows because everything points to no interest on aggy part.
You are Baylor! I can see the reports and studies you would have done before either negotiating or turning it down... Aggy showed no interest because it seems they knew they were on the way to the SEC... Aggy whining about the LHN carries about as much weight as Sudan crying about equal rights in Palestine...

What is your take on the LHN as a Baylor Fan?

[Baylor fan]

I dont mind the idea of having a network to show all the UT preseason games in all sports and out of conference games. I also have no problem in them in them showing past games and a sports shows from the long horn perspective. What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference now this might not have been the intent but this how it is being viewed. I just want the Big 12 to continue to exist in its current form or a return to the swc by adding some of our old rivals. Thats why i take a stance against the whole high school game thing because it unnecessarily rocks the boat with out a huge recruiting advantage, like Baylors said we are committed to the big12. Hope that gives you some insight.

[Huckleberry]

I dont mind the idea of having a network to show all the UT preseason games in all sports and out of conference games. I also have no problem in them in them showing past games and a sports shows from the long horn perspective. What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference now this might not have been the intent but this how it is being viewed. I just want the Big 12 to continue to exist in its current form or a return to the swc by adding some of our old rivals. Thats why i take a stance against the whole high school game thing because it unnecessarily rocks the boat with out a huge recruiting advantage, like Baylors said we are committed to the big12. Hope that gives you some insight.

Do you think we don't all realize your concern for the Big 12 is merely out of a desire for self-preservation and that you recognize you have no other options?

[mdmost]

I dont mind the idea of having a network to show all the UT preseason games in all sports and out of conference games. I also have no problem in them in them showing past games and a sports shows from the long horn perspective. What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference now this might not have been the intent but this how it is being viewed. I just want the Big 12 to continue to exist in its current form or a return to the swc by adding some of our old rivals. Thats why i take a stance against the whole high school game thing because it unnecessarily rocks the boat with out a huge recruiting advantage, like Baylors said we are committed to the big12. Hope that gives you some insight.

You are committed to the Big 12 because the alternative is Conference USA for Baylor. They will not be along for the ride to the next conference Texas goes to. Baylor will do more to hurt cause conference instability if they press lawmakers to force aggy to stay. aggy wants to leave. It is inevitable. Once the SEC finds their 14th school, aggy is gone. aggy really doesn't give a $#@! about the HS games and from everything I've read, the NCAA has told the LHN no on anything HS related for now. aggy is mad because they never thought Texas would get 15 million a year and ESPN backing for a Longhorns Network. They are using the extra conference game and the HS stuff as reasons to leave. It would be something if those two weren't there. aggy knows the LHN is horrible for them especially in olympic sports. The extra conference game is laughable to get upset about as the Big 12 opponent has to sign off on it, they aren't forced into anything, the Big 12 has to agree to let the game go on the LHN, and the opponent has to get paid. So if Tech, Baylor, oSu, Mizzou, Kansas, Kansas State, and Iowa State all say no then how is it a big deal to allow us an extra game? How is that Texas causing instability?

[Tx2DaBone]

It wont let me post the whole story for some reason.

SBJ: Longhorn Network adds distributors; more expected

PUBLISHED Monday, Aug 22, 2011 at 3:50 pm EDT

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-08-22/longhorn-network-adds-distributors-more-expected#ixzz1VtSViLf0

Just days away from its Friday launch, ESPN’s Longhorn Network has cut several deals with small distributors in the state and is counting on several more this week.
Late last week, ESPN executives were in final negotiations with Verizon and Grande Communications. While at deadline neither company had signed a deal, industry sources were confident that both were close at hand.

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2011-08-22/longhorn-network-adds-distributors-more-expected#ixzz1VtSi1hwC

[PatrickMcHorn]

^^ Thought this was interesting from that article:

Longhorn Network is seeking 40 cents a subscriber a month from distributors in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

I'm no one to question the business sense of ESPN, but it seems like you could do a lot better trading off lower fees in the surrounding states for higher fees instate. If the target is 40 cents in all states, why not do 45 in Texas and 35 in the remainder. That's a ton more money, and it doesn't take a genius to understand that interest in the LHN is going to be greater in Houston, DFW, Austin and San Antonio compared with New Orleans, Baton Rouge, OKC, and whatever the hell is in New Mexico.

[skipperj]

That's the same story as yesterday?

[mikey4]

^^^ Looks like it.

