Longhorn TV Network Could Be Worth $15 Million A Year

by srr50 on Nov 25, 2010 9:46 AM CST

Reports are that UT and ESPN are just days away from finalizing a long-term deal that dramatically increases the yearly broadcast revenue stream for the program.

The TV, cable, and digital distribution deal would bring in at least $10 million and as much as $15 million a year to the Longhorn budget. UT Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds said, "We're very close. We're talking days instead of months or weeks."

The UT deal with ESPN is reported to be for 20 years, and would cover the broadcasting of non-athletic events.

UT President William Powers has made it clear that he envisions the Longhorn Network as a key outreach tool for the University as a whole -- not just athletics.

"Whether it's a football game or an opera, whether it's a series of courses on Greek history or commentary on the current economy, extending our outreach beyond our campus is always important to us," Powers said.

The added revenue from the Longhorn Network will boost the yearly income from broadcast rights to almost $35 million for Texas, which will only enhance their stature as the leading money maker in athletics among the nations' Universities.

Off the field last year, Texas reported revenues totally $143 million. Alabama was second with $129 million in athletics revenue.

When reports first surfaced of the proposed network, UT expected to recieve an additional $3 million in revenue on an annual basis. However, that was before ESPN entered into the bidding process.

And while the finanical numbers seem out of whack, they can make sense for ESPN. Meanwhile, it isn't just the money that makes this a winner for UT.

The concept of TV Everywhere is one of the new buzzwords in the industry. It simply means that soon cable operators will be able to distribute to their subscribers their signal on several different platforms, especially to broadband and mobile customers. ESPN is already at the forefront of this concept, and being connected with the WWL in this effort is a huge boost for the Texas program.

(We will have a post that goes into more detail as to why this deal works for both parties early next week.)

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Comments

An extra $10-15M per year means making the football good is our only option.

by uthookem on Nov 25, 2010 9:48 AM CST reply actions

That’ll pay for some buyouts

by Bob on Nov 25, 2010 10:16 AM CST reply actions

Maybe one cupcake football game a year. No big basketball games. Unless it’s got a lot of interesting educational programming or big-time high school games. Zero interest.

by 2 in 13 years on Nov 25, 2010 10:26 AM CST reply actions

Que?

by Mysterious Package on Nov 25, 2010 10:44 AM CST reply actions

2 in 13 eats dog food and has a sour bottom.

by sizzlechest on Nov 25, 2010 11:21 AM CST reply actions

The Texas volleyball team played A&M last night, and crushed them. If it had been on the Longhorn Network (and it would have been), I would have watched.

Interested in baseball? It will be on the Longhorn network.

Interested in softball? It will be on the Longhorn network.

Care to attend a lecture on how your vote could influence the economy? Go ahead and DVR a number of available lectures and watch them at your leisure.

This is huge news, not just for athletics.

I for one, would propose a live cam feed anywhere between the tower and west campus to catch up on all of the trim walking around that I missed out on in college while I languished on the corner of 26th and speedway with all of the other engineering goobs.

by uthookem on Nov 25, 2010 11:25 AM CST reply actions

Good stuff as always, srr. But did you HAVE to choose that particular shot to make your point about UT and Alabama?

by gazmorida on Nov 25, 2010 11:50 AM CST reply actions

Synergy.

Yes, of course we’ve been in discussions with DeLoss and ESPN about The Barking Carnival Hour. Kind of a cross between The McLaughlin Group and The Banana Splits.

First show guests include Ronnie Lott, Aubert de Villaine, Gloria Alred, and Kurt ~~Rambis~~Nimphius.

by Sailor Ripley on Nov 25, 2010 12:17 PM CST reply actions

Can they put EDP 363 Human Sexuality on the Longhorn Network? How about the O Phi G Jocks and Schoolgirls party? Tales of the e-Bus? The possibilities are endless.

by jc25 on Nov 25, 2010 12:39 PM CST reply actions

That’s a few million more reasons to make needed changes to avoid the football program from becoming a joke.

by hopefulhorn on Nov 25, 2010 12:48 PM CST reply actions

I had a long list of things I was going to be thankful for today.

I’m scrapping them all in favor of one item: the Banana Splits reference in this thread.

TRA LA LA, LA LA LA LA!

by Homesick Alien on Nov 25, 2010 1:51 PM CST reply actions

In other related news, I hear there’s a foosball match today. Let’s get drunker than hell!

by Jigglebilly on Nov 25, 2010 4:44 PM CST reply actions

Now if only we could buy Benny Hill’s theme song. Boots Randolph’s “Yakety Sax?”

I hear it every time our varsity football team takes the field.

by mr. sunshine on Nov 25, 2010 5:35 PM CST reply actions

somone put that benny hill song to a highlight reel of last nights game!

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