ESPN buys the Texas Longhorns

This is perhaps the first step toward the tv versions of espn.com's local sites (espn chicago, espn dallas, etc.) If this one succeeds, there's no stopping espn. They will start popping up at colleges everywhere.

 

Big Ten could stick together and keep them out of the Midwest. Each team stands to make more together than they could alone, save for OSU and maybe Michigan. But they know their strength is sticking together.

Surprised we don't have a Pac-10 network yet.

 

I'm sure the athlete-students will benefit heavily from this.

 

It's in the works, supposedly with Murdoch, and was a major consideration in expansion. Why they chose the schools they did, and why they tried to go the 16-team route and bring in the Texas schools, was because of their TV markets far more than for any competitive reasons.

 

Meanwhile, Lifetime Network has signed a deal for Texas A&M channel.

 

The Oxygen Network has inked a deal with Air Force.

 

Tune in at 8 p.m. Tuesday for "The Spike Owen Hour" or "Drinkin' and Drivin' with Augie."

It's not clear in the story, but does the other team get any money from these ESPNUT broadcasts, since this is separated from the Big 12 TV contracts?

Speaking of the to-be-started Pac-12 network/new TC contracts for 2012 and beyond, the Feds just OKed Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal. NBC's TV sports lineup if awful and the Pac-12 needs a new home. Comcast now give NBC the necessary netrworks for all things Pac-12. Larry Scott just got excited and he knows exactly why.

 

Non-conference road teams could ask for more since they know Texas is getting plenty of cash.

 

Nebraska probably *really* glad it left the Big 12 now. Other teams in that conference probably wondering how in the hell they will keep up.

 

I don't think they'll join the proposed Big Ten Hockey Conference. And I don't see them in Hockey East, either.

 

There probably aren't that many schools with a big or rabid enough fan base, or a big enough regional footprint, to make it a big moneymaker.

 

Other than 8 of the 12 SEC schools.