Big 12 Agrees To One-Year Moratorium On High School Telecasts On Longhorn Network

Big 12 ADs "unanimously agreed Monday to a minimum one-year moratorium on the telecasts of events involving high school athletes on the new Longhorn Network, but the group also left open the possibility of Texas being allowed to carry one of its conference football games," according to Randy Riggs of the Austin AMERICAN-STATESMAN. The league's 10 ADs, during a one-day meeting in Dallas, agreed that "no telecasts of high school athletics on any medium branded as a conference or member-institution platform would be allowed until the NCAA determines whether it is permissible under that organization's rules." The NCAA "will hold an Aug. 22 meeting in Indianapolis with representatives from Texas, Notre Dame and other institutions to examine the matter." The Big 12 ADs "recommended that the league's board of directors -- the schools' presidents or chancellors -- strongly request that the NCAA board of directors establish a national moratorium for a minimum of one year on high school telecasts" (Austin AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/2).

GIVE AND TAKE: In Dallas, Chuck Carlton writes Big 12 schools "can feel relieved about a significant concession" with the moratorium. However, Texas and the Longhorn Network "did leave with the possibility of televising a conference game this season to go with the opener against Rice." The Longhorn Network "would undoubtedly choose a second UT game as opposed to the 18 high school games on tap." The process of selecting a conference game to televise on the net "will not be simple." Both UT's opponent and the Big 12 "would have to OK the appearance." Each team would "forfeit one of six possible national TV appearances each year and the potential six-figure fee that goes with it" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/2). In K.C., Blair Kerkhoff writes, "Big 12 crisis: 2011 version, averted for now." Univ. of Kansas AD Sheahon Zenger said, "There was [a] lot of good discussion and collegiality and strong leadership from the conference commissioner" (K.C. STAR, 8/2).