Industry source: TWC thinking about picking up LHN

[kujotx]

According to Bohls, TWC wants to expand sports offerings and LHN plays into their plans.

FTFA, an "industry source" says that "Time Warner is interested in trying to buy the Longhorn Network or at least partner with ESPN on the property".

Buy? WTH?

 

[coolhorn]

I'm seeing some Schadenfreude here that Time Warner, which has so steadfastly refused to do a deal for distribution of the LHN, while ESPN has had to keep the checks coming to UT for a network virtually no one sees, may be the one signing the checks over to your favorite enormous state university. Of course, if they own or co-own the property, getting that first major carrier is solved.

 

[TheGallopinGoose]

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[Burnt Orange Bevo]

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[LonghornCatholic]

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[H-D Rider]

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[MarylandHorn]

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[hornpharmd]

My question is would the quality be any good if TWC owned it? ESPN has great production ability b/c that is what they do. TWC is a cable company not an entertainment company. Now a partnership could make sense. Only problem I can see is that this may limit their ability to go the LHN on satellite which will prevent LHN from becoming as widespead as initially thought.

 

[ViperHorn]

TWC would be looking to recoup the cost of the LHN plus earning money from all of the other systems who sign-up.

Here is the deal, as soon as TWC or Comcast signs up, the satellite and AT&T-U-verse will sign up very quickly as the competitive landscape will have changed. It is all about managing the competitiveness within the industry. The dynamics are:

** AT&T and Verizon are not competitors for land-line business [which is the part that manages U-verse and FIOS the fiber systems)] so another hammer is needed. The local cable company signing on provides that push for AT&T.

** Dish is failing as a competitor to DirecTV, but is still viewed as a competitor to the cable and fiber systems.

** TWC and Comcast (and Cox) are not competitors, but their nemesis are the satellite companies so when one of the large cable companies sign-up, the satellite companies and AT&T will be forced to sign-up or risk losing to the cable companies.