Just one day before the launch of the Longhorn Network, the Texas-ESPN media love baby has finally picked up a major carrier.
As we noted earlier this week, the LHN was reportedly in the final steps of contract negotiations with Verizon and Grande Communications. At least one of those carriers has come through for the network.
Via an official press release, Verizon FiOS has signed on as the largest (and practically only) video service provider for the LHN. Texas fans with FiOS will be able to begin watching LHN programming on Sept. 1, two days before UT plays their season-opener against Rice -- one of possibly two football games to be aired on the LHN.
Verizon has a huge presence in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market, so obviously that’s a great way for UT to continue to have a strong footprint in a major media market.
Now that Verizon is carrying the LHN, it will be interesting to see if/how many other carriers -- and there are some big ones still out there -- will join down the road.