Longhorn Network gets a carrier

[ia8manfan]

How long before others fall suit?

Verizon Fios to carry University of Texas' Longhorn Network | Texas Longhorns News - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW

 

[cyhawkdmb]

figured this was coming since Verizon is a Sponsor of the LHN.. No surprise there...

 

[cybsball20]

How long before others fall suit?

Verizon Fios to carry University of Texas' Longhorn Network | Texas Longhorns News - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW

I don't see any big carriers picking it up, including the satallite carriers. The only reason B1G Network went straight to DirecTV was DirecTV's ownership stake in the network... I wouldn't say Dish or DirecTV are into doing any favors for ESPN right about now.

 

[agrabes]

How long before others fall suit?

Verizon Fios to carry University of Texas' Longhorn Network | Texas Longhorns News - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW

I'm not sure. I'm also not sure how long it will be until others follow suit, either.

 

[aeroclone]

I don't see any big carriers picking it up, including the satallite carriers. The only reason B1G Network went straight to DirecTV was DirecTV's ownership stake in the network... I wouldn't say Dish or DirecTV are into doing any favors for ESPN right about now.

Define big?

Top 25 Multichannel Video Programming Distributors as of Mar. 2011 - NCTA.com

Verizon is the 7th largest provider in the country. It looks like it will be on basic digital in Texas, and on the sports package for the rest of the country. It isn't huge, but it is a start. To make a go of it, they are going to have to get on with one or more of the big 4: Comcast, DirecTV, Dish, or Time Warner.

 

[alarson]

Define big?

Top 25 Multichannel Video Programming Distributors as of Mar. 2011 - NCTA.com

Verizon is the 7th largest provider in the country. It looks like it will be on basic digital in Texas, and on the sports package for the rest of the country. It isn't huge, but it is a start. To make a go of it, they are going to have to get on with one or more of the big 4: Comcast, DirecTV, Dish, or Time Warner.

How many subscribers do they have in texas is the real question.

 

[dtlantz]

How many subscribers do they have in texas is the real question.

I believe Fios is only available in DFW in TX and according to the article serves less than 200K in the area.

 

[3GenClone]

I believe Fios is only available in DFW in TX and according to the article serves less than 200K in the area.

Here is a link I found showing where Fios service is currently available. It also has a tab that shows where service is "predicted" to be available.

Verizon FiOS Availability Map | DSLReports.com, ISP Information

I noticed that Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma & Kansas do NOT carry Fios service, nor are they projected too.

 

[HawkFanISUalum]

I don't see any big carriers picking it up, including the satallite carriers. The only reason B1G Network went straight to DirecTV was DirecTV's ownership stake in the network... I wouldn't say Dish or DirecTV are into doing any favors for ESPN right about now.

DirecTV has an ownership stake in the BTN? According to BTN's site, it's owned by the Big 10 Conference and Fox.

Big Ten Network Frequently Asked Questions - BIG TEN OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Q--Who owns the Big Ten Network?
A--The Big Ten Network will be majority owned by the Big Ten Conference with Fox Cable Networks holding a minority interest. Fox has a proven track record of successfully launching other channels, and we believe they will be a success factor in the launch of the Big Ten Network.

 

[weR138]

DirecTV has an ownership stake in the BTN? According to BTN's site, it's owned by the Big 10 Conference and Fox.

Big Ten Network Frequently Asked Questions - BIG TEN OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Q--Who owns the Big Ten Network?
A--The Big Ten Network will be majority owned by the Big Ten Conference with Fox Cable Networks holding a minority interest. Fox has a proven track record of successfully launching other channels, and we believe they will be a success factor in the launch of the Big Ten Network.

Direct TV owned by Murdoch when BTN launched?

 

[4429 mcc]

Longhorn Network Failing could be a good thing for the BigXII.....I think.

 

[3GenClone]

Longhorn Network Failing could be a good thing for the BigXII.....I think.

:realmad: NO!!! That is the one selling point our conference has. If the LHN tanks, then what good is courting BYU and ND if they want to bring in their own networks.

 

[JD720]

Direct TV owned by Murdoch when BTN launched?

Correct. Newscorp sold its stake in DTV shortly after the BTN launch.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Cute.

LHN is going to need a lot more than Verizon FIOS in the Metroplex in order to tread water...

 

[3GenClone]

Cute.

LHN is going to need a lot more than Verizon FIOS in the Metroplex in order to tread water...

Not necessarily. It most definitely wouldn't hurt to land with Warner Bros. or Dish Net/Directv

Verizon is among the smallest carriers in Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas. It is available in fewer than 200,000 homes compared to market-leader Time Warner Cable’s approximately 600,000 homes. DirecTV and Dish, satellite carriers, have about 500,000 each...

In Dallas-Fort Worth, LHN will be available on the basic digital tier...

So it already has less than 200,000 subscribers right off the bat. It will be interesting to see how cable prices adjust for this new channel.

Verizon is not in the mix in Houston, San Antonio or Austin.
But Verizon is available in other markets around the country that will also offer LHN.

Assuming that the link I shared above is accurate, Verizon Fios is available in the following markets and would be offered on their sports tier:

Indianapolis
Washington DC
Philadelphia
Boston
Pittsburgh
New York
Seattle
Portland
Los Angeles

It depends on what sport-tier the LHN is put on, but if it is bundled with the Fox Sports channels, the LHN would reach a significant number of TVs (especially in baseball territories due to the MLB blackout policy).

 

[HawkFanISUalum]

Correct. Newscorp sold its stake in DTV shortly after the BTN launch.

Interesting. Didn't know that.

 

[cc1091]

Cute.

LHN is going to need a lot more than Verizon FIOS in the Metroplex in order to tread water...

AGREE ..
Otherwise the rest of the conference is going to be subsidizing them.

So I guess the rest of the conference will get a network the hard way?
Time to look for a new conference, the B12 will soon be as insolvent as the SWC once was.

CC

 

[Wesley]

Cute.

LHN is going to need a lot more than Verizon FIOS in the Metroplex in order to tread water...

Maybe it will just be on mobile phones.:twitcy:

 

[CrossCyed]

AGREE ..
Otherwise the rest of the conference is going to be subsidizing them.

So I guess the rest of the conference will get a network the hard way?
Time to look for a new conference, the B12 will soon be as insolvent as the SWC once was.

CC

You're basing that on what?

 

[CarrollCyclone]

Longhorn Network announces small carriers - Houston Chronicle

Distributors for LHN at launch include Texas-based carriers: Consolidated Communications, Bay City Cablevision, Mid-Coast Cablevision and Texas Mid-Gulf Cablevision. Launching the LHN on Sept. 1 will be En-Touch Systems, E-Tex Communications, and Verizon Fios.

A limited launch for Longhorn Network - Houston Chronicle

As for DirecTV, spokesman Robert Mercer said that while discussions have taken place, "we have no plans right now to carry it. We understand Longhorn has other programming that may be of value to a small segment of our customers, but two UT football games do not constitute a network."