Understanding The Longhorn Network: Gold Medals vs. Money
by Wrangler86 on Sep 21, 2011 9:01 PM CDT
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According to some folks on Houston talk radio today-it is NOT about the money. And, they may be right.
They claim that Dodds' precious LHN is all about "presitge," not money or football. Rather, it is about kids like Marquise Goodwin, Olympic caliber athletes in all sports. Could they be right? It does make some sense.
They say Texas has so much money that it couldn't possibly be fighting over a few piddly millions (albeit a few million is still a lot to most schools, but not Texas). Rather, they think it is all about Texas establishing itself as a national brand (I agree), and about getting the elite athletes (never thought about it before) in ALL sports. Could it be? Could it be that Texas wants its network to showcase the elite divers, swimmers, volleyball players, track and olympic athletes as much as it wants the best football recruits? Why not. It does make sense. Texas stops at nothing when it sets its goals. The more I have been thinking about the radio show I heard on my short drive home, the more I think they made some good arguments. Is the LHN really about wanting to be numero UNO in EVERYTHING? I know: greedy, greedy we are.
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Somewhat
Rather, they think it is all about Texas establishing itself as a national brand (I agree), and about getting the elite athletes (never thought about it before) in ALL sports. Could it be? Could it be that Texas wants its network to showcase the elite divers, swimmers, volleyball players, track and olympic athletes
I think it’s about monetizing non-football sports in a way that’s not been done before. So… its not about football, but it is about money.
Yes, money is part
But it is the money to support the programs to make us an elite university in all aspects. That is pretty cool.
A&M: Go, Ready,Set.....
Why stop at the Olympic sports.
This can be applied to all facets of the University whether sports or academics. Establish a national brand and we can attract the best athletes, the best students, the best faculty and more money to fund it all from donors and grant programs. The sky is the limit. The LHN network could really end up being revolutionary in how Universities promote themselves.
My source close to the program can beat up your source close to the program!
Solved then,
no football, not even the Rice game, on LHN. Now, the rest of us will be happy.
oh hail the Purple and White
Now, now...
Football is the main draw for fans of the University. I’m sure Catflix will show a football game or two right?
My source close to the program can beat up your source close to the program!
by burrito on Sep 21, 2011 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously?
That’s your stance? Football games against Rice and Kansas is the line in the stand. Honestly? Is there a camera in here? Two games that have no national relevance is your tipping point? Please tell me you’re joking, pretty please. Did I miss the joke on another thread?
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by run Bevo run on Sep 21, 2011 10:19 PM CDT up reply actions
So perplexed, I effed the idiom
*Line in the sand.
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by run Bevo run on Sep 21, 2011 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions
The funniest part is no one else can see the potential beyond what's immediately in front of them.
They just get caught up wondering why we can’t share revenue or why we shouldn’t show high school sports. No wonder their leadership didn’t have the vision to lay the groundwork for their own networks.
My source close to the program can beat up your source close to the program!
Burrito
The LHN network could really end up being revolutionary in how Universities promote themselves
I imagine that you capitalized “Universities” to indicate that only the elite programs might promote themselves in the LHN manner. I could not agree more. This is not about sharing with 15 other universities in some amalgamated conference, but rather establishing the bar for the highest achievers. Bravo, Texas!
Fuck you. We're Texas!
It doesnt matter....
I dont think that being/becoming a national brand ( which we already are) will bring in top bluechip atheletes, but having a winning tradition that is consistant every year in the major sports catogories does. We are already in the top two universities in the nation with regards to revenue….
Well then, if that is true
Why charge cable companies to carry the network. Let’s do it on the cheap. Everyone gets it, no cost or really really cheap. No profit margin. It is all about the athletes and promoting other sports. They may even be able to show the LHN outside of houston if they do this. Great thought. But I don’t buy it.
3rd Degree Longhorn
Because you need ESPN to make money on the deal.
The whole point of signing ESPN was to make sure the quality of the production was the best – better than the Big Ten Network, etc.
by Texas Wahoo on Sep 22, 2011 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions
The sports talk "experts"
Were saying exactly these same things. It is about bringing in the elite coaches, athletes, students, professors, etc. in EVERYTHING.
If you are an elite swimmer from California or NY, you will know that you are being trained at a world class facility, by world class coaches, while attending a world class university.
Yes, football and media rights will help bring in the money to pay for this, but it is an incredibly high goal and BRAVO to UT to think so BIG. I think the other schools have been focusing on one small aspect and missed the big picture.
A&M: Go, Ready,Set.....
