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The Univ. of Oklahoma is "deep into planning" a school-specific TV network, according to Ourand & Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Sources indicated that the school is "targeting a launch date of next fall for an Oklahoma channel that will have a look and feel similar to what" the Univ. of Texas has proposed. OU officials are "working with Learfield Sports, their multimedia rights holder, and an outside media adviser on the channel." They have "had discussions with Cox Communications, Fox Sports and ESPN about partnering." Fox, which already operates FS Oklahoma, and Cox are "considered the front-runners." Ourand & Smith note it is "conceivable that Oklahoma could partner with both Cox and Fox -- Cox as the distribution partner and Fox as the programming partner." If ESPN "completes its deal with Texas, as expected, it puts pressure on Fox to cut a deal with Oklahoma." Both schools will be "influential in determining the conference's next TV deal, and both ESPN and Fox have expressed interest in cutting such a deal" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/20 issue).
