[July 20, 2011] Talks continue for Sooner sports TV network Tweet NORMAN, Jul 20, 2011 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- As Texas' Longhorn Network generates attention and controversy just over a month from launch, Oklahoma continues careful pursuit of its own network. "We've had a great amount of interest for the prospects of an offer here," OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "We are interacting with a variety of different media companies." The distraction is Castiglione works amid the backdrop of Texas' 20-year, $300 million partnership with ESPN. That's a sweetheart deal other schools will find practically impossible to match, a reality those schools' constituencies might find hard to accept. "We know that we'll have potentially a different model than the one that people keep hearing about in regards to the University of Texas," Castiglione acknowledged. "We have to build one that's sustainable for the University of Oklahoma. This isn't like you can go out and just buy a network. This is a commodity. This is a very big undertaking ... "And so we understand what we are trying to develop here. We've been looking at this for several years." What Castiglione keeps in mind is that ESPN's financial backing and production support provide Texas a unique safety net. The Longhorns don't lose anything but pride if people don't watch their programming. When OU negotiates with potential TV partners, expenditures are at issue more than potential ratings. "I'm really encouraged about the progress. I like the interaction we've had with various media companies, as we try to find something truly sustainable for us," Castiglione said. " 'Sustainable' is the key word. If we're going to launch something, we want it to be around for a while. That's why we're being very diligent." Castiglione is also playing it cautiously with regard to the Longhorn Network. That's unlike at least one of his peers. When word leaked that Texas hoped to televise high school football games on its network, Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne reacted by saying: "I can't speak for the NCAA, but I would imagine the governing body will look into the use of a collegiate television network airing games of prospective student-athletes." In fact, the NCAA has confirmed to the Houston Chronicle that it is "engaged in a conversation with the entities (ESPN and Texas) to better understand their plans and what bylaws come into play." Castiglione figured as much would happen, without making any kind of pronouncement about Texas putting recruited football players on its own network. He's playing it cool, much as he did in the early stages of last year's conference realignment circus. "What we focus on is the things that are within our control," Castiglione said. Some believe the Longhorn Network could trigger a new round of realignment stress. Texas A&M regents, the Chronicle reported, have added a special session to their meeting this week to gather information about the network. Perception was A&M leveraged realignment last year by threatening to split from Texas and join the Southeastern Conference. Could something like that happen all over again? "Honestly, the position is let's see how this unfolds," Castiglione said. "It's easy to rush to judgment, take a certain position and extrapolate what that might mean down the road." Guerin Emig 918-581-8355 [email protected] To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]