Big Ten Network Met By Obfuscating Cable Providers

Nothing infuriates me more than when somebody or something is held down and oppressed. The short sighted and vindictive cable providers in America have been blocking a new network. I have a degree from a Big Ten school and would love to see more Big Ten athletics since I now live in Western, PA. The Big Ten Network is not only about NCAA Div-1 football. The main argument made by the Network opponents is that Comcast already covers a great number of football games as expressed by their enormous smear and propaganda campaign seen and heard locally in the Pittsburgh broadcast area. They also get basketball, baseball, hockey, as well as other non-television exposed sports.

The rookie Big Ten Network is, at the moment, being snubbed by cable distributors including Comcast, Time Warner and others. None of the top eight have struck a pact with the network, which is 49 percent owned by Fox. The battles have become public and nasty, with cable providers demanding that the games and other fare be placed on an optional sports tier, while Chicago-based BTN insists it deserves to be on basic cable at about $1.10 per subscriber (at least in the eight states that comprise Big Ten territory).

Okay, so a young network needs time to grow and prove themselves, so is there any hope of perhaps making a basic cable deal in the future?

Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman concedes no agreement is likely before football season ends but believes something can be worked out within a year. And he’s not surprised by the initial cold shoulder.

MSNBC thinks they have the problem identified.

"Many new nets come on the air and have distribution issues," he said. "Unfortunately, this one has played out very publicly."

And publicity, whether* positive or negative, is just what a new idea thrives on. People talk about it which is cheaper and more valuable than any kind of advertising.

But with the mistake of cable providers, satellite cable has picked up on cable's error and broadcasted the Big 10 on their dime.

Despite the rebuff from cable giants since the net debuted Aug. 30, there are plenty of bright spots. Silverman said BTN entered more than 30 million homes in its first month, which he describes as "the largest launch in TV history" in such a short time. The main key: Satellite has jumped in as DirectTV and Dish Network both offer the new network.

The Big Ten Network also threatens to shift recruiting abilities with many other NCAA colleges. Here, Western Pennsylvania, the Big East gets the benefit of the doubt as Pitt and WVU claim the region. I have a theory that the Big East and other cable channels are trying to strong arm Comcast to stamp out a network that will be their recruitment competition. Also, who else stands to lose thier iron grip on college football? the 4-letter network, CBS sports, and FOX. Could they be pressuring cable providers not to pick up the Big Ten Network?


*=Thank you anonymous for pointing out my error.