With Texas officially making its move into the Southeastern Conference on July 1, the Longhorn Network will look very different to comply with a series of rules and bylaws set forth by the SEC itself.
While the Big 12, often to the displeasure of its other members, did not regulate the Longhorn Network, a series of rules that the SEC already had in place means that the Longhorn Network as it has existed since 2011 is no longer valid.
As one of the requirements of being in the conference, all SEC member schools sign away their rights to exclusively broadcast live sporting events. Whether it be Georgia playing football or Tennessee playing baseball, no member school owns its exclusive rights to any live sporting events. This will be a big difference for Texas, as they have become used to either selling or holding onto their rights.
Yet, while many expected the Longhorn Network to disappear entirely effective July 1, it’s still alive and kicking, albeit in a considerably overhauled form.
To an extent, continuing to call it the “Longhorn Network” is somewhat misleading. No live sporting events will be available. That means no pre-conference football game on the Longhorn Network that Texas fans are used to. Moreover, this overhaul has significantly more consequences for smaller sports than it does for football. Fans who simply turned on the Longhorn Network to watch a minor baseball or volleyball game must now look elsewhere. Events may be picked up by SEC Network, ESPN+ and other SEC rights holders, but oftentimes fans may simply be out of luck.
However, the reimagined Longhorn Network will still boast many features. Some will be familiar, while some will be fresh and exciting.
Firstly, the Longhorn Network will be converted into a downloadable app that fans can install on their computers, mobile devices and televisions free of charge. While live games won’t be available, the app will be home to a diverse collection of exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes content, highlights and coaches’ shows. Additionally, replays of games that belonged to the former Longhorn Network will continue to be available on the app.
“As we set out on our new adventure in the Southeastern Conference, we wanted to make sure we had a fitting home for video content that tells the story of our athletics department,” Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said to the Austin American-Statesman. “Our team here, along with the help of Endeavor Streaming and Learfield, have been hard at work to bring this platform to life for Longhorn Nation.”
While the new platform is now active, time will tell how successful it can be without being able to broadcast live events. Just like everything else happening in this upcoming season, the Longhorn Network will have to adapt and grow to thrive in this new era.
