OPINION & EDITORIAL
Want Big Ten sports? Get a dish
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Also by Gerald Cox:
- I'll take a female president, just not her (December 3, 2007)
- Religion aside, faith perseveres (November 26, 2007)
- Want Big Ten sports? Get a dish (November 19, 2007)
- Civil rights movement needs 'Black-In' (November 12, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Entitlement Town (December 4, 2007)
- Situation Normal: Big Niche Network (November 7, 2007)
- Big Niche Network (October 1, 2007)
- Legislature's approach to BTN indicative of policy stagnation (December 3, 2007)
- Big Ten foible fault of network, not Charter (August 31, 2007)
by Gerald Cox
Monday, November 19, 2007
Forcing cable providers to provide the Big Ten Network makes about as much sense as passing legislation that mandates McDonald's carry the Whopper. Not surprisingly, this is exactly what the state Legislature is considering. The Legislature's recent efforts concerning the Big Ten Network — the Fair Access to Networks Bill, the recent audit demanded of the BTN's contract with the UW Athletic Department — have indicated a willingness to force the hand of both the BTN and cable providers.
If you want a Whopper, go to Burger King. If you want the inanity that is the Big Ten Network, get DirecTV or DISH Network.
Further, if you want BTN on Charter, get DirecTV or DISH.
The Big Ten Network, dubbed "Big Niche Network" by our very own editorial board, has caused Wisconsin residents and Badger fans in particular quite a headache.
Perhaps you've noted the abject exclusivity of the Big Ten Network. Perhaps you've been horrifically surprised to discover your beloved Badger games are being banefully withheld from you. Perhaps you hold out hope that by some blessed act of providence, college athletics will return to normal and the cable subscription layman will be able to view Badger games freely.
Allow me, as a child who grew up bereft of even the most basic of cable subscriptions, to inform you of a reality
few are willing to admit: It's going to be a long winter for those hoping to view Badger Athletics on basic cable.
The exclusivity of the Big Ten Network has been decried in this publication and others, and the furor from Wisconsin residents has been sufficient to force the hand of the state Legislature. The Legislature, in deference to disgruntled constituents, is working on legislation that would somehow force the BTN and cable providers like Charter to reach an agreement on providing the BTN to its cable subscribers.
Unfortunately for Wisconsin residents, such a move would likely result in increased rates for all cable subscribers, even those who have no interest in the silliness that is the Big Ten Network. For those completely uninterested in our university's sports programs, such a rate increase would prove unacceptable. Paying more for a network that provides viewers with sports they may not care about for half of the year, and programming no one will watch for the rest of it, holds little appeal for a majority of the state.
Charter, whose reputation and customer service are about the only things worse than the outlook of its stock and shares, would be amiss to provide the network on basic cable. As BTN's programming offers little for a majority of the year to a majority of the state, a rate increase that is justified only by the inclusion of the BTN would do little for Charter's bottom line, and may cause defections among its customers.
The Legislature, by showing a propensity to force cable providers like Charter and BTN into a deal, is putting itself in a position of mandating a cable subscription fee increase on consumers. I can think of two people who would be happy with such an outcome: Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and Chancellor John Wiley.
Messrs. Alvarez and Wiley have called upon students to support the network, and would love to see students direct their Badger sports-deprived anger at Charter. And of course they would: The network is bringing the university more than $6 million in revenues to be used for the Athletic Department, campus libraries and need-based scholarships. A deal with Charter would doubtlessly provide the network and the university with even more revenue.
The Athletic Department would have you believe that it is Charter's obstinacy that is precluding you from viewing big Badger games, when in fact it was their indulgence that caused the exclusion in the first place. Charter would point to the risk of losing customers as a result of BTN's contractual demands. The Legislature, meanwhile, is at odds with both, and anxious to pass legislation that would result in more money coming out of cable subscribers' pockets.
Me? I say get satellite and enjoy the game.
The answer to the BTN problem — barring the dissolution of the network itself — is to let the market speak for itself. Badger games are a commodity. The argument that a public university is unable to provide such a commodity is ill-founded; one might as well argue against selling tickets to a basketball game. As such, if consumers, Messrs. Alvarez and Wiley and the state Legislature want Wisconsin residents to view the games on Charter, then watch them on satellite. With time, such a tactic will force Charter to provide the network at a rate attractive to its subscribers. Charter, poor customer service notwithstanding, cannot ignore the demands of the market any more than it can ignore its own bottom line. In the meantime, viewers get all the BTN they could want.
And before you know it, McDonald's may begin to serve the Whopper.
