Remember when some experts were worried that the University of Texas’ new Longhorn Network would permanently alter the state of college athletics, sway the balance of power from conferences to the major programs that inhabit them, and make it impossible for any program — including big-timers like Alabama, Michigan and Florida — from competing with the Longhorn’s national recruiting reach?
All that may come to pass, but less than a week away from the network’s anticipated launch, LHN faces a couple hurdles, according to a story in Sunday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram. One of those hurdles is the that most viewers won’t be able to watch the new channel, which is kind of a big deal for a TV network.
With the network going live Friday , ESPN, which is backing LHN, has not announced a distribution deal with any major telecommunications carrier, writes Art Garcia. The reported sticking point is that ESPN wants LHN included in all basic plans in the Longhorns’ home region, drawing an extra 40 cents per month from each and every person who subscribes to any cable, satellite or telecommunications plan. Carriers like Dish Network, Time Warner and AT&T, on the other hand, want LHN to be part of a premium package that only those who want it (and are willing to pay for it) will receive.
Where it gets complicated for Texas is that the university loses a lot of clout in negotiations if it doesn’t have a deal in place by the Sept. 3 opener against Rice. In a perfect world for the Longhorns, fans would become outraged at missing that game, and the clamor would pressure providers into signing up for LHN.
The problem is, the Rice game for now is the only Longhorns game scheduled to appear on LHN. Almost a half a buck a month for one game against a terrible opponent is not much of a deal. A few UT golf tournaments and women’s volleyball matches are not going to convince viewers otherwise.
When the idea of the Longhorn Network was announced, many of Texas’ opponents threw up their hands. Texas A&M is actively trying to leave the Big 12, in part because it feels Texas already has too much power within the conference and that this network would make it impossible for any other program in the league to compete with Texas’ earning power.
That may still happen. ESPN and LHN could announce a huge deal with broadband and satellite providers this week to stream LHN into every living room in the U.S. For now, though, this game-changer is having trouble getting off the ground.
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Would you pay extra on your cable bill to watch Cody Johnson play football? Yeah, me neither.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Since when?”
— NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw, informed during a broadcast Thursday that Hawaii is a state
TWEET OF THE DAY
If he “still has it,” doesn’t that mean his good days aren’t behind him? I’m confused.
VIDEO OF THE DAY
OK, so some of these are fake. Congratulations if this is the first time the Internet ever lied to you.
