Journalism Review: ESPN fails to disclose role in realignment mess

[tweeterhawk]

Interesting point of view that the network has not disclosed its own role in the TV network interests driving a large part of the conference realignment discussions. This quote from Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne:

You all know the landscape of the Big 12 Conference was altered by the creation of the Longhorn Network,â€￾ Byrne wrote. “We rebuffed an attempt to televise high school games on the LHN, arguing that this type of activity was a clear violation of NCAA rules. The most recent attempt by ESPN is to take highlights of high school games as part of news segments. The NCAA is taking a wait and see attitude on the highlights. I disagree with their stance — as do many of my colleagues across the country. We anticipate that ESPN will continue to push the envelope with the Longhorn Network, regardless of Texas A&M’s conference affiliation.â€￾​

ESPN Obscures Its Own Role in the Conference Realignment Mess : CJR

(Columbia Journalism Review is a publication of the Columbia University School of Journalism and widely read in the world of journalism.)

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I love the Texas apologists. They're worse than OSU apologists who blamed "the system" and lamented Tressel's demise.

 

[DodgerHawki]

ESPN has lots of reasons to not like conference realignment...

Interesting point of view that the network has not disclosed its own role in the TV network interests driving a large part of the conference realignment discussions. This quote from Texas A&M Athletic Director Bill Byrne:

You all know the landscape of the Big 12 Conference was altered by the creation of the Longhorn Network,â€￾ Byrne wrote. “We rebuffed an attempt to televise high school games on the LHN, arguing that this type of activity was a clear violation of NCAA rules. The most recent attempt by ESPN is to take highlights of high school games as part of news segments. The NCAA is taking a wait and see attitude on the highlights. I disagree with their stance — as do many of my colleagues across the country. We anticipate that ESPN will continue to push the envelope with the Longhorn Network, regardless of Texas A&M’s conference affiliation.â€￾​

ESPN Obscures Its Own Role in the Conference Realignment Mess : CJR

(Columbia Journalism Review is a publication of the Columbia University School of Journalism and widely read in the world of journalism.)

the Worldwide Leader basically saved the B12 last year with the proposal for the LHN. ESPN is petrified of other conferences stepping out and putting an end-run around them with their own networks like the BTN. Other conferences see what the B1G has done by being able to go direct to the consumer with the BTN, generating significant revenue for the conference members. ESPN acted proactively in stopping the SEC from copying the BTN by creating the "SEC Network" on ESPN's various channels.
ESPN became the leader by being the place where all major sports are located. Anything that cuts ESPN out of the equation (like the BTN) is a threat to its very existence.
The jury is still very much out on whether or not the LHN will ever be a money-maker for ESPN. In fact, there is a very good chance it won't be given that there is zero reason for cable providers outside the state of Texas to carry the network. But a loss is worth it to ESPN to ensure that Texas/B12 don't attempt to replicate a BTN outside of the ESPN platform.

 

[HawkeyesWin]

ESPN ran an article today about how TAMU is just being a big crybaby about LHN by running to the SEC. TAMU will never be able to compete...blah, blah, blah.

You just can't trust anything ESPN says. There is always another motive.

 

[kicker22]

What's not to love about ESPN.

 

[Pooker]

I give this thread an Espy.