Gerald Cox (gcox@badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in economics.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 1:24am):
No, you're wrong. OSU vs Wisconsin, when they were #1 in the land, was on the BTN. You're telling me that was a NICHE game? No way! ESPN or ABC regional coverage would have picked it up.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 7:19am):
And what about those of us who don't have a choice and can't get a dish?
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 9:08am):
88 cents per customer, that is all the BTN wants. Your telling me that Charter can't/won't raise their price a dollar a month for one Network? I mean it is completely understandable, Charter has a high level of customer sevice, and never before has raised their prices (in case you didn't know that was sarcasm).
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 9:24am):
Here's the deal with the BTN: I'll watch it as much as Lifetime, essentially. In the Fall, every 3rd Saturday.
I don't make any haste purchases based on 15 hrs of programming per year.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 9:27am):
how about the number of apartments on campus where you are not allowed to get a dish and the inconvenience of a dish when you are moving every year.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 10:47am):
I stumbled across this article at work from MI. Spartan fans have the same issues with Comcast and the BTN. After looking at the upcoming basketball television schedules I have said I will pay a $1 premium to my service if I could watch the games I want. However the BTN doesn't want their coverage on a premium package only on a standard package that everyone gets. Comcast doesn't want to pony up an extra dollar a month, which in all honesty is understandable seeing as how the best games do not seem to end up there anyways. The BTN is trying to charge so much for their network that its turning people off, at the same time, have you watched a game on the BTN? All the commercials are for.... THE BTN! Why not sell some ads and drop the licensing costs by a bit more here. In the end its just the greediness on all sides that cause these problems.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 10:47am):
yeah, yeah, ill get right on getting a dish as as soon as gerald cox's rich mommy and daddy send me a check for 100 bucks a month. i sure can't wait to pay 100 a month for directtv and its equipment, all so i can watch women's volleyball and men's water polo! i can't wait!
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 11:00am):
I second that comment on apartments. It puts many of the non-university housing students at a disadvantage, being unable to put up a dish to get BTN.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 11:39am):
I think making the Spice channel standard would be a more popular endeavor. I'll pay 88 cents for that.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 12:48pm):
who needs a dish? we need to stop bowling alone and head to the BAR to watch the game.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 1:16pm):
Gerald,
The argument that the niche appeal of sports or even big ten sports is misguided. The inclusion of ESPN on your (or anyone's) cable or satellite bill can account for 27-39% of the total cost of basic service.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 3:07pm):
"Unfortunately for Wisconsin residents, such a move would likely result in increased rates for all cable subscribers, even those who have no interest in the silliness that is the Big Ten Network."
Isn't Charter already increasing our rates, and adding nothing worthwhile to its packages? Cable companies' message of "not everyone wants it, not everyone wants it" is getting old. How many "silly" channels do we have that none of us want?? Yet cable continues to refuse to offer programming like BTN or NFL Network, programming that is sure to be a lot more popular than many others that they offer. Get real, man.
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 3:28pm):
"For those completely uninterested in our university's sports programs, such a rate increase would prove unacceptable." Interesting comment, seeing as Charter just raised their prices without even ADDING any channels!! Unacceptable.
I'm completely uninterested in Versus, Court TV, Jewelry television, etc., and yet forced to pay for those on my cable bill. Why? Because Charter has a geographical monopoly and decides to offer only it's affiliated channels and not BTN or NFL Network. The answer isn't to just dump cable service for a dish- this needs interference and negotiation. Perhaps you'll reconsider your position when NFL Network- which Charter also leaves off and can't negotiate with- hosts the Insight Bowl game the Badgers will play in. We'll round up the fans for a trip Gerald's house to watch the game!
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 5:57pm):
A La Carte, anyone?
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 6:32pm):
Actually, if You face the south and have and "exclusive use area" (aka a balcony to put the dish on) you can put up a dish. Just put a the dish in a bucket of sand (instead of bolting it to the wall) so the landlord does not have a dish hanging there after you move out.
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html#links
Anonymous (November 19, 2007 @ 9:04pm):
This is actually a secret plan on behalf of UW-Madison, Charter and the BTN to force more students to the bars! I for one know I'll be binge drinking a lot more watching the games on the large screen. Hopefully all the exercise my fake ID is getting will burn off the extra calories I acquire dropping kraft singles on the old hags at Brats. Damn son, now if only Mr. Cox will join me for the game - my life would be complete!
Anonymous (November 21, 2007 @ 5:40pm):
All big ten alumni should withhold all donations and contributions to their universities until the big ten schools come to their senses and get the BTN on cable.
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