The good news for Indiana and Purdue basketball fans is that there are a slew of games scheduled to be aired on a channel
Indiana cable television operators actually carry.
The bad news is the Big Ten Network and Comcast Cable don’t appear any closer heading into February to reaching an agreement to bring the new channel to a broader audience than they were this fall. BTN officials still want the channel on an expanded basic package, and Comcast officials say it should go on a sports tier.
Comcast confirmed they’re losing subscribers angry at not being able to watch their favorite college hoops team. “But it’s not been a mass exodus,” said Comcast spokesman Mark Apple. “It has not been enough of a loss to move us off our negotiating position.”
Comcast is tracking the loss, Apple said, but wouldn’t disclose how many subscribers have jumped ship due to the BTN situation.
At least six, and probably nine of IU’s last 12 regular season games will be on network TV or ESPN. For Purdue, at least six of 11 games can be seen on a channel your cable provider carries. Fear not, the Big Ten men’s tournament will be aired on ESPN.
BTN officials continue urging fans that want to see the games to call to urge their cable company to carry the channel on a basic tier. “There’s a very vocal minority calling for these games,” Apple said.
He expects that cry to die down considerably in the next month. "After basketball season, there’s not much on [the BTN] that most people will want to watch,” Apple said.
So tell us, who will be the eventual winners and losers in this battle?
The bad news is the Big Ten Network and Comcast Cable don’t appear any closer heading into February to reaching an agreement to bring the new channel to a broader audience than they were this fall. BTN officials still want the channel on an expanded basic package, and Comcast officials say it should go on a sports tier.
Comcast confirmed they’re losing subscribers angry at not being able to watch their favorite college hoops team. “But it’s not been a mass exodus,” said Comcast spokesman Mark Apple. “It has not been enough of a loss to move us off our negotiating position.”
Comcast is tracking the loss, Apple said, but wouldn’t disclose how many subscribers have jumped ship due to the BTN situation.
At least six, and probably nine of IU’s last 12 regular season games will be on network TV or ESPN. For Purdue, at least six of 11 games can be seen on a channel your cable provider carries. Fear not, the Big Ten men’s tournament will be aired on ESPN.
BTN officials continue urging fans that want to see the games to call to urge their cable company to carry the channel on a basic tier. “There’s a very vocal minority calling for these games,” Apple said.
He expects that cry to die down considerably in the next month. "After basketball season, there’s not much on [the BTN] that most people will want to watch,” Apple said.
So tell us, who will be the eventual winners and losers in this battle?
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There is no need to add to everyones bill for the few that want to watch reruns of lacrosse all summer. If the BTN cared about the fans, they would agree to be in a sports package so the people who want it could get it, or agree to be carried for free on the basic tier. If their product is good enough, they would make up for the lost revenue from forcing people to pay with advertising.
I might agree if not for the fact that any Comcast owned station Comcast requires carriage on basic. Check out the new Comcast sports station in Portland that covers the Trailblazers. Any other cable system up there has to put the channel on basic. Comcast will not allow the station on a sports tier. Also notice that all of Comcast regional sports stations are on basic. THEY LIE! What a funny answer, ask Mark Apple why Comcast requires basic coverage for the Portland Station. I heard him once say will the NBA is a different situation. Huy????
Don't be fooled by Comcast lies. They are upset that Fox got the deal with the Big Ten and not them.
While I see what you are saying, I would hardly characterize Comcast as liars. They did not invent the BTN, and they certainly did not invent their pricing structure. I believe Comcast has its faults, but here I don't see where they have any other option. As a subscriber, and with a degree from two Big Ten Schools, there is no way I'm paying the outrageous fees they want to charge for what is, in essence, a regional network with zero redeeming qualities after the two major sports seasons. I agree with Ben on that one.
What makes the BTN think they can charge more per subscriber than any network other than ESPN? Sure Comcast puts forth its own channels with favorable placement, but who wouldn't. If BTN would drop its fee requests considerably, or agree to the Sports tier, there would be no controversy. Its about money, plain and simply, and both sides want to maximize it. However, BTN has little leverage to ask for the fees they want. I'm all for Comcast and any toher cable carrier sticking to its principles and saying no
AT&T Uverse and satellite carries offer BTN on the base package, why cant comcast? The others have obviously negiated and paid for it, they should as well. It should not be extra. I get a slew of channels included that I dont want...why are those not broken out separately?
You cant blame the conference for trying to make a buck. Look at nfl network, etc that are included. Any cable carrier worth their salt will offer it to customers to keep them as subscribers.
Why else does Comcast refuse to provide FOX Sports Indiana (Pacers) in Fort Wayne, but provides Comcast Mid-West with the Chicago Bulls!
SWITCH to Verizon FIOS (fiber optic) TV! I just did and I now get FOX Sports Indiana, ESPN U, NFL Network, and SOON (@April 1st) THE BIG TEN NETWORK on basic Verizon FIOS TV !
No I am not a Verizon employee, but I loved taking my cable box back to Comcast and telling them, no BGTN, adios... Verizon ROCKS!
What is different is that 10 of the 11 Big Ten school are public institutions that receive public money. additionally, they do not pay property tax.( So, the same schools that count on taxpayer support are wanting them to pay to watch the university team)
These are not privately-owned teams that can do as they choose. these are publicly-funded schools that gained legions--millions of fans--of followers over the years, who are not even graduates. Now that fan base threatens to be decreased because the university presidents, athletic directors and board of trustees see an opportunity to benefit. Not going to happen, folks. Way too many fans who won't pay $360 ($29 per month, plus hook-up fees) to watch their team play 6 or 10 times a year. (Hell,even Notre Dame's exclusive football deal is on national TV, not pay-per-view. Hoosier fans, and all others, time to revolt.Write the respective board of trustees and the university presidents. (meanwhile we will watch what CBS and ESPN have to offer on the Hoosiers.)
Not everyone can get Uverse, either. And as for switching to satellite, it is a very real fact that not everyone can get satellite if you don't have the right southwestern clear view. So, its not as simple as switching. There is an entire other argument against the NFL Sunday Ticket, which further increases the NFL greed, but that's an argument for a different post. Suffice to say, the BTN is trying to get its piece of the pie by emulating the NFL. Unfortunately, its a niche product that is not relevant outside the Midwest. Until the BTN backs down, cable carriers aren't going to carry it. As a fan, I don't like it, but I don't blame them.
It's too bad cable subscribers don't have an a la carte option. As a fan of Big Ten sports, I'd pay extra for BTN. If I could get rid of Lifetime or The Food Network and save 10 cents a month, I would!
If the NFL Network is in a separate tier (and they have a national audience) then why would it make sense for BTN to be included in basic cable?
The NCAA continues to inexorably change football & basketball rules and/or officiating to make them more like their professional counterparts, in order to make the games more amenable to advertisers, regardless of the effect on the average fan.
Why did Willie Sutton rob banks? Because that's where the money was!
Follow the money trail, and the intent and/or motivation of each entity involved is crystal clear.
By the way...I just watched MSU lose to Penn State, how was that UCLA game you watched on ESPN. I'd watch UCLA, but I'm glued to the BTN...they are talking football recruiting with Tom Lemming in studio. Yup, glad I didn't wait that utility company to provide coverage of my favorite team.
OH YA...how about not being able to watch the games last year if you were out of the area and they were on ESPN+? Forgot about that one, eh?