As to cable providers
I have a very high connection at a large cable company. He said they will carry it eventually, that these contracts ALWAYS get worked out to carry the program and so it will happen.
A&M: Go, Ready,Set.....
please, please, please...
I also live in Houston as well and call AT&T once or twice a week about LHN. Please let the “deal” happen sooner than later. Loved the take you and the “sportstalk guy” have on this. It’s kinda arguing horizontal monopoly vs. vertical. Everyone thinking is vertical (football), while we go horizontal and own all sports. Love it. By the way, what station/host were you listening to?
I don't understand "t-sip" as an insult. I like drinking tea, and when is being classy a bad thing?
Sportstalk 790 FM
The call I heard yesterday had a guest/expert talking about what Texas is really doing. The guy sounded VERY knowledgeable (not a random caller—but a guest call). I don’t know who he was, but it all started to make sense to me and that is why I posted what I heard.
790 is good listening. I am not in the car very long since I live near my office, but I went out for lunch today and the host was irritated today because all the callers wanted to talk re-alignment and he wanted to talk Texans vs. Saints, which will be a good game.
My friend that said don’t sweat getting LHN is with the other large provider in Houston. I have AT&T too and keep calling.
A diffrent friend was SPOT ON with the leak I posted yesterday about something surprising about to happen on realignment and that it wasn’t going to be weeks. I so want to ask more about if teams are being added but I’m not putting anyone’s job at risk due to my curiosity on things. I have a big mouth and would have to share. I asked to be updated as soon as it is allowable for me to know. I think something more is happening but not at all sure.
A&M: Go, Ready,Set.....
I wish I were you
Well, not really. I have good self esteem. I wish I knew the people you do, however. I am a big fan of 790 since they’ve added the 3 mornig show guys. If you ever want to have a real X’s and O’s lesson about Texans offense, check out Lance Zurlein (sp?) on youtube, VERY good stuff. I’ll keep on AT&T, I’d hate to go back to the “other large provider.” Saints 24 Texans 27, Andre and Schaub go off
I don't understand "t-sip" as an insult. I like drinking tea, and when is being classy a bad thing?
It's not exactly the same but
BYU TV never has gotten picked up on many cable providers
Even the Big Ten Network is only available in 73 million homes (super regional, less than half of the country).
Why would LHN get carried nationwide if not those others? Or are you just talking about it being picked up in Texas. It does just seem a matter of time on that, but I don’t see how that puts UT ahead of other schools.
nationwide carriers
I’m not very worried about how many homes outside of Texas get the LHN. Anything outside of the state is gravy to me. It is a recruiting tool… for many sports apparrently. The more homes in Texas, the better chance we land a recruit over any other school.
I don't understand "t-sip" as an insult. I like drinking tea, and when is being classy a bad thing?
Serious question
Do you think the Yankees brand (so, money aside) helps or hurts NYY get free agents?
My sense is that it hurts them, but the money makes up enough to keep them in every discussion. Obviously, they’re having another great season. But if money were all that mattered, NYY wouldn’t have ended up with the pathetic starting rotation (Sabathia excluded) that they have. I think the brand (biggest team, biggest bullies) hurts them.
Is the damage that the LHN is doing to Texas’ brand (rightly or wrongly, I think everyone agrees damage is being done), counteracting any or all of the benefit that the LHN would bring?
I think the Yankees brand helps them sign free agents.
Players want to sign with the Yankees because they know they will be in competition for titles, as well as being famous. It also doesn’t hurt that the Yankees have a reputation for paying their players a lot.
My impression is that there's a certain threshold of being able to credibly contend
In baseball, that would certainly include the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Braves, Cardinals, Giants, Rangers and Angels recently, but there’s no differentiation above that threshold. And it seems to me that the Yankee brand is hurting them in head to head competitions with those other over-the-threshold teams.
But there’s very few datapoints and tons of confounding variables, so it’s probably not possible to get a definitive answer. Just wondering if Texas fans feel that being perceived as a bully does real harm.
I don't know if it does harm or helps us with recruits/coaches. I imagine it goes both ways.
I think it probably harms us with kids that grow up rooting for other schools, but we are unlikely to get those kids anyway. I imagine that with most high school athletes, there would be some draw to playing for the school that everyone seems to agree is the most powerful.
different story
I think it depends on the MLB free agent, in regards to the yanks. In “amateur” football it’s all about the exposure. Typically the more exposure, the higher draft pick, the higher money. Obviously not every top recruit pans out, but as a senior in HS do you think that kid doesn’t believe he’s the best?
I don't understand "t-sip" as an insult. I like drinking tea, and when is being classy a bad thing?
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