[Husker] PAC-12 will not expand

[Rod Wellman]

On Sep 21, 2011, at 9:47 AM, Skylar Dodds wrote:

> Yes, we were creating our own network.  We had no problem with the LHN,
> EXCEPT that the revenue should be shared (and ours would have too).  I read
> in an article (sorry I don't have it off the top of my head) where when
> Osborne was given the famous 'ultimatum', Osborne asked flatly if Texas
> would share the revenue from their network.  They said no, Osborne started
> making plans.
> 
> Were there other things involved in the decision?  Absolutely YES.  But that
> pushed us over the edge.   
> 

Yep, I agree that Osborne/Perlman gave the ultimatum and flatly asked for revenue sharing.  We said we would if they would. But I think that was in regards to overall Big 12 conference TV revenue sharing, not the LHN or the Husker network.  We knew the Big 12 contract was going to be up for renewal, and we knew there would be very good money involved and that even with equal revenue sharing, NU would have plenty of revenue (thus, Osborne's and Perlman's comments that it really wasn't about money).  

I could be wrong, but I don't think it makes sense that we were asking the LHN to share its revenue with the conference, or that we would share our Husker Network revenue with the league.  Again, I could be wrong, but it doesn't make much sense.  After all the investment and the fact that 98% of the programming would be all-things-Husker, that we would share any revenue from that venture.  I do remember reading that we were willing to give up our plans entirely for the Husker network, and that Texas was not.  Splitting hairs a bit here, maybe.  In the end, Texas wanted to have their cake and eat it, too!

Rod W.
Sioux City, Ia.