Before we get started how many of you have the Big Ten Network? Go ahead raise your hands....I promise I won't become bitter. Well, recently I saw a potential solution to the problem here in Wisconsin. The big problem here as is every where the major cable companies and the Big Ten Network execs are trying to work out a deal to make the Network accesible to the masses of Big Ten fans out there.
Now in this plan for Wisconsin, at least. Before I get into the solution please note I put a little research into this. But, at least for the University of Wisconsin the deal with the Big Ten Network would give about 7 million dollars per year. The State Legislature of Wisconsin is wondering about how the University would use the money they're bringing in. Now one plan that was brought up that would answer many Legislature questions would be to add other sports within the University Athletic Department. The plan would be to use about 300,000 dollars(just an estimate) to restart baseball at the University of Wisconsin..and then take about 600,000 dollars(once again just an estimate) to add two more women's sports to keep the school with Title IX(Title 9 for those of you who are Roman Numerically impaired).
Why would adding more sports to the University help the process out? Because one of the biggest roadblocks in getting a majority of Wisconsin cable customers access to the Network was how the money would be used. I think adding baseball back into the UW athletic department would work. All of the success of football, men's basketball and both hockey programs creates a much better environment to sustain baseball here. I would love to see this get done..so the Big Ten Network can be made available to Charter(local cable company) as well as other in state cable customers.
Onto my overall opinion of the Network. I think it's ridiculous how all of this is playing out. In early 2007 to late 2006 when all of this was announced as a potential plan...I never thought how difficult it would be. If the Big Ten's overall goal is to make the Big Ten Network available to all cable customers within states that house a Big Ten school then the BTN needs to make some cocessions. Most of these cable companies aren't going to budge on where they stand with everything..so the Big Ten and the Big Ten Network need to make the first moves and try to make it accesible to all who want it. Not having the Big Ten Network is kind of frustrating me..because I missed several UW football and basketball games due to not having the network. I'm willing to pay the extra $1.10 on the cable bill every month to get the BTN.
What are your thoughts on all of the Big Ten Network stuff?
Melissa Haro
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Comments (17) Add A Comment
I got it
FanMan is back for…
Green Bay, WI
Total Comments (2023)
MIssed the first two OSU games last year, finallt broke down and got it, it sucks to pay for games that should be on local tv, but its worth it in the end. The BIg Ten Tonight show isnt too bad either...
xxx84xxx
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (2466)
Yeah I wish we would get it here...I've heard it's alright.....good stuff xxx84
badgerfan07
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1601)
Does it broadcast year round?
*LSU* Later Gators
West Monroe, LA
Total Comments (2907)
Big 10 Network prevented almost everybody from seeing App State beat Michigan last year
NYGiantsSBXLIICHAMPS
Rockville Centre , NY
Total Comments (2519)
yeah its year round they have all the sports and activites from the Big 10, some sports youwould never see on TV, I will say it was kinda cool to watch baseball and basketball this year. I think they will get something workd out, if its the only way to watch, they need to give everyone the chance to atleast buy it
xxx84xxx
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (2466)
Exactly what xxx said eventually it's probably going to be one of the only way to watch Big Ten athletics and they need to get something worked out.
badgerfan07
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1601)
Another solution -
drop the BTN subscription all together
write contracts to show games not shown on other networks
fill the rest with fluff
go to advertising format
Then, if it takes off and gets picked up by cable companies, switch to subscription.
In other words, make it viable before charging, not vice versa.
Lets vbe realistic - they can't get all the companies in the Big 10 area to carry the fee network, what chance do they have of getting coverage outside the area?
Prove It - just…
Total Comments (1048)
BTN is owned by FOX sports, and they have so much money envested and earn so much from the advertising intital investment, I think it would take like 7 years for them to actually take a loss on the network, kinda sad, but its not going away.
If I was told I had to payt 10 bucks a weekend to watch OSU, I would ina heartbeat! They should out all the games on pay-per-view, then what ever school has the most viewers they get rewarded, kinda off the wall...
xxx84xxx
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (2466)
I don't know if that idea would work..because that puts schools with relatively smaller fan bases like Northwestern at a disadvantage.
The Network isn't going anywhere..that's seems pretty obvious based on what xxx said so, they need to make some concessions...either way if they don't bring as much as they would before..they're still bringing in money. Plus it gets those advertisers into many more households. Thus could actually make the Network a lot more money.
badgerfan07
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1601)
Knowing how OSU fans are about watching the Bucks, the systems would most def. be lopsided, lol.
Its a shame they took the games away from the local people, I used to love watching the games on over the tv, the local commentators have no problem being biased for the home team. Oh and laughing at John Cooper calling an OSU game is priceless!
xxx84xxx
Columbus , OH
Total Comments (2466)
I would agree with that. It sucks that they took away the games from local fans.
badgerfan07
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1601)
if in the end of all this the badgers restart their baseball program i will forgive and forget all the **** at time warner and btn for screwing up last seasons broadcast schedules of football and bball
Head Kick KO
Milwaukee , WI
Total Comments (639)
LMAO - they had Cooper calling a game?
Moght as well put him beside Brutus and SteveO in the box.
Prove It - just…
Total Comments (1048)
@#$&*!^! Big Ten Network!! And $#*&^!@*&!! Time @#$*&^! Warner @#$^&%&^!! Cable...
As you can tell, I do NOT get the Big Ten Network, and I am NOT happy about it... After the aforementioned cable carrier started placing ads saying, "People shouldn't have to pay for channels they don't want," I was so p*ssed! I wrote them a letter, telling them that, since they believe I shouldn't have to pay for channels I don't want, they should take away ALL of the home shopping channels, the Lifetime Movie Network, the Style Channel, MTV, BET, VH-1 and all the channels that USED to play music videos but now only show drek, the church channels, the Speed Channel, and the infomerical channel and replace them with Trio, WGN, and the Big Ten Network for the same price I pay now...
For some reason, they never wrote me back...
:)
I'm in the process of buying a house and am SERIOUSLY considering getting a satellite dish...
buck-i-girl
Total Comments (863)
LMAO - they had Cooper calling a game?
Moght as well put him beside Brutus and SteveO in the box.
Prove It
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brutus would be more intelligible...
buck-i-girl
Total Comments (863)
lol buck i girl...I couldn't tell you wrote a cable companies name through all of those expletives..it took me a couple minutes. Anyways I feel your pain about no Big Ten Network
badgerfan07
Whitewater , WI
Total Comments (1601)
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