[Gaffords]

I dont mind the idea of having a network to show all the UT preseason games in all sports and out of conference games. I also have no problem in them in them showing past games and a sports shows from the long horn perspective. What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference now this might not have been the intent but this how it is being viewed. I just want the Big 12 to continue to exist in its current form or a return to the swc by adding some of our old rivals. Thats why i take a stance against the whole high school game thing because it unnecessarily rocks the boat with out a huge recruiting advantage, like Baylors said we are committed to the big12. Hope that gives you some insight.

Did Baylor feel like Texas pushes them around last year before Nebraska Started it's smear campaign on it's way out? Did you have a huge issue with the unequal revenue sharing in the BIG 12 before Nebraska told you that you did and we are the cause of it? Did Baylor vote for or against the forming of the BIG 12 network when it got voted down? Did Baylor vote to allow Texas to pursue it's own network or against it?

As for the recruiting thing, to be honest I can see the top SEC/PAC/BIG 10 TOP schools having an issue with it (even OU) more than A&M and yes Baylor. Recruiting is what it is. HS football on the LHN isn't going to make or break Texas' Recruiting. It isn't even going to affect many other top schools to any margin. The biggest winner in this is Texas in other sports. If you play women's soccer and follow it with dreams of college but the only team you can follow regularly in Iowa on TV is Texas then I can see MAYBE 1 or 2 forming a bond and choosing Texas. But HS kids have their own favorites growing up and tend to choose their schools accordingly. Some have bigger dreams and choose whoever gives them the best pitch with promises of Fame in the Pros....

Now TA&M failed to realize is that kids love BIG 12 football. Not all Texas recruits necessarily hates the Sooners/TA&M so when they visit we don't make the whole trip about our BURNING HATRED for another school... It is hard enough to land recruits we target, but no need to drive them off with weird $#@!!

[PatrickMcHorn]

As for the recruiting thing, to be honest I can see the top SEC/PAC/BIG 10 TOP schools having an issue with it (even OU) more than A&M and yes Baylor. Recruiting is what it is. HS football on the LHN isn't going to make or break Texas' Recruiting. It isn't even going to affect many other top schools to any margin. The biggest winner in this is Texas in other sports. If you play women's soccer and follow it with dreams of college but the only team you can follow regularly in Iowa on TV is Texas then I can see MAYBE 1 or 2 forming a bond and choosing Texas. But HS kids have their own favorites growing up and tend to choose their schools accordingly. Some have bigger dreams and choose whoever gives them the best pitch with promises of Fame in the Pros....

Even then, I'd think that the average NCAA athlete outside of football/basketball/baseball chooses their school based on the degree more than the athletic program. The whole "almost all of us go pro in something other than sports" thing rings true.

[Gaffords]

Even then, I'd think that the average NCAA athlete outside of football/basketball/baseball chooses their school based on the degree more than the athletic program. The whole "almost all of us go pro in something other than sports" thing rings true.

agreed 100% that was the use of 'some' Which leads us to Bush/Miami/Newton(?) which in these cases, the network isn't going to sway them to come to Texas.

[JMFP]

[QUOTE=Gaffords;3066090]How does it destabilize the BIG 12? Because aggy says it does? I have been watching HS football on ESPN/FOXSports/SUN networks for years now. Sun Network showcases UF recruits on "Future Phenoms" every week (and makes money outside the SEC contract)...


QUOTE]


You really don't see a difference between the "Sun Network" and the "Longhorn Network?"


By putting your school's name and logo on the channel you let the NCAA in.


You guys want to watch HS sports so bad, why not start a UIL channel? The univeristy would still be in charge of it but without the horn logo the NCAA could be kept out of it.

[rantanamo]

Serious question: What were reactions to the formation of BYU's network, which was formed during their time within a conference? That channel is all over the country.

[Fillmore Slim]

High school players are gonna hate aggy for this. They want to be on TV more than any of us want them to. And yes that includes aggy recruits, sooner recruits, the whole lot of em. This is so $#@!ing stupid and whiny and typical aggy.

[juz]

What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference now this might not have been the intent but this how it is being viewed. I just want the Big 12 to continue to exist in its current form or a return to the swc by adding some of our old rivals. Thats why i take a stance against the whole high school game thing because it unnecessarily rocks the boat with out a huge recruiting advantage, like Baylors said we are committed to the big12. Hope that gives you some insight.

