No A&M, No SEC Network

My favorite part:

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George Bodenheimer, the president of ESPN at the time of the Longhorn Network's launch, just wrote a great book about his tenure at ESPN, which I'd encouage you to read. He covers just about every major decision that was made by the network over the past 35 years. He praises countless channel and product launches, from ESPN2 to ESPN Classic, ESPNNews to the SEC Network. He even devotes ample time to the launch of ESPN.com and to the disastrous ESPN phone launch.

He doesn't mention the Longhorn Network in the entire book.

Not once.

That's because it's the worst television programming decision in ESPN history. 

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Here's the icing on the cake.

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While ESPN has received much of the criticism for the LHN's launch, if ESPN hadn't partnered with Texas on the channel then it's likely Fox or Comcast or another major media company would have stepped up to launch the channel.

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Why has the Longhorn Network been the farthest thing from must-see television in cable sports history? It's the programming, stupid. ESPN and Texas gambled that a couple of football games, a bevy of other less popular sporting events and rabid coverage of their local team would be as popular as oil in the Lone Star State. The problem was this: Even the most diehard Texas fan can watch only so many softball games and swim meets. Football's the life blood of televised college sports.

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Indeed, the biggest irony of the Longhorn Network is this: In deciding to create its own channel, Texas made much more money for two Big 12 schools that left for the SEC -- Texas A&M and Missouri -- than it's going to make for itself. That's because both Texas A&M and Missouri stand to make much more money off the SEC Network than Texas will ever make off the Longhorn Network. Nebraska, in the Big Ten, will also be making more television money than Texas.

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LHN will not fold overnight. ESPN has too much pride. I think it will continue throughout their contract. However, ESPN knows that it is a failure. A couple of 7 to 9 win seasons is just enough to keep it afloat.

Hell, I read it again.

Clay Travis wrote in 2010 about the the longhorns being a solid 10 at the bar that is too self-absorbed for any of the dudes to hit on her, while the Aggies are the hot little sister who, by herself is a solid 8. He went on to say that Mike Slive would be a genius to go after A&M because no one would expect it and everyone would envy the move in hindsight.

I think he was a bit off in the sister comparison. The longhorns and Aggies together gave off the cheerleader effect. Combined, we both looked hot, but the longhorns had better hair, so everybody gave them the solid 10. When you start talking to longhorn chick and get a closer look, you can tell she is one ugly seahag to wake up to, and her shitty attitude drops her even further.

Anyway.

frickLSU®

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Say what anyone will about Clay Travis, from the very beginning he wrote repeatedly that A&M to the SEC was brilliant, and even that A&M would succeed.

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Yup, and he pissed off a lot of sips along the way.

I think he is jumping the gun a little though. I want to wait until we actually have a year when we make more than $15 million in SEC Network revenues before I beat the "we are making more than them" drum. As he admits the SEC Network has 22 times the revenue the LHN, but the magic number is 30 as ESPN gets half.

But the SECOND we have a real source I have going to rain down fire on the Shag. I have been building up an account for years waiting to burn it on that day.

I kinda figured out the secret to rep. It has been uphill since then.

We all cattle, baby!

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we enjoy watching longhorn sports

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Reruns. Very old reruns.