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| SportsFriday, August 17, 2007 1:30 AM CDT |
Big Ten Network’s provider status still in talking stage
CHAMPAIGN — If you care about Big Ten Conference sports, you have no choice but to care about the new Big Ten Network. This is becoming more and more apparent as fans begin to realize how many football and basketball games will be televised exclusively by the 24-hour-a-day network, which will launch Aug. 30, one day before Big Ten teams dive into the football season. On Thursday, Mark Silverman, president of the Big Ten Network, and Jim Delany, commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, were in Champaign to beat the drum on behalf of the network. The drum beating is necessary because the network remains at a standstill in distribution negotiations with five major cable and satellite providers, making millions of subscribers wonder if they’ll have access to the programming or if they should consider switching to an on-board network partner such as DirecTV. Delany and Silverman did not paint an optimistic picture when it comes to negotiations with Comcast, the largest cable operator and the group that has a controlling interest in Insight Communications, which serves many Central Illinois customers. “We remain in discussions with five major distributors,” Delany said. “Some negotiations are pretty mature. Some are pretty immature, in particular those with Comcast. We’re in the fourth quarter for our launch, but we’re in the first quarter (in negotiations) with Comcast. “We’re totally committed to a broad-based distribution. They are insisting on a narrow sports tier distribution. That’s not something we can concede to.” Just as it was two weeks ago, when Delany and Silverman spoke at the Big Ten football media day, the sticking point remains placement of the network within the expanded basic package. That’s what the Big Ten is pushing more. Comcast wants it placed on a sports tier for which it charges extra. And while the Aug. 30 launch might be seen as a deadline, it’s not THE deadline. There are several deadlines that could help the network turn up the heat on cable and satellite operators, and they will unfold one after another over the next few months. They are not really deadlines at all; they are occasions for the fan to feel the impact of having, or not having, access to the Big Ten Network. One deadline is the start of football nonconference games on Sept. 1. That’s when fans in Ohio, for example, will realize they can’t see Ohio State’s opener against Youngstown State. The game will be available only on the Big Ten Network. The start of Big Ten Conference play in football is the next deadline. That’s when fans will realize games such as Penn State vs. Ohio State could land exclusively on the Big Ten Network, and Illinois football fans will understand that a number of games will land on the network. It could take the start of basketball season to make the significance of the Big Ten Network register. Two of every three Illini men’s basketball games will be televised only on the Big Ten Network. Silverman and Delany hope deals are in place before then. The Big Ten Network will negotiate price, but insists it will not negotiate what it calls “carriage,” or placement within the expanded basic package of channels. Delany stopped short of encouraging fans to make the switch to DirecTV. But he does hope fans will prod their operators with a phone call, letting them know they feel the Big Ten Network is important enough to be included in the expanded basic package, not something they wish to see placed on a sports tier for an added monthly fee. Silverman said negotiations are proceeding better with Dish Network than with Comcast. “I believe we can get a deal done with another major provider before Comcast,” Silverman said. Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. |
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Nate wrote on Aug 31, 2007 1:58 PM:
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