Now you know how the rest of the conference feels about Baylor using its political connections to force its way into the Big 12 in the first place

[Fillmore Slim]

I dont mind the idea of having a network to show all the UT preseason games in all sports and out of conference games. I also have no problem in them in them showing past games and a sports shows from the long horn perspective. What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference now this might not have been the intent but this how it is being viewed. I just want the Big 12 to continue to exist in its current form or a return to the swc by adding some of our old rivals. Thats why i take a stance against the whole high school game thing because it unnecessarily rocks the boat with out a huge recruiting advantage, like Baylors said we are committed to the big12. Hope that gives you some insight.

By all means, if you feel we are pushing you around, write a strongly worded letter to your president telling him so, and request that you remove yourselves from the conference and find a new home.

[jimmyjazz]

What I do have a problem with is UT using its weight to essentially shove around the rest of the conference

It's like rainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn . . .

[S11]

Serious question: What were reactions to the formation of BYU's network, which was formed during their time within a conference? That channel is all over the country.

Considering they had no BYU sports content except 20 year old games there really were no reactions to BYU's non-sports network. The MWC's inflexibility here with Comcast essentially pushed them indy. The channel has some random LDS stuff on it. BYUtv has a website if you are curious what is on it.

[mdmost]

Serious question: What were reactions to the formation of BYU's network, which was formed during their time within a conference? That channel is all over the country.

That was always a Mormon teaching network first and foremost. It shows Mormon religious programs, seminars and sermons from their leaders. The sports was always secondary.

[Gaffords]

You really don't see a difference between the "Sun Network" and the "Longhorn Network?"
By putting your school's name and logo on the channel you let the NCAA in.
You guys want to watch HS sports so bad, why not start a UIL channel? The univeristy would still be in charge of it but without the horn logo the NCAA could be kept out of it.

Only real difference is SUN=State of Florida with one SEC school having a personal contract. LHN=UT with one big 12 having a personal contract.
But I think you said it best If WE want to watch HS football ... Put it on a channel no one but a Texas Fan would want to watch?

[pigboy1]

OK...anybody have the "real" status of LHN on U-Verse Houston. Nothing concrete yet on website.

[rantanamo]

Considering they had no BYU sports content except 20 year old games there really were no reactions to BYU's non-sports network. The MWC's inflexibility here with Comcast essentially pushed them indy. The channel has some random LDS stuff on it. BYUtv has a website if you are curious what is on it.

They showed conference tournament basketball games and now show other sports. I'm very aware of its content and run across it all the time while surfing. Sports might be secondary, but they are there. I guess they are at an acceptable level?

[S11]

They showed conference tournament basketball games and now show other sports. I'm very aware of its content and run across it all the time while surfing. Sports might be secondary, but they are there. I guess they are at an acceptable level?

My understanding is it had old replays and minor sports when it first launched, thats it as the league held football and hoops. They only had stuff that the MWC did not have the rights to in these sports like ESPN bowl games and games from 2005 and earlier. They certainly had no conference content or live content with HS players. I could be wrong but their hoops, football, and other big sports were not live on BYUtv but the small stuff may have been.

I am aware that they were able to broadcast WCC events and have rights carved out of their ESPN and WCC deals for it though.

[Fillmore Slim]

My understanding is it had old replays and minor sports when it first launched, thats it as the league held football and hoops. They only had stuff that the MWC did not have the rights to in these sports like ESPN bowl games and games from 2005 and earlier. They certainly had no conference content or live content with HS players. I could be wrong but their hoops, football, and other big sports were not live on BYUtv but the small stuff may have been.

So what BYU did was, rather than stating all intents and porpoises before the network even launched so as to have everything in the open, they acted like they were not going to show certain things, only to begin showing them a little while later?

[ECHorn]

I'm sure it's been posted elsewhere, but I'll just leave this one here:

is Mack sleeping in this pic?

[ECHorn]

That video is $#@!ing awesome.

I said it before, but "The Season" is going to be the tits. I cant wait to see all the behind the scenes stuff from 05'. If I remember correctly, our motto that year was "Take Dead Aim". If you watch that clip, it shows Mack in the locker room with a confidence and swagger that I have rarely seen out of him. He and the coaches knew that the 05' team was special. No one was beating around the bush about the idea of Texas winning it all. The coaches were direct and made sure everyone knew that they weren't going to settle for anything less but a National Championship. They definately bought into "Take Dead Aim".

