Clarification on New "Longhorn Network" with ESPN

[Rogue52]

We all know the new deal between ESPN and the University of Texas gurantees them "Third Tier rights". So, whatever the other Big XII televisions contracts don't pick up, this channel will be able to.

The press release claims that one football game is guranteed. How? Doesn't that undercut the current Big XII television contracts. Put more simply, has there even been a Texas game in the past that hasn't been picked up through one of the current Big XII television contracts? I understand that the game will most likely be one of their worthless non-conference games, but how can they make this gurantee to ESPN?

I know there is a similiar gurantee in place for basketball, but I'm not as familiar with how rights to BB games work.

[alarson]

We all know the new deal between ESPN and the University of Texas gurantees them "Third Tier rights". So, whatever the other Big XII televisions contracts don't pick up, this channel will be able to.

The press release claims that one football game is guranteed. How? Doesn't that undercut the current Big XII television contracts. Put more simply, has there even been a Texas game in the past that hasn't been picked up through one of the current Big XII television contracts? I understand that the game will most likely be one of their worthless non-conference games, but how can they make this gurantee to ESPN?

I know there is a similiar gurantee in place for basketball, but I'm not as familiar with how rights to BB games work.

Outside of conference games, i believe all nonconference games are covered under home-school television rights. This is similar to why we can put nonconference games online yet we cant for conference games. Texas is guaranteeing ESPN that they will have at least one home nonconference game, and that of those (if there are more than one) at least one will be given to the longhorn network.

[3GenClone]

Texas hosted both Rice and Florida A&M earlier this season - two games that were not televised on ESPN, but were most likely on a pay-per-view or local channel. The TLN will have football games like these televised on their network - so they will draw in maybe a few 100,00 fans for one or two football games.

[Rogue52]

Outside of conference games, i believe all nonconference games are covered under home-school television rights. This is similar to why we can put nonconference games online yet we cant for conference games. Texas is guaranteeing ESPN that they will have at least one home nonconference game, and that of those (if there are more than one) at least one will be given to the longhorn network.

This sounds right.

[Wesley]

Yeah, they sold junk games and lower level sports for $300M. Nobody in their right mind would think it was worth it, but it looks like it is filler for yet another ESPN network soon to come.

[ARSON]

Yeah, they sold junk games and lower level sports for $300M. Nobody in their right mind would think it was worth it, but it loooks like it is filler for yet another ESPN network soon to come.

just the daily coverage of spring football and the spring game will pay for a nice chunk of the fee! ESPN will charge the tier fee to carry and the large state that texas is will have the nuts and the bars sign up just like ESPN does not on the U.
More value for ESPN with same costs that was being absorbed for free now gets the extra bump by going this route

[edr247]

Texas hosted both Rice and Florida A&M earlier this season - two games that were not televised on ESPN, but were most likely on a pay-per-view or local channel. The TLN will have football games like these televised on their network - so they will draw in maybe a few 100,00 fans for one or two football games.

Actually, the Rice game was on ESPN. But you're right in that it would likely be the smaller non-con games that would end up on their network.

Also, I assume they'd be able show other sports on it, if they wished?

[CrossCyed]

People need to understand that they aren't paying $300 mil for one football game, eight basketball games, and a bunch of filler. They are paying $300 mil for all of that, plus preserving ESPN's stake in college football tv contracts, as well as helping prevent superconferences.

[snowcraig2.0]

People need to understand that they aren't paying $300 mil for one football game, eight basketball games, and a bunch of filler. They are paying $300 mil for all of that, plus preserving ESPN's stake in college football tv contracts, as well as helping prevent superconferences.

And they are paying that over 20 years.

[Al_4_State]

People need to understand that they aren't paying $300 mil for one football game, eight basketball games, and a bunch of filler. They are paying $300 mil for all of that, plus preserving ESPN's stake in college football tv contracts, as well as helping prevent superconferences.

Exactly. ESPN ponied up that much because it helps to prevent what they wanted to avoid: 4 16 team Superconferences with their own Networks.

[CyBroncos]

They won't have a problem finding a home non-conference game against a cupcake to throw on there.

2011 - Rice
2012 - Wyoming, New Mexico
2013 New Mexico State
2014 - North Texas (Let's go Mac)
2015 - Rice

[jbhtexas]

So...ISU doesn't have a network...yet. If I were ADJP, I'd fire off an email to DeLoss Dodd asking to see if there was some possibility of working a deal to get ISU wrestling and gymnastics on the Longhorn network for a little while.

Certainly, there's got to be some time slots on that network that need filling, and it would add a little variety to the Longhorn network, since UT doesn't sponsor those sports (although UT does have wrestling club). There is decent high school wrestling in Texas, and women's gymnastics is certainly popular. The exposure certainly couldn't hurt ISU.

[CrossCyed]

That would likely cost too much and not be worth the hassle.

[Sloup]

Yeah, the guaranteed football game will probably the annual "Northern Louisiana Trucking Institute of Technology" game.