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Consider the fact that the Pac-12, with it’s new billion dollar TV deal and recent expansion, ultimately voted not to include Texas and Oklahoma (and their step-sisters Texas Tech and Oklahoma State) because its after a “culture of equality.” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said the league’s equanimity would have been jeopardized with the inclusion of the four schools. Asked specifically if it had anything to do with the Longhorn Network, Scott said, “It became clear that wasn’t going to be able to fold into our structure in a way that’s comfortable with our members.”
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Let's get something strait, the PAC-12 didn't vote to "not include Texas and Oklahoma", it voted not to expand. It would very much like Texas, it just doesn't want them with their own LHN. Texas was just as not interested in joining the PAC-12 without their LHN. So, implying this was a one sided affair that Texas was actively pursuing isn't accurate. Oklahoma tried to bluff its power, and when Texas said it wasn't coming with the Sooners without its LHN, the PAC-12 wasn't interested in the Sooners (and Cowboys) any longer. Let's also not forget a big factor in all this was Texas Tech, and to a lesser extent, OSU. The PAC wanted Texas, OU, KU and MU and might have settled for Texas, OU, OSU and either KU or MU. There's much more at play here than the article's intention.
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The reality in 2011 on planet Earth is that only a few institutions of higher learning in the country can have their own TV Network. Notre Dame football was the first in a sense, and remains the only college football national showcase on NBC. Out in Utah, BYU has the money and capability to draw interest because of the Mormon faith, and it’s legion of constituents nationwide. However, most in America don’t know the Cougar’s network even exists. And what do Notre Dame and BYU have in common? Oh yeah, they’re independents in FBS college football, and Texas isn’t.
Potentially schools like USC, Ohio State or Florida could create their own television conglomerate, but not many others could. It’s all based upon success on the field, large markets within the existing fan base, and the ability to raise capital through advertising. So Dodds isn’t being genuine when he says, “anybody can have one.” Just drive across the Red River and ask Bob Stoops and Joe Castiglione, because right now, they don’t.
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But, the reality is also that nothing about the Big XII setup indicates that a network must be a single school entity. There's absolutely no reason the remaining schools couldn't form a network. There's no reason the old Big 8 schools couldn't form a network. There's no reason ISU, MU, KU and KSU couldn't form a network. The truth is, everyone else is jealous because Texas is big enough to not have to include anyone else. Why let jealousy be the self limitation other schools could place in cooperation?
Texas doesn't view this network as a "sports only" venue for them. I know that is the aspect that gets promoted the most, but there are other reasons Texas doesn't want to part with it. Quit focusing on the stupid LHN, its the focus that is creating the acrimony, not the network itself. Even the article points out that very few households outside of Texas are actually going to get it, let alone watch it. If there is an actual competitive disadvantage regarding an aspect of it, fine, let's address that, but everything else is envy.