That is the kind of mentality I wish all of our teams would have.. but that is unrealistic. Im not even sure that the 09' team had that same amount of swagger that 05' did.

I wasnt sure what the LHN would be exactly.. but after watching the "show line-up", its going to be the ultimate fan-service. Its taking every facet about Texas and putting it in a documentary/Friday Night Lights fashion with Explosions In The Sky (same music as FNL) as the score.

It cannot be better than that. I can definitely handle another 19 years of shows like those.

Definitely.

yeah!

[Skipper]

I'm losing patience with Uverse. Left a message with their corporate office threatening to cancel my U450 Bundle if they aren't the first major provider.

Feel free to do the same:

1-888-276-8922

[Defroach]

People on this board really do not "get" why other schools are pissed about this network.

1) Conflict of interest: With the LHN owned by ESPN and ESPN owning all first tier rights to big 12 games, it allows them to try and force games onto the LHN. For example, ESPN tried to get TT on it by saying other games would not be broadcast unless TT agreed to play on the LHN. It is crap that they can sor of go against the big 12 contract to try to recoup money that they are losing on the LHN by making games that would be a national broadcast to be on more localized network. Sure, it may be a national network, but no one gives a $#@! about watching the network outside of the UT fans. Also, ESPN owns the big 12 basketball games. If you look at the schedules in Feb, amazingly there are two home games at UT not picked up by ESPN (OSU and TT). Every other game magically got picked, even games between two crap schools in bball. You want to know why? Because ESPN can to force better games on the LHN since jt will fall to tier 3 rights. Otherwise, those would have been picked up. Obvious conflict of interest. If LHN was owned by Fox, no way those games would have fallen through. Also, those schools have no say in if they are broadcast in bball either on the LHN....

2) Bias - No school wants to be forced to play on a network that forces us to listen to obviously biased broadcast.

3) HS games - Uh...haven't they made it "crystal clear" now? No HS crap regardless. Comparing it to Sun sports - sun sports is a private company not part of UF. If they were part of UF, they wouldn't play HS sports. Quite simple, FSN can play because they arent associated. If you want HS games, make a contract with ESPN to broadcast your games, have no say in the network, and then it will be fine. When UT chooses what is on and the network is named after them, its a completely different story.

4) no one gives a $#@! you have a network, it's trying to force people on it due to #1

5) Expecting everyone to pay for it: saying people should charge 45cents or each customer in TX? Just out of curiosity, how many people give a $#@! about sports outside of football to want to watch it on LHN? No one will care...it's only hope is multiple football games, the rest is just junk to fill time. Why would anyone want that outside of hardcore UT fans? I can't say I have ever had a desire to watch swimming meets.... If you want it on a provider, then the people who want it pay for it as a standalone channel. I'm guessing VERY few would give a $#@! to do so. let alone, your only game for sure right now is Rice. How is that appealing to anyone outside of UT alum? Even your army of t shirt fans wont even care enough to pay for the channel...

6) BYUtv, Big 10: BYU isn't trying to change the rules in place because they don't work for them. They follow the rules, and are fine for it. Big 10 network plays at least 3 games a week, I don't mind paying for it since there is actually football on it (35 games vs 1 game?).

7) the network is bound to fail unless ESPN can find a way to change the rules but they continue to get shut down. Quite funny actually. There is a reason no one major has picked it up - there really is no appeal to watch reruns of the NC in 05.

Excuse typos as I'm on a phone and to lazy to proofread...

[Bottlecap]

Excuse typos as I'm on a phone and to lazy to proofread...

the fact that you registered and then typed a nine-paragraph, bullet-pointed sermon on a telephone makes me laugh that you bothered to type this at all

4) no one gives a $#@! you have a network, it's trying to force people on it due to #1

holy $#@!, that would have taken me like 3 Pearl Snaps long to do that.

[Skipper]

Defroach - Thanks for registering and taking the time to post a 7 point rant that nobody will actually bother to read. Douche.

[Jared B.]

Have heard that Suddenlink would be a carrier @ no extra cost on your cable bill.

I was told the same thing twice in the last 2 weeks. But as of this afternoon, no agreement has been reached between Suddenlink and LHN.

