According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Big Ten Network will only broadcast three Ohio State games this season as opposed to last year’s four. Personally, I think this is a good thing as I have no chance of seeing the BTN offered on Verizon in Maryland. Likewise, the majority of fans in Ohio can’t get the Big Ten Network either.
So, as it stands right now, Youngstown State (to which luckily, along with the other 70 percent of the alumini, I scored tickets), Troy and one league game will be broadcast on the BTN. ESPN owns Ohio University and don’t worry about the USC game. ABC’s got it and I’m sure it will be available no matter where you live. It will be the premier non-conference game of the season.
So for now, I’ll tolerate the BTN. I don’t know which Big 10 game they’ve got but let’s just hope it’s a game I have to miss for some other reason (although I can’t think of any reason that would force me to miss an Ohio State Game).
I have to reply to this simply because I feel like the BTN gets slammed by Big Ten fans constantly when what they’re doing should be admirably applauded. The sheer scale of what they are doing (a station 100% devoted to the Big Ten) is incredible, not to mention the fact that EVERY Ohio State game will now be televised EVERY year for the rest of time. The fact that your subscription to Verizon (which is silly in the first place unless you have no other choice…DirecTV anyone?) does not include the BTN is not in any way a reflection on the BTN and comments should not be targeted there. And no, I do not work for the BTN (reading back on this, it does sure sound like it), but I am a HUGE advocate for it.And here is why: I live in Phoenix, AZ and bleed scarlet and gray…in the past I have missed Buckeye games because I could not even get the smaller games in a good college football bar…the day I found out the BTN had been created (August of 2007), I immediately called DirecTV to be installed…And the very first week of college football, as I was watching Ohio State beat up on an in-state rival, I started to hear rumblings of a certain team up north losing to a lowly Div-II team…and for the first time in my life, I switched from a Buckeye game to a Toilet Blue game…and when that game was over a small tear slid down my cheek, a tear of happiness that I had paid my money for DirecTV and that the BTN had been created by the Gods…I would have paid $500 a month just to have the chance to watch that game…Enough said I think…
Hey ANNAPOLIS —
You don’t need satellite! Verizon FIOS is bringing BTN to Maryland and Virginia.
Sadly as of right now, though I can see the fiber cables outside my window, Verizon has yet to get the deal worked out in my local town. This means I will be heading into “the city” to watch the BTN games at a bar in midtown the NYC Alumni club rents out, when I’d much rather be at home in Westchester annoying my neighbors (Mich St. next door and an Oregon Duck across the street).
Get out of Dodge…Verizon FIOS is getting the BTN!!!
Forget all I’ve said in the past. I LOVE THE BTN!!!
(That is of course if the BTN does in fact come to Maryland)
Wohoo…I think Mr. Green is right!!! According to the BTN web page, Verizon FIOS should be “getting the BTN soon”
Tell you what…they get it in high def. and I’m hosting the first game watch (after Youngstown of course…you know…alumni lottery and all).