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Big Ten Network, local cable provider unable to ink deal
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Badger fans in Madison are still waiting to see if they will receive the new Big Ten Network as part of their Charter Communications cable package.
Although the network officially launches Aug. 30, the channel is not scheduled to be on the cable operator's lineup by the time of the inaugural telecast.
Negotiations between BTN and Charter are ongoing. Charter likes the concept of the channel, especially as it pertains to customers interested in the Big Ten Conference," John Miller, director of communications for Charter Communications in Wisconsin, said in an e-mail to The Badger Herald. "But we'll need to know more specifics before we can assess whether or not carriage of the network will be in the best interest of our customers."Miller said Charter Communications recently received proposed carriage terms from BTN representatives and is currently reviewing those terms.
According to BTN Vice President Elizabeth Conlisk, the new channel will carry many programs that are relevant to the University of Wisconsin as a whole.
There will be more Badger sports on the Big Ten Network than on any other network," Conlisk said. "In addition to sports, there will be campus programming and feature stories about all the happenings on the campus at Madison."
However, such programming could be expensive, Miller said. "In television today, sports programming carries a high price tag, which means a specialty network must be positioned so that customers interested in paying that high sports premium to see it can do so," he said. "At the same time, it's incumbent upon us to protect customers who are not interested in paying for or viewing the channel from bearing the cost of that programming."
Although Charter Communications is still in the process of negotiating with BTN, a July 2 University of Wisconsin release announced the network has reached agreements with more than 75 local cable systems within the eight states where Big Ten institutions are located.
Therefore, hundreds of thousands of cable subscribers within these states will receive BTN on an expanded basic level of service. According to Miller, though, BTN has yet to announce a carriage agreement with any of the country's largest cable operators, including Charter Communications.
While negotiations will continue indefinitely, BTN will launch its programming just two days before the kickoff of the 2007 Big Ten college football season Sept. 1.
Big Ten Tonight — the network's studio-based news, information and highlight show — hosted by Dave Revsine, will begin with a preview of the upcoming season on Aug. 30, as well as an examination of the weekend's conference teams, according to the UW release. The first game-time coverage will begin at 11 a.m. CDT Sept. 1, with regional coverage of Appalachian State at Michigan, Youngstown State at Ohio State, Florida International at Penn State and Northeastern University at Northwestern.
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Charter, Do us a solid and make this happen without charging us extra. You load up expanded basic with all these extra religious channels that no one watches, yet you cannot negotiate a channel that half of the Midwest will be watching at any given time? No one’s buying your charter BS anymore. No wondfer 80% of the apartmnts in my complex havwe the dish
Charter better give us this network. All college sports fans in the midwest will love to have it.
First Charter stiffs the Major League Baseball fans in Madison by holding out more than a month into the MLB 2007 season. Now this.
Why is there a cable monopoly in Madison? No one wins. Except Charter.
The greed on both sides is palpable. The argument about not wanting to charge subscribers who don’t want the channel has never stopped Charter from layering more crap on their expanded basic format and taking some channels away to their premium service. If its 2007 and I have to listen to Michigan or Badgers on the radio then this is not progress. My grandfather used to do this. It’s greed and it’s more bad business perception for Charter and now, the Big Ten. I’m used to turning a blind eye to most greed in our culture. We’re all selfish pricks, but when these enterprises don’t have the brains to bullshit us better than they are, then WE have to speak up. This should have been settled when there was snow on the ground. Jim Delaney is a turd if he does not make this happen before Sept 1. And Charter….sorry, why should this snafu that you’re involved in surprise anyone…your ass always gets kissed because you are the only non-dish service in this monopolized town. Get to work, bastards.
I have left charter for Dish, mainly because they have NFL network and also because of there rising rates…between cable and internet I was paying over $160 a month. For that price you would think you would have some great choices for watching tv. (nope) Now I am hoping Dish picks up BTN but I am not as concerned about that as much I was about the NFL network. I am glad I left charter in the dust.
The BTN can go to **. They are trying to force this network down everyones throat and make them pay. Religious networks and such do not charge a gazillion dollars and insist on being placed on basic cable, those type channels are there because they are cheap. BTN wants to make everyone pay and that is BS, plus much of what they will show is crap. ESPN and CBS will still carry most of the big games, do you really want to have NO CHOICE but to pay extra all year long for the priveledge of seeing things like Indiana vs Northwestern girls volleyball?
I live in Shawano Wisconsin and am frustrated that I cannot get most of Wisconsin basketball games. I believe the Big Ten network is a bunch of leaches. Why do we need this network? The same applies to the NFL Network.
Richard Cook Shawano Wi.