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Longhorn Network Has Lost ESPN Millions: SEC-N Impact.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 6:38 am
Posted on 12/28/15 at 6:38 am
Costliest college network in the country has lost millions
This is a lengthy overview on the genesis of LHN and it's impact on college athletics.
A couple of questions I have after reading the piece are...
1) Under the umbrella of the SEC-N, would you like to see two-team SEC sub-channels like the Pac-12-N?
2) Could Alabama (or any other SEC school) carry it's own sub-channel?
When you read what the Pac-12 and LHN like about their networks it's the exposure for the secondary sports.
I would love the idea of a Missouri-Arkansas sub-channel airing on the usually dormant SEC Alternate. Keep the mother network as is for nationwide consumption, while adding a regional channel for making the secondary sports more accessible to the home state viewers.
Yes? No? Or will internet viewing eventually replace it all anyway?
This post was edited on 12/28/15 at 6:39 am
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Posted on 12/28/15 at 6:45 am to Mizz-SEC
frick Texas and the Big 12. Oh wait, they're the same thing! frick the Big Texas. 
Posted on 12/28/15 at 6:46 am to Mizz-SEC
I don't think sub channels would be a good idea. The Texas Longhorn channel sucks. I'm forced to have it here in Texas. Most of the time its old games that only a handful of true Texas fans would want to see.
The extended coverage after games would be cool if you are winning but are really awkward when losing and lately they've lost a lot.
The extended coverage after games would be cool if you are winning but are really awkward when losing and lately they've lost a lot.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 6:51 am to Mizz-SEC
The LHN blowing up couldn't have happened to a more humble program. Real shame.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 6:55 am to Doresrules
LHN is the biggest joke in television. Somebody in Austin must be a pretty good salesman...'cause they sure were able to get deep off into ABC's wallet.
I'm still tryin' to figger out how professional television folks got sold on the bill of goods LHN is. How many folks did they think there were who really wanted to watch every girls volleyball game? Soccer? Old foo'ball re-runs?
I'm still tryin' to figger out how professional television folks got sold on the bill of goods LHN is. How many folks did they think there were who really wanted to watch every girls volleyball game? Soccer? Old foo'ball re-runs?
Posted on 12/28/15 at 7:01 am to Mizz-SEC
ESPN made a huge mistake by throwing all of that money at the LHN. The only reason it is around today (verified by the article) is the forced charges cable/satellite users are charged.
TV is a declining medium and the future does not look good. Specialty viewing does have it's niche.
Some "sports boards" are airing their own programming (radio/tv) for a fee, that the actual consumer pays. IMHO that would be the future.
To illustrate my point, what if the Rant were to add that type of programming? Individuals would be able to purchase it.
At the risk of criticism, an unnamed sports board that covers A&M sports, will sell you an option to watch or listen to specialty programming. The radio portion is also carried on a local radio station (for free) but those interested around the world, can sign up to listen, or watch.
The LHN continues to be a curse. Coaches hate it because they are required to provide the programming that takes up valuable coaching time. Most fans don't watch a baseball coach "starring" in a weekly cooking show. You can only show Justin Tucker's field goal so many times until even the staunchest fan returns to the cartoon network.
LHN is "dead man walking".
TV is a declining medium and the future does not look good. Specialty viewing does have it's niche.
Some "sports boards" are airing their own programming (radio/tv) for a fee, that the actual consumer pays. IMHO that would be the future.
To illustrate my point, what if the Rant were to add that type of programming? Individuals would be able to purchase it.
At the risk of criticism, an unnamed sports board that covers A&M sports, will sell you an option to watch or listen to specialty programming. The radio portion is also carried on a local radio station (for free) but those interested around the world, can sign up to listen, or watch.
The LHN continues to be a curse. Coaches hate it because they are required to provide the programming that takes up valuable coaching time. Most fans don't watch a baseball coach "starring" in a weekly cooking show. You can only show Justin Tucker's field goal so many times until even the staunchest fan returns to the cartoon network.
LHN is "dead man walking".
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:27 am to agswin
quote:
The only reason it is around today (verified by the article) is the forced charges cable/satellite users are charged.
Uh...that is the business model for the SEC Network as well. We are years, maybe decades, away from a model where people pay directly for the channels they want. I promise you we all don't want that future because when it's just us paying $20 optionally for the SEC Network every month, and not just EVERY cable consumer including grandma that never watches sports, then the revenue for our programs will be cut dramatically. That will basically be when the college football bubble pops.
The reason why the SEC Network works and the LHN doesn't with the exact same business model is that cable companies actually WANT the SEC Network. It is a sellable point for them, and a way to get men under the age of 35 in the south to get used to paying a cable bill every month. It is like a cord-cutting antidote in a world where the old reasons to have cable (local content or HBO) are quickly going away.
