Longhorn Network

I ran across a couple of articles on the Longhorn Network that are months old. It seems like previous off seasons we had endless reports of negotiations to get the network on various cable plans. So, has it been a success - monetarily, recruiting, exposure, entertainment value?

FoxSports - All Hat No Cattle

Longhorn Network Money Stacks Up Fine

 

All things considered I think the LHN has been a net loser.

 

As long as Texas is getting paid no issues. Change in football HC's caused some issues with Strong's definition of All Access. IMHO the athletic staffs still have issues with how to best use the resource (yes the LHN is a school resource).

The alternative would be a Big XII network but that would be dominated by Texas and ou so with ou having basically space on Fox Sports there would be no change.

 

LHN worked fine yesterday. I watched 2008 Texas OU and 2013 Texas OU football games back to back. Still smiling.

 

I like LHN. I watch Longhorn Extra every night, a 30 minute sports news show, featuring mostly Longhorn sports. I'll be sad if LHN is cancelled at some point.

 

Ditto, I pretty much watch some part of it every night. Don't care for Friday Night Lights but I realize they need some filler and some people like the series.

 

Albatross

 

I check in and watch nightly too. I also like to watch and looking forward to watching this season basketball, Baseball, softball and the other sports.

 

If you haven't seen it and they replay it again, that "All Access" show with Coach Smart and the basketball team was excellent.

I know they are young, but the basketball team sure looks good and could be a real surprise this season.

Friday Night Lights, the first couple of seasons was really good and mostly about football. Then they had to put more soap opera stories in, so that the appeal would be broader and keep the ratings up.

 

I guess I missed the point of the post.

I like LHN and watch LH Extra, like the programs about the National Championships, and watch some of the football games. Financially it's been a winner and that's good.

However, I believe it has ultimately done more harm as far as opportunities lost. I don't think that many non-Longhorn fans watch it and with recruiting rules the way they are I don't think it helps that much there either.

I'll be surprised if it continues in its current form for the full 15 years of the contract. Now if we become a yearly National Title contender and get in the 4 team playoff, the basketball team makes some final 4 runs, the baseball team starts camping out at the CWS every year and more people start watching it may be a net winner.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

 

Kansas basketball makes them a ton of third tier money. How is it run or comparable? Nobody seems to begrudge them for making their money or for the access it provides the legions of KU basketball fans their access?

OU has their deal with Fox which was probably the best they could do, for a fraction of the deal Texas got. They are probably pissy/jealous about that for various reasons but nobody says **** about OU's third tier tv package that they make X million+ on per year.

The way the cable cords are being cut it will be interesting to see how this whole thing develops. The NLRB no decision on Northwestern unionizing will likely impact all of this in related fashion as well. The only constant, it seems, are the changes.

 

Whatever you think about LHN, aggy is uing it as THE reason they left the Big XII. If so it has already accomplished the impossible.

 

Someone above says the LHN has been a net loser, need more than that.....Why? How can it be improved? Is it just because you don't get it?

 

What opportunities have been lost? How does it not help in recruiting especially with all the rest of the sports, ie softball, baseball, volleyball etc?

 

Wish I could comment but my cable, Comcast, here in Houston still does not have it. Ticks me off!!!

 

Yeah, but you get whatever that network is with the Astros games...oh, wait...sorry, my bad- that really isn't a consolation prize of late.

I didn't realize that Comcrap didn't have it though...I thought those of us with DISH were the last of the major services to get it.

 

Yup, that is exactly what happened... give me the HS football, classroom and some romance but you can keep your drama, troubled characters and social messages.

 

Have you compared to Direct TV. Right now I was able to get the NFL Ticket, LNH High speed inet, 2 boxes to record 5 shows at once while watching a 6th, for $144/month if that will work for your budget. I had less with Time Warner (no NFL Ticket and hook up for only for 1 TV) which costs over $100 more. And my picture on the TV is sharper with Direct.

 

If you are happy with the big XII the way it is then you probably don't see opportunities lost.

I think the LHN did keep us from having opportunities at other conferences, maybe the PacXII or the B1G. No way I see the Big XII surviving in its current form. The teams that are available for expansion don't really excite me.

Anyway, if you think the LHN is a net winner, good for you. I don't think it is, good for me.

 

BJoe what is LNH inet? It is the cable high speed internet that keeps me with them.

 

Should be a comma after LHN. AT&T have the Inet piece.

 

Move to uverse. I did 2 months ago. Loving it.

 

Unfortunately true. And as long as the Championship series for football is set for four competitors, a fifth "major" conference presents the problem of leaving someone out. If the scenario collapses to four major conferences, problem solved. And IMO it's pretty obvious that the Big XII would be the odd-man-out in that case, leaving Texas, Zero U, Tceh, Zero State, and the others hunting for a plcae to land in one of the four remaining major conferences.

 

If that happens, we're the ones who have to worry the least.

 

IF and that is a big IF the B12 has an undefeated champion this year and the other four conference champs all have one loss (or worse), I still believe that the B12 will get snubbed. This goes to the 13 games played as opposed to the 12 games played in our conference. I've heard what has been said by the top dogs involved with the selection criteria, but if the above happens this year, the handwriting is on the wall. Play 13 with a CCG and you might get in.

 

My opinion is that not having a CCG is not a death knell. The Big 12 was close to having 2 teams in the final 4 last season. If our co-champions had played anything resembling a competitive non-conference schedule, it could have happened. When Texas and ou return to their expected prominence, it could happen.

 

I think an undefeated Texas or OU makes the final four.

 

If TCU & Baylor's exact same schedule & results had been achieved by Texas and Oklahoma - or possibly even by Oklahoma State and Kansas State - the Big 12 would have had a team in the playoffs. Had Ohio State's exact same schedule & results been achieved by Indiana or Northwestern, the Big 12 would have had a team in the playoffs.

No matter what system we have, it'll always be affected by preconceived notions, preseason forecasts, and historical program prestige - unless we go to a pure computer formula, which would have problems of its own.

 

You got it. Name brand / history had a lot to do with it.

 

There is a very good new show on LHN called All-22 with David Thomas breaking down film.