Longhorn TV Network?
The Statesman’s Kirk Bohls says that at some point Texas will create their own sports network possibly “within a year or so.”
Apparently Fox owns most of the Big 12’s non-revenue sports, but they aren’t going to create a Big 12 network. So Deloss Dodds says Texas could potentially show their non-televised games and other stuff.
I am of the opinion that this would be a very good thing.
The devil will be in the details.
March 13, 2008 at 10:41 am
srr50 has promised a piece on the future of conferences and sports media. I will be on a hunger strike until he produces it.
March 13, 2008 at 11:10 am
I just checked my back pocket to make sure I still had my wallet.
March 13, 2008 at 11:20 am
Like you don’t have a wallet chain.
March 13, 2008 at 11:23 am
Does UT have any idea how popular women’s volleyball will be?
March 13, 2008 at 11:29 am
The costs of production for this kind of stuff have gotten so low that it would be stupid not to give it a shot.
March 13, 2008 at 11:36 am
Craig Way will never sleep again.
March 13, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Killibrew’s cooking show is going to hurt the Network’s rating.
March 13, 2008 at 12:15 pm
isn’t that what “bevo d” is for?
March 13, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Look for srr50 to host and emcee the Women’s Rowing Coach’s Show. (goosebumps)
March 13, 2008 at 12:48 pm
BEVOD doesn’t have much available as far as current games.
BEVOD Schedule
March 13, 2008 at 2:01 pm
If Craig Way read this the only thing he would just mutter Warhorses to himself over and over.
March 13, 2008 at 7:53 pm
This makes great good sense, and is another example of Deloss Dodds keeping Texas one step ahead of just about anyone else in marketing and public relations.
The Big 10 Network was the first of the BCS conferences to jump out and create a network, and it is up and running, but like the NFL Network The BTN is having trouble getting cable operators (Comcast and Time Warner especially) to clear their product.
The Big 10 Network wants to charge cable operators in their dominant markets (8 states with Big 10 Universities) $1.10 per cable subscriber. They charge out of market operators only .10 cents per subscriber. But they want the cable operators to put the BTN on the basic expanded cable tier, while the cable companies want to pass the price along to customers who specifically want the network by placing it on their premium sports tier package. As a comparision, the NFL Network charges .75 cents per subscriber, and they too are having trouble getting on Time Warner, because they want to be on the expanded basic cable tier.
I could see Texas maybe offering their network for something more reasonable, say 15-25 cents per subscriber. Obviously it would be attractive throughout the state, and maybe in other parts of the Big 12. I suppose they could offer it for .10 per subscriber out of market, but the committment on the part of the Athletic Department is there, and I have to believe they have done their due diligence in terms of cost vs. return.
March 14, 2008 at 6:27 am
To put some of those per subscriber fees in perspective for those that aren’t in that business (national average):
ESPN 3.26
FSN 1.92
TNT 0.91
Disney 0.83
NFL Network 0.80
CNN 0.46
A&E 0.23
Weather 0.10
The issues include what programming tier they are on and how many live games they can show.
I’ve also heard that the network would also show things like graduations and such.
March 14, 2008 at 7:14 am
I think I would rather be teabagged by Brian Urlacher than watch a televised graduation ceremony.
March 14, 2008 at 7:57 am
Yeah, but you would rather be teabagged by Brian Urlacher than do just about anything else.