looking at a BYU "guinea pig" that only shows minimal programming. The Longhorn network is an entirely different animal from BYUTV.
BYU is a low risk and easy partner for ESPN. BYU is flexible, provides it's own production equipment, staff, etc. to get a game on TV; ESPN doesn't have to get a truck to Utah, cameras, etc. They only thing they need to do is fly in a couple of analysts and a sideline reporter and they are good to go. Production costs are minimal compared to a regular game.