[Gaffords]

blah blah blah

I don't see either ESPN or the BIG 12 or LHN forcing anyone to be on the network. I can see where later down the road there might be games carried on Both ESPN and the LHN at the same time, but if you think ESPN is going to lose money by carrying National interest games only on LHN, you are completely delusional! Anyone would be delusional for even having that thought process.

I have only seen stupid rumors that say anyone's bill is going up automatically. If you bought that, then I have a ton of things to sell you.... So far there is only ONE carrier in Houston that you can Subscribe for the channel...

Plain and simple, you don't like then don't watch but leave us that do want to watch alone...

But if you think this will be the only network as such, then I really don't know what else to say... I would start by telling you to go to your school and start pushing them to get on board (if big enough to do so). The LHN is just the tip of the iceberg of what is coming. Live in a fantasy world all you want, but Texas is not the only school that can get this type of money nor will they be the only school getting good money out of a network like this...

[Tyler Durden]

People on this board really do not "get" why other schools are pissed about this network.

1) Conflict of interest: With the LHN owned by ESPN and ESPN owning all first tier rights to big 12 games, it allows them to try and force games onto the LHN. For example, ESPN tried to get TT on it by saying other games would not be broadcast unless TT agreed to play on the LHN. It is crap that they can sor of go against the big 12 contract to try to recoup money that they are losing on the LHN by making games that would be a national broadcast to be on more localized network. Sure, it may be a national network, but no one gives a $#@! about watching the network outside of the UT fans. Also, ESPN owns the big 12 basketball games. If you look at the schedules in Feb, amazingly there are two home games at UT not picked up by ESPN (OSU and TT). Every other game magically got picked, even games between two crap schools in bball. You want to know why? Because ESPN can to force better games on the LHN since jt will fall to tier 3 rights. Otherwise, those would have been picked up. Obvious conflict of interest. If LHN was owned by Fox, no way those games would have fallen through. Also, those schools have no say in if they are broadcast in bball either on the LHN....

2) Bias - No school wants to be forced to play on a network that forces us to listen to obviously biased broadcast.

3) HS games - Uh...haven't they made it "crystal clear" now? No HS crap regardless. Comparing it to Sun sports - sun sports is a private company not part of UF. If they were part of UF, they wouldn't play HS sports. Quite simple, FSN can play because they arent associated. If you want HS games, make a contract with ESPN to broadcast your games, have no say in the network, and then it will be fine. When UT chooses what is on and the network is named after them, its a completely different story.

4) no one gives a $#@! you have a network, it's trying to force people on it due to #1

5) Expecting everyone to pay for it: saying people should charge 45cents or each customer in TX? Just out of curiosity, how many people give a $#@! about sports outside of football to want to watch it on LHN? No one will care...it's only hope is multiple football games, the rest is just junk to fill time. Why would anyone want that outside of hardcore UT fans? I can't say I have ever had a desire to watch swimming meets.... If you want it on a provider, then the people who want it pay for it as a standalone channel. I'm guessing VERY few would give a $#@! to do so. let alone, your only game for sure right now is Rice. How is that appealing to anyone outside of UT alum? Even your army of t shirt fans wont even care enough to pay for the channel...

6) BYUtv, Big 10: BYU isn't trying to change the rules in place because they don't work for them. They follow the rules, and are fine for it. Big 10 network plays at least 3 games a week, I don't mind paying for it since there is actually football on it (35 games vs 1 game?).

7) the network is bound to fail unless ESPN can find a way to change the rules but they continue to get shut down. Quite funny actually. There is a reason no one major has picked it up - there really is no appeal to watch reruns of the NC in 05.

Excuse typos as I'm on a phone and to lazy to proofread...

It's late, I'm tired and I'm also typing on my phone so I will try to keep this short. $#@! you.

[In10se]

I read the first line of defroach and skipped. 45 mintues of typing on a phone well spent douche bag

[Gaffords]

Oh and FOX Sports buying UF's tier 3 rights for a State of Florida Network is completely different than ESPN buying UT's tier 3 rights to show them on a LHN network... Aggy mentality at it's finest! Go back to your own forums and cry about HS football as you pack for the SEC SEC SEC.... If you haven't noticed, the only one that cares you are leaving is Baylor. And they only care because you took their money from NEB and COL leaving last year so they are going to be sure you pay every single penny back now!

And they will! A farmer vs. a Lawyer in front of the Legislation you told to $#@! off? How do you see this going?

[skipperj]

Welcome the new poster, but it's Legislature. Not Legislation. That's twice now.

