Set to launch in just four days, Texas’ Longhorn Network is still without a major carrier. That’s not completely unheard of; subscription or package-based networks sometimes wait until the last moment to ink a deal. But Texas’ carrier-less, ESPN love-child could still be ready to go when the countdown to green hits zero hour this Friday.
Word from Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal Daily* indicates that ESPN executives were in final negotiations with Verizon and Grande Communications last week.
(*note: coincidentally, it’s a subscription-based article)
Time Warner Cable, DirecTV, Dish Network and Charter Communications are also major TV carriers in the state of Texas. In what capacity, if any, the LHN will collaborate with them is still uncertain.
The LHN will be airing UT’s opening game against Rice, and a second game deal, possibly with Kansas State, could be in the works as well. Although the LHN’s desire to air high school games was essentially denied by the NCAA, the Association is set to meet with conference and institutional network representatives today to discuss details of youth programming and NCAA bylaws.
The LHN has also expressed interest in airing high school game highlights.
