While ongoing expansion talks are keeping the stove hot in the Big 12, Texas has made it clear for a long time that it isn't interested in discontinuing the Longhorn Network in favor of a league-wide channel.

In fact, Texas would "change conferences" before giving in to what many have deemed a necessary option to improve Big 12 stability.

Kirk Bohls, the Longhorns insider at the American-Statesman, touched on the topic in this week's Texas mailbag:

“This promises to be an interesting month as the Big 12 prepares for a meeting of athletic directors at the end of May to discuss the conference’s future concerning expansion and a possible television network. I still see no willingness on Texas’ part to fold the Longhorn Network into a Big 12 network, even if the league gives the Longhorns an extra $15 million share to cover its LHN income, because, the Texas source said, “we would get the same money, but lose our branding and having our own channel? Not very compelling. If we get rid of LHN, it will be to change conferences, in my opinion.”

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In March, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy called the Longhorn Network a failure that needs to end in an interview with CBS Sports.

“If we don't eliminate the Longhorn Network and create our own network, they're going to continue to have issues with this league,” Gundy said. “You don't have a Big 12 Network; you have a network within the league that people consider a failure.

“Everything is based on marketing. Right now the Big 12 is not getting the marketing we need because of the Longhorn Network. Now, nobody wants to hear that but …”

Since its August 2011 launch, the Longhorn Network has lost $48 million. Initially, ESPN partnered with Texas as part of a 20-year, $295 million deal.