OT: Longhorn Network losing $

[Klamalama]

Costliest college network in the country has lost millions - San Antonio Express-News

Costliest college network in the country has lost millions

The article is long. Below are some pull quotes:

Asked about the Longhorns’ sudden decline, ESPN senior vice president Burke Magnus replied, “Nothing suggested that could happen.”

Kevin Weiberg, a former Big 12 commissioner and now a consultant on college sports media deals said he doubts “ESPN has any long-term regret about the Longhorn Network. I think it’s uncertain if this (LHN) model will work … and drive an audience over a long period of time, but in a changing media landscape, I think it’s always better to be distributing your own content than not.”

The Big Ten Network, for example, failed for three days to properly cover perhaps the biggest story in conference history — the 2011 child *** abuse scandal involving former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

“But I keep coming back to what this exposure has done for women athletes — the swimmers, the volleyball players, our kids,” he said. “By seeing these great, often overlooked, women athletes, you get a whole different perspective on big time college athletics.”

 

[cane since birth]

I didnt think it was still around, they only show stat lines of texas alum on the ticker and highlights lol, the SEC is somewhar understandable, but just one college network yea id understand people not watching

 

[orange&green84]

I didnt think it was still around, they only show stat lines of texas alum on the ticker and highlights lol, the SEC is somewhar understandable, but just one college network yea id understand people not watching

Couple that with the fact that their program is in limbo as Strong looks to be in well over his head in Austin. A mediocre product on the field is not going to help the network's bottom line. Texas is all about football, problem for UT, there's several big time programs in the state that people can follow.

 

[ball915]

Living in Austin it is a complete waste of a channel from a content standpoint. However, with Texas being down during this period certainly isn't helping the LHN. If Texas can become relevant again, their ratings would increase.

 

[plantcity3]

Cmon.....You have a station for one program. Besides their fans, who is going to give a crap about it

 

[svenben]

and even for the fans... how much can you watch with a just a few football games a year.. What do you watch the other 99% of a year?

People laugh at the ACC having a network but I think basketball is overlooked for a conference network. There are live games 6 days a week during the dark cold months into spring. Live content is important.. football is 12 Saturdays in the fall where there is ample other games on regular TV and cable.

 

[TheSwagger1]

I never got the idea in the first place. Didn't seem like a sound business model but I'm admittedly ignorant about television network programming.

 

[SouthpawX]

From a Forbes report, Texas was still the #1 most profitable FB program cashing in to the tune of $152 mil this year.

The 20 most valuable college football programs | Yardbarker.com

Miami did not make the cut of the Top 20

Here is the full Top 20:

1. Texas – $152 million
2. Notre Dame – $127 million
3. Tennessee – $121 million
4. LSU – $111 million
5. Michigan – $105 million
6. Georgia – $102 million
7. Ohio State – $100 million
8 Alabama – $99 million
9. Oklahoma – $96 million
10. Auburn – $89 million
11. Penn State – $81 million
12. Arkansas – $80 million
13. Washington – $78 million
14. Oregon – $75 million
15. Florida – $72 million
16. Texas A&M – $71 million
17. Florida State – $70 million
18. South Carolina – $69 million
19. Michigan State – $67 million
20. USC – $66 million

Wondering who actually owns the Network?

 

[SouthpawX]

The Longhorn Network (LHN) is an American regional sports network that is owned as a joint venture between the University of Texas at Austin, ESPN and IMG College, and is operated by ESPN (itself owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company and the Hearst Corporation). The network, which launched on August 26, 2011, focuses on the Texas Longhorns varsity sports teams of the University of Texas at Austin.

 

[Gsugradcanefan]

From a Forbes report, Texas was still the #1 most profitable FB program cashing in to the tune of $152 mil this year.

The 20 most valuable college football programs | Yardbarker.com

Miami did not make the cut of the Top 20

Here is the full Top 20:

1. Texas – $152 million
2. Notre Dame – $127 million
3. Tennessee – $121 million
4. LSU – $111 million
5. Michigan – $105 million
6. Georgia – $102 million
7. Ohio State – $100 million
8 Alabama – $99 million
9. Oklahoma – $96 million
10. Auburn – $89 million
11. Penn State – $81 million
12. Arkansas – $80 million
13. Washington – $78 million
14. Oregon – $75 million
15. Florida – $72 million
16. Texas A&M – $71 million
17. Florida State – $70 million
18. South Carolina – $69 million
19. Michigan State – $67 million
20. USC – $66 million

Wondering who actually owns the Network?

Tennessee coming in at #3 is surprising. You'd think that Alabama would be the top dog in the SEC, especially with how much their fans talk about the program.

 

[CaneInHeelCountry]

From a Forbes report, Texas was still the #1 most profitable FB program cashing in to the tune of $152 mil this year.

The 20 most valuable college football programs | Yardbarker.com

Miami did not make the cut of the Top 20

Here is the full Top 20:

1. Texas – $152 million
2. Notre Dame – $127 million
3. Tennessee – $121 million
4. LSU – $111 million
5. Michigan – $105 million
6. Georgia – $102 million
7. Ohio State – $100 million
8 Alabama – $99 million
9. Oklahoma – $96 million
10. Auburn – $89 million
11. Penn State – $81 million
12. Arkansas – $80 million
13. Washington – $78 million
14. Oregon – $75 million
15. Florida – $72 million
16. Texas A&M – $71 million
17. Florida State – $70 million
18. South Carolina – $69 million
19. Michigan State – $67 million
20. USC – $66 million

Wondering who actually owns the Network?

Tennessee coming in at #3 is surprising. You'd think that Alabama would be the top dog in the SEC, especially with how much their fans talk about the program.

U of Tennessee is the only major program in that state. Vandy is tiny and not a big sports draw, and the only other D-1 program there is Memphis.
Same with LSU, who comes in at #4 on that list. They're really the only big-time program in the entire state.
Bama has to split a state with Auburn.