The Longhorn Network is killing the Big 12

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by tometom

Here's a question. Let's say ESPN just created a "Texas Network", instead of LHN. They paid Texas $x million per year for access to behind the scene stuff. ESPN already owns the rights to show football games, so they can play those games on that network. Then because the network isn't directly related to Texas, ESPN could show high school games all they want.

Is this a way to skirt the rules?

The FSN regional network show HS sports along with regional college sports and a bunch of other crap including NBA games. I believe this is even true fir the FSN channels in Texas.

I think the(obvious) issue here was that the network was created to promote one school (same would hold true id it was one conference). The FSN networks are not created to promote one school (or conference) but to broadcast sports in a region.

[tometom]

I understand what you guys are saying. I am talking about showing a lot of different programming, but much of the programming would be centered around 1 team. Who's to stop ESPN from doing this? I mean ESPN already has bias's towards certain teams anyway (ask any Nebraska fan). Shoot ask any fan that doesn't have a team in the top 25, the only time they get any coverage is when they are playing a top 25 team.

Here's what I'm saying. There would be a "Texas Network". The programming would have sports news shows like sportscenter but only cover Texas sports. It would have insider access to Texas U sports, thus having specific shows on that, which they have to pay Texas for that access. As far as other schools ESPN would show little bits, but the Texas content would far outweigh any other school. Is there anything stopping ESPN from doing this? Sure it's not branded "LHN" but when 75% of the content is Texas U and it's called "Texas Network" it would effectively be doing the same thing.

[sooner82]

I have heard that ESPN initially approaced both Texas and A&M to have a 'lone star network', but A&M wasn't interested. I think the same rules would apply since the network would still be affiliated with those schools. If ESPN did a regional station like FSN with no affiliation then there wouldn't be any restrictions. I don't get why ESPN didn't do this in the first place by stepping up and trying to outbid FSN for the big12 2nd tier rights last March. Then they could have simply stuck any Texas game, HS game, or any big12 game on the regional network that they wanted. Hell, they already own the 1st tier rights, they could put OU/TX on there if they wanted.

[Is This Wilt Chamberlain?]

Originally Posted by vito

I've heard on several occasions that the University of Florida does NOT want any other Florida school in the SEC and that South Carolina feels the same way about Clemson.

I could see Texas A&M and Virginia Tech joining the SEC as the first step.

Originally Posted by Irish Blues

It's definitely accurate to say that Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee and Georgia don't want FSU in because that would be another difficult game added to the schedule - and for at least 3 of the 5, it would probably take the place of Samford, Norfolk State, Tennessee Tech, Elon, or whatever other FCS team gets scheduled for a cheap, easy home game.

I hadn't heard that specifically about UF and SC, but it does make some sense. I'm sure one of the best recruiting tools right now is just saying "we're in the SEC, come play in the best league in the country." I could see those schools being upset if their biggest rival could now say that too.

I do think there's a fine line between making the league stronger and making it too tough. It really depends on how the divisions and schedules work out, though. If FSU was just a rotating game, I don't think any of the schools you named would be worried about it. Playing them every year..maybe so.

[tometom]

Originally Posted by sooner82

I have heard that ESPN initially approaced both Texas and A&M to have a 'lone star network', but A&M wasn't interested. I think the same rules would apply since the network would still be affiliated with those schools. If ESPN did a regional station like FSN with no affiliation then there wouldn't be any restrictions. I don't get why ESPN didn't do this in the first place by stepping up and trying to outbid FSN for the big12 2nd tier rights last March. Then they could have simply stuck any Texas game, HS game, or any big12 game on the regional network that they wanted. Hell, they already own the 1st tier rights, they could put OU/TX on there if they wanted.

That's pretty much what I mean. Except the one additional thing is that they were going to be paying a school. Specifically Texas for additional access, thus making it pretty much exactly what they want to do with LHN.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

I think if one more school leaves the Big12-2, the rest should kick out Texas and reform the Big 8. Champion goes to the Orange Bowl, just like before.

[lipman]

Interesting viewpoint that I read in another article that was talking about BYU. What if the Big 12 morphs into some sort of loose association of teams. A&M heads east and leaves the Big 12 with 9. They go out and grab BYU to make 10. That allows BYU an AQ into the BCS, while keeping their own network and avoiding the hassle of independent scheduling (and gets all of their other sports into a "major" conference). OU and OSU team up to form the Oklahoma Nation Network with ESPN. The Big 12 then pulls the biggest coup by grabbing ND, allowing them to keep their NBC affliation (which shows 7 of ND's home games I believe). At this point there are 11 teams, with the following set up.