Meanwhile the LHN doesn't have good enough games on it to be relevant like that. It is being forced down the throat of cable companies by ESPN, there were some reports they bundled it with the SEC Network they actually wanted (kinda like how the cable company forces phone service on us). A single team network simply doesn't have the demographic footprint to be viable.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:30 am to RedRaider
quote:
I'm still tryin' to figger out
quote:
Foo'balll
You're trying way too hard.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:31 am to Mizz-SEC
I thought the SEC-N was an Alabama subchannel
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:32 am to Mizz-SEC
quote:
Could Alabama (or any other SEC school) carry it's own sub-channel?
absolutely not. Texas' network is blowing up, and they have literally 5x as many people to watch than Alabama would (not excluding Auburn fans).
Notre Dame MIGHT be able to pull it off, but the whole concept just isn't a money maker.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:33 am to Mizz-SEC
No to sub channels, but I still don't understand why they refuse to use alternate channels to air live sporting events outside of football. Why have everything online only when you have two channels you aren't using?
What's the reasoning for this?
What's the reasoning for this?
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:39 am to Mizz-SEC
The problem the Longhorn Network has is the same one any school will have, the majority of their fans are only fans of one sport, football. All the other content wouldn't attract viewers. No matter if they are sidewalk or alumni, not all "fans" are fans of the school. I know guys that graduated from Bama that are die hard Bama football fans and
Duke basketball fans.
Duke basketball fans.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:41 am to MontyFranklyn
quote:
I know guys that graduated from Bama that are die hard Bama football fans and Duke basketball fans.
Seriously frick those people
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:43 am to Mizz-SEC
I wish the SEC-N could get its hand on old football coaches' Sunday shows. Those were gold, especially compared to the junk today with the HC on for about 8 seconds on the field after the game.
The Bear Bryant Shows were awesome.Charlie Thornton was one of the most underrated straight men in tv history.
The Bear Bryant Shows were awesome.Charlie Thornton was one of the most underrated straight men in tv history.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 8:48 am to Mizz-SEC
quote:
UT channel is rated by Rentrak, which reports that LHN’s most-watched programs for 2015 were the only two Longhorns football games it televised. For UT vs. Rice, Rentrak says LHN was seen nationally in 423,000 homes; against Kansas, about 334,000.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 9:18 am to Mizz-SEC
I could see an A&M, Arkansas, LSU sub-channel working.
I base this partially on how Arkansas/LSU have been on Cox Sports channel for baseball for several years now.
Arkansas/LSU/A&M could round out a sub-channel with spring sports, etc. Regional appeal in DFW/Houston markets especially.
I feel like the SEC Network covers pretty much everything I'd ever want to see, though.
I base this partially on how Arkansas/LSU have been on Cox Sports channel for baseball for several years now.
Arkansas/LSU/A&M could round out a sub-channel with spring sports, etc. Regional appeal in DFW/Houston markets especially.
I feel like the SEC Network covers pretty much everything I'd ever want to see, though.
This post was edited on 12/28/15 at 9:20 am
Posted on 12/28/15 at 9:18 am to I-59 Tiger
quote:
I wish the SEC-N could get its hand on old football coaches' Sunday shows. Those were gold, especially compared to the junk today with the HC on for about 8 seconds on the field after the game.
The Bear Bryant Shows were awesome.Charlie Thornton was one of the most underrated straight men in tv history.
See this is what I'm talking about for sub channel programming.
Mining the archives. Re-airing classic games more than on school specific days. First run programming generated by each school's journalism department, etc.
Shoot, Missouri has one of the best journalism schools in the country, run their own network television station, and as far as I know run nothing on the SEC Network.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 9:21 am to MontyFranklyn
quote:
I know guys that graduated from Bama that are die hard Bama football fans and
Duke basketball fans.
It is statements like those that make me feel like I understand why terrorists do what they do.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 9:28 am to cardboardboxer
quote:
Meanwhile the LHN doesn't have good enough games on it to be relevant like that. It is being forced down the throat of cable companies by ESPN, there were some reports they bundled it with the SEC Network they actually wanted (kinda like how the cable company forces phone service on us). A single team network simply doesn't have the demographic footprint to be viable.
And it never will. The Big 12 is going to be boosted by their lack of a title game as it makes their path to the playoff infinitely easier, but the inability for them to get a conference network, something with enough footprint to be moderately successful is going to hurt them. It will even hurt that school in Austin although they'll never admit it. Their content isn't valuable unless they are playing interesting matchups and they'll never get good games on the LHN.
Posted on 12/28/15 at 9:38 am to TeLeFaWx
ESPN needs to turn Longhorn Network into the Big 12 Network
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