[Defroach]

I don't see either ESPN or the BIG 12 or LHN forcing anyone to be on the network. I can see where later down the road there might be games carried on Both ESPN and the LHN at the same time, but if you think ESPN is going to lose money by carrying National interest games only on LHN, you are completely delusional! Anyone would be delusional for even having that thought process.

I have only seen stupid rumors that say anyone's bill is going up automatically. If you bought that, then I have a ton of things to sell you.... So far there is only ONE carrier in Houston that you can Subscribe for the channel...

Plain and simple, you don't like then don't watch but leave us that do want to watch alone...

But if you think this will be the only network as such, then I really don't know what else to say... I would start by telling you to go to your school and start pushing them to get on board (if big enough to do so). The LHN is just the tip of the iceberg of what is coming. Live in a fantasy world all you want, but Texas is not the only school that can get this type of money nor will they be the only school getting good money out of a network like this...

ESPN already is losing $15M/yr right now. If they could get one marque game on the LHN to have barginning power, they would. So yes, they would put a bigger game (OSU/UT, TT/UT) on there only so people would be forced to subscribe and see it. They lose more money if they only have crap on it.


The money comment was more aimed towards the guy saying charge everyone 45 cents in TX to subsidize for your channel. It would make more sense as a standalone to people who actually want it, not forced on everyone.

More schools will be doing this? Ummm...have you not seen the PAC-12 and Big 10 networks? You know, ones that every school in the conference are making as much and if not more money than you will be? UT is the only school that seems to think a one school network is the way to go as opposed to a collective conference network where all schools would make that money and there would actually be games on to watch. Why would anyone in any of the power conferences would want anything else is beyond me. The online networks (Aka KSU/Mizzou) aren't 24 hour broadcasts and are only online for when they have games - nothing like LHN. If the big 12 was at all forward thinking, we would be trying to put something together like the PAC where everyone would be making money and all the smaller schools wouldn't be forced to do $#@!ty online networks. But Beebe is a dumbass and sits around watching the conference go to $#@!.

[Defroach]

Oh and FOX Sports buying UF's tier 3 rights for a State of Florida Network is completely different than ESPN buying UT's tier 3 rights to show them on a LHN network... Aggy mentality at it's finest! Go back to your own forums and cry about HS football as you pack for the SEC SEC SEC.... If you haven't noticed, the only one that cares you are leaving is Baylor. And they only care because you took their money from NEB and COL leaving last year so they are going to be sure you pay every single penny back now!

And they will! A farmer vs. a Lawyer in front of the Legislation you told to $#@! off? How do you see this going?

Uh yeah, they sort of are. Sun sports isn't a UF channel, they play all professional to HS level sports. ESPN could have bought your tier 3 rights, made ESPN Texas, stick it on there and play HS sports as long as UT has no control over it.

It comes down to who owns and controls the content on the channel. UF owns and controls nothing on Sun.

[wherzwaldo]

For what it's worth, Chip Brown said on the radio this morning that he's heard Time Warner will have a deal done pretty soon.

[drifter379]

the PAC-12 and Big 10 networks? You know, ones that every school in the conference are making as much and if not more money than you will be? UT is the only school that seems to think a one school network is the way to go as opposed to a collective conference network where all schools would make that money and there would actually be games on to watch.

I guess you dont realize that Texas proposed a BIG XII network and it was voted down, Then they approached A&M to do a joint network but A&M didnt want anything to do with it. So they asked the BIG XII if they could have their own network and it was passed by a vote of 11-1. Nebraska being the one to vote no. So when you accuse Texas of leaving everyone behind you are mistaken. No one wanted to go with them.

[Drunken Mule]

For what it's worth, Chip Brown said on the radio this morning that he's heard Time Warner will have a deal done pretty soon.

Not holding my breath. All my people have done their part, I think.

[walte464]

For what it's worth, Chip Brown said on the radio this morning that he's heard Time Warner will have a deal done pretty soon.

He also said we were going to the PAC...Not gonna hold my breath till its done

[Wally Banger]

People on this board really do not "get" why other schools are pissed about this network.

People from other schools really don't get why they sound like whiny bitches. The LHN is a facility. A facility that any other school in the nation is free to try to build to match ours. Resources in college football aren't fair and never will be. Get over it.

[Baylor fan]

Its not the fact that you did it its how you did it that pissed the conference off.

