With Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 to join the Southeast Conference (SEC), the Longhorn Network (LHN), a partnership between the University of Texas and ESPN that has been on the air since 2011, could soon be a thing of the past.
The current contract for LHN is meant to run through 2031, according to coverage by Barrett Sports Media. Despite covering a 27-25 Texas win over Texas A&M in its first year of operation, LHN lost $48 million just during the first five years of operation.
“When we started this, they were coming off a big high, and we’ve certainly ridden the roller coaster with the football team,” Stephanie Druley, ESPN executive vice president of event and studio production, said according to Austin Monthly. “You know, we’d like for there to have been two or three more national championships in football since we started. But I think we’ve had good stories to tell.”
A move to the SEC by Texas and Oklahoma would expand the conference to 16 schools, but has left Big 12 administrators confused, Sports Illustrated reported. During a Big 12 conference call to discuss the rumored decision of the two flagship schools, no representatives from either school were in attendance.
“Oklahoma and Texas are founding members of the Big 12 and we value their traditions and history of success," Sports Illustrated quoted from a Big 12 press release. "There is a recognition that institutions may act in their own self-interest, however there is an expectation that members adhere to Conference bylaws and the enforcement of Grant of Rights agreements.”
While Sports Illustrated reported that Big 12 administrators remained uncertain why Texas and Oklahoma would wish to make the move, Barrett Sports indicated that the resulting TV contract from the larger SEC playoffs could be a windfall for all involved.
The SEC Network, in which ESPN also has a stake, was already more financially-sound than LHN, according to reporting by Saturday Down South. While the SEC Network reaches an estimated 69 million homes, the highest estimate from ESPN for LHN viewership is 20 million, though other sources indicate the number to be around 7.5 million.