Since the breakup of the Big 12 and the University of Texas and ESPN combined to create the Longhorn Network (the worldwide leader’s biggest deal with the devil since ‘Playmakers’ got cancelled) people have been doing a lot of talking. But if that talk is negative about UT and said on the Longhorn Network it may be enough to get you reassigned.
That’s right, if $300 million and an agreement to give exposure to UT’s sports teams weren’t enough, now Texas has the right to make sure all the UT news on the Longhorn Network is good news.
From the Austin American Statesman:
ESPN will do the hiring at the Longhorn Network, but the University of Texas will have the right to do some firing.
According to the contract, "in the event that UT reasonably determines that any on-air talent does not reflect the quality and reputation desired by UT for the Network based on inappropriate statements made or actions taken by such talent and so notifies ESPN, ESPN will cause such talent to be promptly replaced (and will in any event no longer allow them on air following such notice)."
Now ESPN’s Josh Krulewitz told the Statesman that this “provision does not allow for random replacement of commentators or reaction to critical comments... it's more about potential situations where a commentator makes completely inappropriate comments or gets involved in inappropriate actions."
Basically ESPN is saying that if someone pulls a Lamar Thomas in the booth or shows their penis around like Sean Salisbury UT would have the right to can them from the Longhorn Network.
But the language in that provision is pretty vague. I’m not so sure the first time an ESPN analyst blasts Mack Brown he might not hear “The Eyes of Texas” playing him off air like he’s gotten long winded on the Golden Globes.
It must be nice to control the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment