The Grande Longhorn Network
Some of Austin gets the Longhorn Network: Grande Communications will carry theRice game, and LHN adds Kansas game
Updated 6:30pm: The Longhorn Network also announced they will carry the Texas vs. Kansas game on October 29th. Earlier this summer the Big 12 Board of Directors ruled that any conference game had to be approved before being aired exclusively on the LHN. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe approved this game based on those procedures.
Uodated 5:30pm:
Grande Communications, based in San Marcos, has come to terms with ESPN to carry the Longhorn Network, and will make it available in time for subscribers to see the Texas vs. Rice game Saturday night.
Grande is available in the Austin, San Marcos, San Antonio, Midland/Odessa, Waco, Corpus Christi and Dallas markets.
“As a Texas based company, Grande understands the passion our customers have for Texas sports,” said Matt Murphy, President, Grande Communications. “We are pleased and very excited to make Longhorn Network available as part of our cable television offerings.”
If you are a Grande customer in Austin, San Antonio or San Marcos, the Network will be on channels 29 and 829; in Corpus Christi, Dallas and Midland on channels 33 and 833; and in Waco on channels 25 and 825.
Grande Communications made the deal despite not knowing exactly where Texas might end up or what programming the LHN will ultimately provide given the questions about the long-term health of the Big 12 conference. It's a testament to the strength of the Longhorn fan base that Grande decided none of that stuff mattered.
Here is what Grande customers will get to see according to the Longhorn Network press release:
"Prior to Saturday’s kick-off, the two-hour Texas GameDay - the only pre-game show exclusively from inside the stadium - at 5 p.m. will give fans all the insights, analysis and excitement they’ve come to know from ESPN’s College GameDay pre-game show. Then, Longhorn fans will see the debut of Texas GameDay Final – a two-hour dedicated post-game show televised immediately after the game exclusively from the field. Monday at 7 p.m., Rewind with Mack Brown will breakdown all the plays and action from the team’s first contest. Finally, Tuesday at 8 p.m., Texas Football Overdrive will present the Rice vs. Texas game in an enhanced format featuring interviews, sound and analysis that bring viewers an inside look at the game."
Longhorn Network Coverage of Sept. 3 Season Opener:
Date Time (CT) Program
Sat., Sept. 3 5 p.m. Texas GameDay
Sat., Sept. 3 7 p.m. Rice vs. Texas
Sat., Sept. 3 10 p.m. Texas GameDay Final
Sun., Sept. 4 12 a.m. Re-air Rice vs. Texas
Mon., Sept. 5 7 p.m. Rewind with Mack Brown
Tue., Sept. 6 8 p.m. Texas Football Overdrive