Tired of ESPN pimping for the SEC?

[maxduck]

Get ready to hear Texas, Texas, Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -- ESPN and the University of Texas will combine on a 24-hour television network showing Longhorns sports as well as original series, studio shows, historical programming and other academic and cultural events.

There also will be an online component to the network offering content not featured on the linear TV feed.

ESPN will help develop, launch and operate the network. It will also handle distribution of the network, which is unnamed as of now. The deal is worth $300 million over 20 years. The network will launch in September.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6037857

[greenyellow]

Not really surprised that Texas got a TV contract, but to get it for so long and for that amount of money is mind-boggling. This deal just about leaves all the other Big 12 schools in the dust when it comes to exposure and money.

[ncduck]

Will this hurt Big 12 tv deals going forward?

The fear for the other remaining 9 in the conferense will be greater ratings deterioration from the conference tv deal as the UT/ESPN network will drain away viewers.

If this happened last year at this time, the PAC may have just gotten a lot of those Big12 schools to join.

This might just kill their conferene.

[uodux1212]

Included in the coverage will be at least one exclusive football game, eight men's basketball games, women's basketball coverage of games not televised elsewhere, and Olympic sports coverage.

One football game? Eight basketball games? I dont get it. What am I missing?

[EncinitasDuck]

Included in the coverage will be at least one exclusive football game, eight men's basketball games, women's basketball coverage of games not televised elsewhere, and Olympic sports coverage.

One football game? Eight basketball games? I dont get it. What am I missing?

I think the key word is "exclusive". Remeber this is a Texas Longhorn TV Network (similar to Big 10 Network but exclusive to one school), not a TV contract where ESPN will televise Longhorn games. They will be able to sell advertising specific to this network so one "exclusive" Longhorn FB game could potentially generate hundreds of thousands of $$$ if it is a big game, then figure in the BB games and other sports and the $$$ could be mind-boggling which is of course what UT and ESPN are planning/hoping.

[Duck07]

Certainly this won't effect what the network pundits think of Texas...

[uodux1212]

I think the key word is "exclusive". Remeber this is a Texas Longhorn TV Network (similar to Big 10 Network but exclusive to one school), not a TV contract where ESPN will televise Longhorn games. They will be able to sell advertising specific to this network so one "exclusive" Longhorn FB game could potentially generate hundreds of thousands of $$$ if it is a big game, then figure in the BB games and other sports and the $$$ could be mind-boggling which is of course what UT and ESPN are planning/hoping.

Ok, that makes more sense... thanks.

[Boom]

Texas went 5-7 this year.

So logically ESPN will have them in the top 15 of their preseason rankings next year....

[Supreme]

Texas went 5-7 this year.

So logically ESPN will have them in the top 15 of their preseason rankings next year....

So? ESPN doesn't determine the rankings.

Anyhow, I expect the Big XII to disperse by 2015. Texas A&M will probably be joining the SEC, Texas will go independent.

[greenyellow]

Texas went 5-7 this year.

So logically ESPN will have them in the top 15 of their preseason rankings next year....

So? ESPN doesn't determine the rankings.

Anyhow, I expect the Big XII to disperse by 2015. Texas A&M will probably be joining the SEC, Texas will go independent.

That would be my guess as well.

[wvduck34]

Sick of the SEC and Big Ten in everything to tell you the truth. As if it wasn't bad enough putting up with Ohio State, have to deal with their stinking basketball programs as well.

[TheMaehlMan]

This was the plan all along when the conference expansion fell apart. ESPN came in at the last second and said this was what they were willing to do, and Texas got back on-board with sticking around, at least according to my diehard Longhorn friend(he said this during the whole ordeal). Once the Pac-10 deal wasn't as good, Texas wanted to stay put and other teams still around just followed the leader. This is truly ridiculous though, and I am rather envious of their deal..

[UofDuck]

So for the natty, ESPN invites two coaches to asses the game and brings in one young college QB for his take on the game. All are SEC. Seriously? Jim H would have been a good choice to at least make it appear somewhat impartial, or Sark, or Riley, or Luck...etc - No Pac 10 representation whatsoever. Just a bunch of SEC lathering about how much bigger and better Auburn was....really? Seemed like a close game to me. Ugh!

[TheMaehlMan]

So for the natty, ESPN invites two coaches to asses the game and brings in one young college QB for his take on the game. All are SEC. Seriously? Jim H would have been a good choice to at least make it appear somewhat impartial, or Sark, or Riley, or Luck...etc - No Pac 10 representation whatsoever. Just a bunch of SEC lathering about how much bigger and better Auburn was....really? Seemed like a close game to me. Ugh!

I thought that it was kind of dumb as well, at least bring in someone like Mack Brown or even Riley like you said. I could understand why Harbaugh didn't make it out since he was a little bit busy with other stuff

[Supreme]

So for the natty, ESPN invites two coaches to asses the game and brings in one young college QB for his take on the game. All are SEC. Seriously? Jim H would have been a good choice to at least make it appear somewhat impartial, or Sark, or Riley, or Luck...etc - No Pac 10 representation whatsoever. Just a bunch of SEC lathering about how much bigger and better Auburn was....really? Seemed like a close game to me. Ugh!

Yep, because two coaches who own a combined 4 NC's obviously aren't qualified enough to speak on ESPN. And hey, lets forget about Urban not being an SEC coach, and Saban picking the Ducks to win.