Friday marks the start of the Longhorn Network, the kickoff if you will, but things aren't going as well as a lot of people had expected.
First, although Texas has a guarantee of just under $11 million per year, they've had trouble finding carriers. The big payoff will only come if ESPN gets $295 million.
In order to lure carriers, Texas, according to CNBC.com, is offering one football game and eight basketball games. High school football, a major lure for many Texans, was put out of bounds by an NCAA ruling.
Programming is really a pretty basic requirement. Thing is, if they cut their conference partners in, they'd have plenty. But then it wouldn't really be the Longhorn Network.
Obviously winning is critical - Texas was 5-7 last year - and you have to have something to sell. That said: one game? Seriously?
Maybe they can do reruns of the Darrell Royal era or something. Right now, it's just not offering much.
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