UL exploring options for regional TV deal

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Originally Posted by dms4720

So in the article when he talks about going out and negotiating from Houston to the pan handle, he can't actually do that because they are signed away?
It sounds like they were retained by the school then. Again, I'm just asking

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Well all of those states either have a SBC school or touch one. So you would go from Houston to the panhandle negotiating with every klaf,cox 4 etc... Trying to get deals done. The first tier is ESPN/its affiliates/streaming, 2nd tier is stations that fit the criteria above, 3rd tier would be CST...which means we could broadcast outside the SBC footprint.

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Originally Posted by dms4720

So in the article when he talks about going out and negotiating from Houston to the pan handle, he can't actually do that because they are signed away?
It sounds like they were retained by the school then. Again, I'm just asking

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ESPN owns the third-tier rights of the SBC, so they don't have to agree to any negotiation with CST for markets they are not willing to give up. So perhaps they are willing to agree with or allow another party to broadcast in those markets? I don't know the answer to that question, but when it was first discussed talk was into the Florida markets and other areas west of Texas. It could be that ESPN is willing to sell back the rights to CST in those areas. If CST thinks it would be financially reasonable to do so.

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Originally Posted by Bigbuf

The article said the network disappeared because of the ESPN deal.

"UL previously had its own Ragin' Cajun TV broadcasts, but it was disbanded following the Sun Belt's signing of its expanded contract with ESPN."

If Farmer name is on that contract then MAYBE there is something But it doesn't say anything about Farmer, his vote, lack of vote, request for ESPN deal or anything of the sort. It says the SBC deal dealt the death blow.

I would like you or anyone for that matter to provide some proof of what happened. The article says that Farmer had nothing to do with the network evaporating. It does say that the conference deal is the problem, and if I remember this board was all giddy about the ESPN deal.

Not trying to start anything just want some proof.

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I'm thinking about how Texas signed its own separate deal with ESPN in 2011.

In part this led to A&M Texas departing.

Point being, with or without ESPN, deals separate from conference affiliation are there to be had.

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Originally Posted by Duggie35

Coming to this, or any, message board for "proof" of anything may not be the best option!

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Throw the athletic department in there and you might have something.

I am new to this whole discussion. Simply put, now that the RCN is no longer in existence from what I can see, will games still be televised outside of ESPN3? If not, will all of our games be carried on 3?

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Originally Posted by CajunT

Scott Farmer signed over the UL third-tier rights to the Sun Belt Conference to bundle without approval.

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T, I know you are in the know around this joint and that is why i ask how do you know the above quote? Since he signed the rights over how can he be looking to develop another network?

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Originally Posted by VObserver

ESPN is, and it is not CST in New Mexico that is an issue. Also CST and Cox are not the same entity, related, but not the same.

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CST is owned by Cox. its more than related COX IS CST!

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Originally Posted by dms4720

So in the article when he talks about going out and negotiating from Houston to the pan handle, he can't actually do that because they are signed away?
It sounds like they were retained by the school then. Again, I'm just asking

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Exactly! Why and how can he negotiate something he signed away?

Because obviously klaf type stations aren't considered 3rd tier rights... Broadcasting out of the footprint is. He can broadcast from his grandmothers basement all he wants. If we can have the RCN and control our own broadcasts, it's an even bigger mistake not doing that.

The final paragraphs tell the story and I have a few questions.

How can Farmer currently be in negotiations with CST (COX) for something he does not have?

How can someone reading the article not understand that the SBC/ESPN contract is what killed the RCN.

If Farmer didn't have any input or even a chance to "veto' the ESPN deal how can he be held responsible for not getting a regional deal done when a contract that he had no input on is blocking the deal because of the parent networks footprint?

"Meanwhile, even while exploring creation of a radio-like network Farmer holds onto hope that UL and CST, which has wide regional reach, can somehow overcome the existing SBC/ESPN roadblock.

“It’s not off the table,” Farmer said, “because they (CST officials) want to do it too. CST is dying to do it; UL is dying to do it. We just can’t get it to where it can coexist with the existing ESPN contract.”"

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Originally Posted by Bigbuf

Exactly! Why and how can he negotiate something he signed away?

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He can't negotiate anything conflicting with ESPN. The SBC/ESPN contract allows schools to negotiate in the footprint of the conference and adjoining states. Before he had full latitude to be in any market period for our home games.

The only question is how did the SBC override his old free market options? Since we had the rights, how were they appropriated? At some level we had to agree. He's in charge. He gets credit and blame.

He is the issue!! Its a CST issue therefore a COX issue!!

"According to Farmer, however, CST has reach into a small number of outlying areas that would be in conflict with the ESPN contract — for instance, some homes in the San Diego area of California."