[YeaTexasFight]

Well to add to the potential misinformation, I just called uverse (we're located in Austin) and after being placed on hold for 5 minutes (the c.s. Rep had no idea what the longhorn network was) she said something very strange; "I'm going to call another company and dial you in". Well she didn't dial me in but did come back a couple of minutes later and said "we wont be carrying it until Sept 17".

I don't know what to believe anymore.

[skipperj]

Its not the fact that you did it its how you did it that pissed the conference off.

Wait, people are pissed not because we did something they approved of, but because we did it well?

[Huckleberry]

Its not the fact that you did it its how you did it that pissed the conference off.

The conference isn't pissed off. Mostly it's you and the Aggies.

Baylor could build a network. In fact, it's not a bad idea. Lock in the Baptist market just like BYUTV and the Mormon market.

[Wally Banger]

Its not the fact that you did it its how you did it that pissed the conference off.

I don't really know what this means, but show me one school that acts in the Big 12's interest over its own interest and I will show you a failure of an athletic program.

[YeaTexasFight]

Well to add to the potential misinformation, I just called uverse (we're located in Austin) and after being placed on hold for 5 minutes (the c.s. Rep had no idea what the longhorn network was) she said something very strange; "I'm going to call another company and dial you in". Well she didn't dial me in but did come back a couple of minutes later and said "we wont be carrying it until Sept 17".

I don't know what to believe anymore. I'm betting if I call back later today I get a different answer either because a) the person I spoke with had no idea what she was talking about or b) negotiations are ongoing and will result in a different answer by end of day

[mdmost]

Looks like us DirecTV users are $#@! out of luck for a while. Thanks ESPN and DirecTV.

Longhorn Network distribution deal is near


BY KEVIN BENZ
08.23.11 | 09:02 pm
As fans and sports columnists gnash their teeth, the Longhorn Network (aka: ESPN) has been working late hours trying to get their network distributed not just in Austin but nationwide before they flip the switch on Friday morning (August 26). Today, the buzz is decidedly on the side of getting it done, and several sources tell me the Time Warner Cable deal is down to the "nitty gritty" details, if not a deal with Comcast (Houston's main cable provider) or Direct TV.In other words, with Time Warner Cable, the hard work is done.

Today, University of Texas Athletic Director Deloss Dodds said as much in a press conference announcing an unrelated partnership with St. David's Hospital. "You might have heard we will launch the Longhorn Network Friday morning," he said, "and it looks like it will be available to you. We have great news coming, but we can't announce anything yet."

Word is that announcement will happen Thursday.

Yesterday theSports BusinessJournalreported that several deals with small cable outlets have already been inked and deals with Verizon and Grande in San Marcos (covering part of the Austin area) are very close.

No one should be surprised at how long this has taken. These nationwide deals are enormously complicated (and this is a nationwide deal) and when two goliaths like Time Warner Cable and ESPN / ABC disagree, often it's the viewer that gets lost in the fog of self-interest.

And don't blame Time Warner Cable here in Austin, they have little to do with it. This negotiation is happening among the biggest of big-wigs in New York not Austin. Most often deals like these are struck as the clock ticks down. That's just the nature of our modern cable TV business.

And it is big business. Reports suggest ESPN asked cable systems to pay 40 cents per subscriber per month for the Longhorn Network to be carried on expanded basic cable in Texas (that means nearly everyone gets it, no one pays extra for it). Do a little math here — that's $4.80 per year per subscriber. Time Warner Cable, Texas largest cable provider serves around 2 million expanded basic subscribers in Texas. Multiply that by $4.80 and you get close to $10 million from just one provider in the state. That's real money — and you wonder why your cable bill keeps going up?

Beyond the dollars, discussions involve what channel to assign, 1647 or 10 (which would you want?), whether to include it in a sports package (where only sports enthusiasts pay for it)or basic cable and what other channels are involved (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPN News, Disney, ABC Family are all related).

Speaking to representatives on all sides, I can tell you there is no one involved who wants to face the ire of a multitude of Longhorn fans descending from the stands at DKR smelling blood in the water. Not getting it done would be a public relations disaster for everyone, including the LHN.

Direct TV customers however may be out of luck. ESPN's contract with DTV ends this year and reports suggest ESPN has no interest in negotiating the Longhorn Network until then. Enjoy your NFL Season Ticket folks.

Otherwise, do not worry. There is too much on the line for this not to happen