Updated: January 19, 2011, 4:01 PM ET
Texas, ESPN announce new network
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186
ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- ESPN and the University of Texas will combine on a 24-hour television network showing Longhorns sports as well as original series, studio shows, historical programming and other academic and cultural events.
There also will be an online component to the network offering content not featured on the linear TV feed.
ESPN will help develop, launch and operate the network, according to a news release. The deal is worth $300 million over 20 years. The network will launch in September.
Included in the coverage will be at least one exclusive football game, eight men's basketball games, women's basketball coverage of games not televised elsewhere, and Olympic sports coverage. There will also be pregame and postgame shows for football and basketball games, coaches' shows for every sport Texas sponsors and other daily programming.
In addition, there will be university news, coverage of lectures and visiting speakers along with commencement ceremonies, and even high school coverage on an authenticated online/broadband site.
"This is an extremely exciting new venture for our university," University of Texas president William Powers said in a statement. "With our partners, we are now able to increase the exposure of our outstanding athletics programs and our first-class academic and cultural communities. This agreement provides significant new resources to enhance faculty and academic support."
"This network is a testament to the school's remarkable, tradition-rich success and widespread, devoted fan base," ESPN president George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
Texas, ESPN announce new network
EmailPrintComments
186
ESPN.com
AUSTIN, Texas -- ESPN and the University of Texas will combine on a 24-hour television network showing Longhorns sports as well as original series, studio shows, historical programming and other academic and cultural events.
There also will be an online component to the network offering content not featured on the linear TV feed.
ESPN will help develop, launch and operate the network, according to a news release. The deal is worth $300 million over 20 years. The network will launch in September.
Included in the coverage will be at least one exclusive football game, eight men's basketball games, women's basketball coverage of games not televised elsewhere, and Olympic sports coverage. There will also be pregame and postgame shows for football and basketball games, coaches' shows for every sport Texas sponsors and other daily programming.
In addition, there will be university news, coverage of lectures and visiting speakers along with commencement ceremonies, and even high school coverage on an authenticated online/broadband site.
"This is an extremely exciting new venture for our university," University of Texas president William Powers said in a statement. "With our partners, we are now able to increase the exposure of our outstanding athletics programs and our first-class academic and cultural communities. This agreement provides significant new resources to enhance faculty and academic support."
"This network is a testament to the school's remarkable, tradition-rich success and widespread, devoted fan base," ESPN president George Bodenheimer said in a statement.
