And here we go again.
The drama involving Texas and ESPN’s broadcast partnership, the Longhorn Network, still may not be over even with the possibility of Texas A&M moving on the SEC at some point down the road.
Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman tweets today that ESPN VP Burke Magnus has stated that the LHN plans to air a second UT football game this season. The LHN is already slated to air UT’s opening game against Rice.
Who the opponent will be for that second game, though, is still undecided — kind of like the LHN’s carrier (T-minus: eight days until launch) — although there’s a very good chance it could be Kansas State, who might be able to double dip on their brand new digital network.
For the second game to happen, both schools and the Big 12 office would have to agree on the broadcast.
But a second game broadcast — with a Big 12 opponent, no less — pales in comparison to what the LHN is still trying to push. Bohls later tweets that the LHN hopes to show highlights of high school games.
Now, I don’t know exactly how far the LHN is trying to push the NCAA on this issue, but I was under the impression that “yeah, probably not gonna happen” means it’s probably not going to happen.
If you want to get technical about it, the NCAA’s Board of Regents “endorsed the NCAA staff’s interpretation of existing bylaws to prohibit youth programming on institutional and conference networks and broadcasts, which will provide time to evaluate the proper application of NCAA rules.”
The NCAA is slated to meet with representatives from broadcast networks early next week on Aug. 22.
Our guess? They’re going to bring this up. Texas is pushing this glass of milk all the way over to the edge of the counter.
the NCAA has said that the lhn can not show high school games. if the NCAA allows highlights they are in effect televising hs game clips. this is exactly why Texas A&M will be leaving the big xii conference. texas is going to do what it pleases and to hell with the NCAA. texas’ greed is the reason for the implosion of the big xii.
@lemmam
*live High School games
It could be argued that highlights are even more dangerous than live games; highlight packages can be tailor made to prospects UT is trying to impress. It would be ESPN highlight culture influencing an even more impressionable age group.
This old aggie song is getting tired. If the Texas A&M brand was as powerful and lucrative as that of Texas, THEY would also be pursuing those same financial interests. Notre Dame refuses to join a conference for this VERY REASON. By being independent — they don’t have to put up with all the lesser programs crying and whining because they don’t have the same opportunities that being ND or UT have… ND and UT are cash cows in the sport of cfb. Comments about “texas’ greed” are so far off base here. It’s not greed. It’s normal in sport. Why should Texas make more and then say well we don’t anyone to call us greedy so we better give OUR money to the smaller schools who can’t do what we do. Yea right..
lemmam says:
Aug 18, 2011 6:06 PM
the NCAA has said that the lhn can not show high school games. if the NCAA allows highlights they are in effect televising hs game clips. this is exactly why Texas A&M will be leaving the big xii conference. texas is going to do what it pleases and to hell with the NCAA. texas’ greed is the reason for the implosion of the big xii.
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What’s greed have to do with televising highlights from a game?
By wanting to show “highlights” of high school games, the LHN just dropped their skirt. It’s clear their intention is to use the network as a recruiting tool, at least early in its lifecycle. Ultimately I still believe they want to become the ESPN of the state of Texas (ironic considering ESPN is their broadcast “partner”). Every time news like this surfaces, all it does is confirm A&M’s desire to leave the Big 12, if not outright help shuffle them out. Welcome to the SEC, Aggies. You’ll be a welcome addition.
I agree, I’m not sure how labeling Texas as greedy is really credible.
You can say they are definitely on the path to independence, and they are doing nothing to keep the Big XII together, but they don’t have to. They have to protect their program and do what’s best for them.
I dislike Texas, but damn sure respect their right to take care of themselves.
People can’t just keep calling Texas greedy every time they do something.
You can call the revenue sharing a product of greed, but OU and Nebraska while in the Big XII shared that. Those 3 schools made a lot of money from that. But simply trying to produce a product, not greed. It’s just good business.
So is getting ESPN as a business partner. Smart business. Not greed.
See Burnt, I don’t just hate Texas just to hate. And I agree with Burnt, not the post above mine.
Yes I can call texas greedy. The facts show they are greedy. they need to go independent and forget being in a conference. how is the longhorn network helping the big xii conference? it isn’t, it’s destroying the conference. if alabama or lsu or florida or ohio state or michigan tried to start their own network, their respective conferences would tell them NO or get the hell out.
Lemmam…or should I say IDIOT…Fox Sports SW already shows highlights of ALL the area/local games as well as other big games across the state!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How about the fact that if A&M leaves it will cost the state of Texas $200 million(output in gross product), and the loss of 3,000+ jobs!!! No greed there hey Ag?? You know, because A&M would have said NO to ESPN had the network approached Nowhere-ville!! It’s simple my friend, don’t hate the player, hate the game!! Have fun going Right!
tgaustin says: Aug 18, 2011 10:22 PM
How about the fact that if A&M leaves it will cost the state of Texas $200 million(output in gross product), and the loss of 3,000+ jobs!!!
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If you believe the numbers in that “study” then I really hope, for UT’s sake, you are not a graduate. Those number were put out there for idiots like you to gobble up and regurgitate, but they are as real as Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. The sports business analyst for Forbes has gone through those numbers, and they are complete fiction. Believe me, you should not parrot that study anymore. You won’t hear anyone with a brain and any credibility doing so.