All Big 12 only revenues are split pretty equally.

Big 12 TV - 1st tier and 2nd tier rights sit with their current providers (excluding ND NBC games)

LHN - Shows 2 Longhorn games a year, as well as a couple of Tx Tech and Baylor games that would otherwise not be shown on TV anywhere. Baylor and Tech get $300,000 - $500,000 a game for those shown on LHN. LHN also shows a bunch of other sports like volleyball, baseball, etc.

ONN - Shows 3-4 OSU and OU football games a year, and various other minor sports.

NBC - Shows 7 ND home games, which leaves 4-5 games for the Big 12 1st and 2nd tier guys. Could possibly get this ratcheted down to 6 home games.

BYUtv - Same as LHN, except they don't get the additional games as they have other programing options.

KSU, Kansas, Iowa St - They are in a pretty bad place. All of their conference mates have additional streams coming in from other networks, or they are getting additional cash on the side from being shown on LHN.


So the Big 12 TV rights go up enough to cover the two new adds (BYU and ND), so that the teams are still getting $18-20m each from those rights. ND is pulling in another $15 from NBC, LHN and ONN get their schools somewhere in the $5-$15m range each, and Tech and Baylor get $1m-$2m extra each year for games on the LHN.

You then use that structure to go out and entince somebody else who could possibly pull off their own network. Nebraska would have been a good candidate, but they aren't coming back. Maybe somebody like a USC.

I know it is a pipe dream, but I like it!

[sooner82]

LHN finally gots its first cable partner. Entouch Cable, which is only availble in to certain 'master planned communities' in Houston. Standard Definition only. Still no major carriers. I'm not sure how this will affect the negotiations with Time Warner, Directv, etc. Time warner is the biggest carrier in the state and you can ask the NFL how tough it is to negotiate a channel with them. T-minus 7 days till launch.

[sooner82]

Originally Posted by lipman

Interesting viewpoint that I read in another article that was talking about BYU. What if the Big 12 morphs into some sort of loose association of teams. A&M heads east and leaves the Big 12 with 9. They go out and grab BYU to make 10. That allows BYU an AQ into the BCS, while keeping their own network and avoiding the hassle of independent scheduling (and gets all of their other sports into a "major" conference). OU and OSU team up to form the Oklahoma Nation Network with ESPN. The Big 12 then pulls the biggest coup by grabbing ND, allowing them to keep their NBC affliation (which shows 7 of ND's home games I believe). At this point there are 11 teams, with the following set up.

All Big 12 only revenues are split pretty equally.

Big 12 TV - 1st tier and 2nd tier rights sit with their current providers (excluding ND NBC games)

LHN - Shows 2 Longhorn games a year, as well as a couple of Tx Tech and Baylor games that would otherwise not be shown on TV anywhere. Baylor and Tech get $300,000 - $500,000 a game for those shown on LHN. LHN also shows a bunch of other sports like volleyball, baseball, etc.

ONN - Shows 3-4 OSU and OU football games a year, and various other minor sports.

NBC - Shows 7 ND home games, which leaves 4-5 games for the Big 12 1st and 2nd tier guys. Could possibly get this ratcheted down to 6 home games.

BYUtv - Same as LHN, except they don't get the additional games as they have other programing options.

KSU, Kansas, Iowa St - They are in a pretty bad place. All of their conference mates have additional streams coming in from other networks, or they are getting additional cash on the side from being shown on LHN.


So the Big 12 TV rights go up enough to cover the two new adds (BYU and ND), so that the teams are still getting $18-20m each from those rights. ND is pulling in another $15 from NBC, LHN and ONN get their schools somewhere in the $5-$15m range each, and Tech and Baylor get $1m-$2m extra each year for games on the LHN.

You then use that structure to go out and entince somebody else who could possibly pull off their own network. Nebraska would have been a good candidate, but they aren't coming back. Maybe somebody like a USC.

I know it is a pipe dream, but I like it!

Baylor, BYU, and Notre Dame in the same conference. We can call it the interfaith conference.

[tometom]

Time Warner is hard to work with. I remember the Big 10 had a tough time with them.