More Details on UT-ESPN Agreement Emerging

by srr50 on May 4, 2011 3:18 PM CDT

The Austin American Statesman has obtained a copy of the licensing agreement between UT, its media rights-holder IMG College, and ESPN and it reveals a few more interesting details in the pact.

As already reported, the 24-hour network is expected to launch this August. ESPN is the equity stakeholder in the network and will pay UT a total of $300 million over 20 years. Here are some of the highlights from the agreement:

*ESPN will have $13 million in start-up costs and then have production costs of $15 million in the first year. They also expect their overhead to begin at $11 million and increase annually at a rate of 4%.

*ESPN is in charge of hiring the on-air talent, but Texas has veto power. Texas can drop the hammer on any talent that they perceived to have injured the brand. The contract states,

"in the event that UT reasonably determines that any on-air talent does not reflect the quality and reputation desired by UT for the Network based on inappropriate statements made or actions taken by such talent and so notifies ESPN, ESPN will cause such talent to be promptly replaced (and will in any event no longer allow them on air following such notice)."

ESPN told the Statesman that this was unusual but added that it wasn't about critical comments made concerning the program but, "it's more about potential situations where a commentator makes completely inappropriate comments or gets involved in inappropriate actions."

Whatever that may be.

*UT (specifically IMG College) will help ESPN get the rights to University Interscholastic League championship contests on the network and the digital channel that will also be created. Texas is the only state where a University is in charge of a state high school athletic association. UIL championship events in football and basketball are currently under contract to Fox Sports.

*ESPN has yet to make a distribution deal with any cable or or satellite providers to carry the new network. It is expected that the Longhorn Network will have a staff of 75 employees.

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Comments

Whatever that may be. = Biting a hookers back.

by roach on May 4, 2011 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

I knew it. Suck it!

by Aggie Rick on May 4, 2011 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

Ah, I just wrote a similar piece. Though I attack it in a slightly different way.

Thanks for writing this.

by Scipio Tex on May 4, 2011 3:42 PM CDT reply actions

Scip:

I like your approach, and I just threw this out for quick comment. As I mentioned on yours I am really as interested to see how UT stumbles are handled in Bristol on SportsCenter.

by srr50 on May 4, 2011 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

So Vic the Brick won’t be coming back to Austin?

by Bob in Houston on May 4, 2011 5:00 PM CDT reply actions

I loved Vic the Brick as a kid.

Michael Jenkins and Vic The Brick were my two favorite Longhorns TV news guys from my time in Austin.

by Scipio Tex on May 4, 2011 5:03 PM CDT reply actions

There are several broadcasters out there with UT/Austin ties who no doubt are putting their names into the hopper.

by srr50 on May 4, 2011 5:18 PM CDT reply actions

Michael Jenkins works for Comcast Sports in DC.

by VirginiaLonghorn on May 4, 2011 6:11 PM CDT reply actions

“Michael Jenkins and Vic The Brick were my two favorite Longhorns TV news guys from my time in Austin.”

You weren’t a fan of Dave’s Plays?

by CrazyJoeDavola on May 5, 2011 11:35 AM CDT reply actions

Virginia -

Yep. His bits are great and he’s much pretty much fearless in looking for laughs. His Rebecca Black Friday parody is a particular favorite.

CJD -

Dave’s Plays is proof that our generation was once enthralled by sports bloopers and football phones. Anyone else stay up to watch Friday Night Videos? Recently, while cleaning out a closet, I came across several VHS tapes titled “Fresh Ass Rhymes” and “Rockin’ Jamz 1988” which consisted mostly of my favorite scratchy EPMD videos recorded off of YO MTV Raps.
For some reason, Dave’s Plays jarred that memory.

by Scipio Tex on May 5, 2011 3:23 PM CDT reply actions

"Michael Jenkins and Vic The Brick were my two favorite Longhorns TV news guys from my time in Austin."

Dean Hodgson, IMO.

by srr50 on May 5, 2011 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

Oh yes, Dean Hodgson. Tell us more of the on-air personalities of the 1960s.

by Scipio Tex on May 5, 2011 4:16 PM CDT reply actions

Please Scip, let us not confuse our KTBC-TV Icons.

Uncle Jay Hodgson & Packer Jack

The greatest kiddie show EVAR.

Dean “The Dream” Hodgson — the sports anchor answer to Ted Baxter.

by srr50 on May 5, 2011 4:30 PM CDT reply actions

ESPN told the Statesman that this was unusual but added that it wasn’t about critical comments made concerning the program but, "it’s more about potential situations where a commentator makes completely inappropriate comments or gets involved in inappropriate actions."

Call it the, “none of your on air folks can go all Cleve Bryant” clause

by ropeburn on May 6, 2011 12:20 PM CDT reply actions