Well, well, well…look at the big brain on Brad! Did you really just drop a “Forbes” take on here…I get it now, I know who you are…your the blonde hair, pony-tail guy from Good Will Hunting…you know, the Michael Bolton clone. Please, elaborate for us all the countless hours of number crunching you did to prove these findings! I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…there was a point behind my posting of that list! And please, stop using words like “parrot”…there are no chicks on here to impress.
The article by the sports business analyst for Forbes should post tomorrow at this site http://businessofcollegesports.com.
But I don’t need that. Just explain to me how 3000 jobs can be lost when it will, in no way, change the number of games played in the state. Each team plays the same number of home games, no matter who they are playing.
Sure, the local economies in Waco and Lubbock will suffer a bit when UofH or BYU come to town instead of the Aggies, but I just do not see why Texas A&M should be held responsible for local economies. And since the SEC opponents travel better than the Big 12 opponents, any loss in revenue to Waco and Lubbock will be more than make up for in College Station, so the net for the state will not be negative.
Anyone ever notice the texas logo looks like the female reproductive organs? How fitting.
Horns- phelopian tubes, ears-ovaries,
*(T-minus: eight days until launch)*
That’s the key here. Who’s going to watch it. And those that do want to watch it. How much will they pay? I think ESPN & Texas are overplaying the value here.
tLHN keeps wanting to show HS games and highlights because they have a serious content problem. I’m glad the NCAA is standing up to them and enforcing rules. But, is someone going to convince me that Texas doesn’t get the recruits it wants anyway?
The recruting advantage Texas has is already established over the rest of the Big 12. Who should be really upset is other big time schools: OU, Florida, USC, Ohio State etc.
tgaustin – I will not resort to calling you names like idiot. Texas A&M would stay in the big xii and the league would survive if texas did not have the longhorn network. Of all the major conferences in the NCAA how many others have a single school with their own network? None (that is zero). No other conferences are crazy enough to allow one of their schools to have their own network. The SEC and the Big 10 divide their tv monies equally – no doubt why these two conferences have or will be increasing in membership.
this tgaustin blogger seems to be feeling the heat. his posts on this article have resulted in name calling and insulting those that do not have his/her same opinions. typical tu whack/nut job
Texas & the LHN’s inquiry to air highlights of high school games is comparable to that of ‘a sexual preditor going before the judge & inquiring: “OK, I won’t rape that woman anymore; but, can can I at least look up her skirt & touch her panties?” That’s Texas-sized mentality to a ‘T’…!
Feeling the heat???? Holy Crap!!! I just spit water all over my keyboard when I read that…classic/typical Ag’s!! Your right, I am feeling the heat…the 50+ days of 100 degree heat that is. Look Lame, your contradicting your original statements…you called Texas greedy and complained/cried about highschool football “clips” (which already are posted by FOX), maybe you overlooked that point…it’s okay though, I forgive you. Who is your beef with…Texas or the Conference. Trust me my friend, the Conference will be just fine without the Ag’s!! Your “I’m taking my ball and going home mentality” is what is going to get you CRUSHED wherever you go!!! What makes you think ESPN isn’t going to do this with another school is works well with Texas…like say, I don’t know, a Florida or Alabama!!! I know, I know, then you guys will head to the Sun Belt conference and dominate!! Isn’t it funny though, how you don’t here any other school in the Big 12/10 complaining/crying/pouting/threatening/bitching about it???????? You know what the best part of it all is??? Once you and your milkmen cheerleaders graduate, you all freaking move to Austin anyway!! CLASSIC…I love it, makes me smile every time!! BTW, I prefer whack job over nut job…but you pick:) WHOOP!!!!
Okay – I’ve stayed away from this whole LHN / ESPN item because, for the most part, I really don’t care! I don’t follow Texas football nor do I watch ESPiN anymore because it is nauseatingly bad in just about every facet. However, a couple of posters upped my interest.
Is Texas A&M physically moving their entire university to another location as part of the SEC move? If not, how in the WORLD can it cost the state of Texas much of anything? They are still paying the same taxes, will still have the same number of students spending the same amount of cash at local establishments, they will still employ the same people to support their team/facility/logistics, they will still playing the same amount of home games, and I’m assuming that any holes left in other Texas team’s schedules will be filled by teams that will travel and spend as Aggie fans. I really need help in understanding how a move to a conference would cost the state of Texas anything?
@tasutin – sorry, Fox broadcasting highlights and/or entire games is not even remotely close to the same thing as a university owned network. Two ENTIRELY different things! Fox does not have an agenda other than broadcasting shows that will attract the most views that advertisers pay money to attempt to sell products to. Fox has no ulterior motive other than profit. Although UT is also interested in the viewer/advertiser/profit angle as Fox in broadcasting high school games and/or highlights, they absolutely have an ulterior motive – and that is to focus their game coverage and player ‘highlights’ on those they are interested in recruiting. It is a huge advantage to them if high school kids are tuning into the LHN exclusively just to watch themselves being featured. Getting them to commit to UT after that type of marketing would be easier than stealing a lollipop from a dead baby. It is a massive recruiting advantage that the NCAA is absolutely correct to prohibit.
UofT, on the other hand,
Opps – forgot to delete that last line – sorry about that!