So far, I can’t think of anything I like about the Big Ten Network other than that commercial (above). Bottom line, this is about greed, greed and more greed. Cable providers such as Comcast or Time Warner won’t ink a deal because they say the Big Ten Network is charging too much per viewer to place it on their “expanded basic” linup. The Big Ten won’t ink a deal because they won’t lower their price enough for Comcast or Time Warner to place it in their “expanded basic” lineup.
Wow, what a great deal for the Big Ten fan. In the past, if you lived in Ohio you could always count on good old WBNS 10 T.V. for the live broadcast with all the necessary Ohio State cheer leading along the way. Thanks to the Big Ten Network, WBNS has lost their broadcast rights so at the very least, you will need to subscribe to an “expanded” cable service to watch the game.
Remember how much fun it was to watch a home game in the tailgate lot outside The Shoe when you couldn’t get a ticket? So much for that.
But what bothers me even more is that I don’t live in Ohio and guess what, I’m not the only one. If any conference has fans spread around the country it is the Big Ten. It is bad enough that Ohio residents are going to have to pay to see the Buckeyes on television, the odds of seeing a non network game here in Annapolis are about as good as catching the Navy/Ball State game in Columbus. (We got Ohio State/Indiana last year when Columbus didn’t due to ESPN U)
Finding the games out here has often been a challenge but now, it looks like I will be doomed to a world of pay-per view if I can even find the games. Nothing I love more than paying $20 a weekend on top of my normal cable bill. That is of course the Big Ten Network at least makes the games available. And with the ESPN $20/Sat package, I got an entire day worth of games. Who knows what I’ll get with the Big Ten Network.
Maybe John Hopkins could join the Big Ten. Just think of all those Mid-Atlantic viewers that would bring.
Oh, and by the way, the Big Ten Network has 64 of the Big Ten’s 99 conference basketball games this season (plus three Big Ten tourney games). Oh joy!
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