Big Ten Network

[Madtown HD Junkie]

In Madison Charter cable, and I use the term cable company loosely, has been having PR people on local radio shows to console the masses because they are not adding BTN in the near future. D* is the hot ticket for cable people here. E* could pick up some subs if they had it.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Yep, this is missed opportunity for E*. Even if they do add it later to retain existing subs, they are missing the window to add new subs across 1/4th of the US population right now!

 

[KAB]

Yep, this is missed opportunity for E*. Even if they do add it later to retain existing subs, they are missing the window to add new subs across 1/4th of the US population right now!

Oh come onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! More like 1/25th.

 

[jchalk59]

E* needs to get on board!

I am a new Dish subscriber (within the last 2 months), because I had faith that they would pick up the BTN, and I fell in love with the multi-room DVR (which I have wired throughout my whole house and is the true differentiator for me between Dish and D*).

Dish needs to get on board with this network, or else I may switch. I'm giving them until Big 10 basketball season, but if they aren't on board by then I'll be signing up to DirecTV. It's one thing to head to a bar on Saturdays to see your Buckeyes play, but a whole other thing to do it twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

As much as I really like all that is Dish, they need to get on board with the programming their customers (obviously) want. This is no small contingent of people, as you can see by the large amount of posts on this topic alone. Many, many, many millions of people watch these games every week IN PERSON, not to mention the many millions more that are dying to see them on TV. Let's get something worked out folks!

 

[Tom Bombadil]

The states that comprise the B10 region contain 23% of the U.S. population. If you add in portions of New York & New Jersey (which have a number of Penn State fans) then it easily climbs over 25%.

And that isn't counting the large number of B10 graduates and transplanted Midwesterners who live all over the USA. Consider that nationally televised B10 games draw strong ratings in California.

So yes indeed, E* is missing out on an opportunity to market themselves across at least 1/4th of the USA. They are letting D* go out there without competition.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

They are letting D* go out there without competition.

Especially in regards to sports programming.

 

[Posty-McPOst]

Especially in regards to sports programming.

In the long run paying millions each year to D* for BTN might not help.

 

[flyingsquirrel]

I admire your passion, but you need to do one of two things:

1) Move to Directv
2) Quit complaining

For the record, there are more than 16 million HOUSEHOLDS in the Big Ten "Footprint" that will not be getting BTN anytime in the near future. About 2 million are Dish Network subscribers. They are probably the MOST LIKELY to get BTN sometime soon ( I have heard that BTN and Dish are at least talking most every day and exchanging proposals, though Dish is in no hurry). I am sure Dish is OK with the "extended Basic" location (probably a channel in the mid 150s), and they are just talking money and "overlap issues". I am sure each side has a price in mind, and they will meet somewhere on dollars.

The VAST MAJORITY of that 16 million are subscribers to Time Warner and Comcast (the real Big Foot in that Big Ten footprint with more than 8 million households).

Comcast is at this point not returning the Big Ten's calls for reasons discussed in previous posts above. I am sure at this point the Big Ten has stopped calling.

My prediction and my last word on this sorry subject:

If the FCC does not rule BTN and RSN (in which case everyone will pick it up pretty much immediately), BTN will CAVE IN to Comcast's demands on or about Dec 1. Why then? The start of the Basketball season and the Big Ten ADs WILL NOT let their games go unwatched. The Big Ten has a reduced schedule on ESPN, and if they don't have carriage deals this winter, recruiting will be a disaster. And the BTN's leverage drops dramatically after the football season ends.

So if you want BTN, don't go crying to Dish. It won't help. I predict Dish will pick up BTN on or about Late September, in time for some of the bigger football games and the Basketball Season. But they may not.

Comcast absolutely won't until BTN comes off or the Extended Basic demand. If I were Comcast, I would be doing the same thing. Switching from Comcast is much tougher than switching from Dish. Most Comcast subs these days have their internet through cable as well, which makes switching a whole lot more complicated.

 

[jhamps10]

The states that comprise the B10 region contain 23% of the U.S. population. If you add in portions of New York & New Jersey (which have a number of Penn State fans) then it easily climbs over 25%.

And that isn't counting the large number of B10 graduates and transplanted Midwesterners who live all over the USA. Consider that nationally televised B10 games draw strong ratings in California.

So yes indeed, E* is missing out on an opportunity to market themselves across at least 1/4th of the USA. They are letting D* go out there without competition.

Add in Missouri, and quite frankly all the border states. a lot of illini fans in ST Louis alone. then you get somewhere in the ballpark of 29-30%.

 

[jldhawk]

Don't forget about all of us who HATE Michigan and would subscribe just to watch them loose!
J/K
I love the Iowa/Mich rivalry.

 

[KAB]

My mother and father went to Purdue, as did my brother. Their reaction to all of this was, when they win, it's worth it. When they loose, not. So, why not watch the free games? They'll probably loose those, too. They don't care!

 

[heisman27]

Don't forget about all of us who HATE Michigan and would subscribe just to watch them loose!
J/K
I love the Iowa/Mich rivalry.

Iowa doesn't have to play scUM or the Buckeyes the next two seasons. Should be good one's for the Hawks. BTW, I think you meant "lose."

 

[BigTimMN]

Iowa misses BOTH Michigan and OSU? man thats a nice break... The Gophs only get to miss one of them at a time when it happens... PSU and MSU are off right now.

 

[Foxbat]

...I went out and bought 2 Directv HD DVRs yesterday (I already had an HD receiver and Dish installed August 1). I will be ending my 3 year tenure with Dish. Too bad, because I liked alot of what they had to offer...

...I'm on the phone right now with D*. I gave E* until today to get BTN. Like you, I loved E*, but what's an OSU alum supposed to do...

...I am with a number of you. If they don't close the deal in a week or so I am going to switch to DTV. And for all of those who don't appreciate Big Ten sports don't spend your time posting on this page, cause nobody cares what you have to say...

News Corp executive (in Montgomery Burns voice): "Excellent... Our outrageous pricing demands for BTN is driving people to DirecTV, just as we had hoped. Get me the President of the Southeastern Conference on the line!"

 

[RonMort046]

For those who believe that DTV made a mistake in signing up the BTN, how many threads on this forum go on for over 60 pages in such a short time? There is interest somewhere.

 

[Slamminc11]

For those who believe that DTV made a mistake in signing up the BTN, how many threads on this forum go on for over 60 pages in such a short time? There is interest somewhere.

Short time? It was started in early April.
Prediction for all you Dish Doom and Gloom people. Dish will increased sub base for this and next quarter. Just because there is a vocal group here demanding a channel doesn't mean that the majority of the US cares. Take a look at the thread asking if you will switch if Dish doesn't carry this channel. Now either a bunch of people who want it don't care to vote or as usual a whole bunch of people just don't really feel threatened by this channel not being carried.

 

[KAB]

Short time? It was started in early April.
Prediction for all you Dish Doom and Gloom people. Dish will increased sub base for this and next quarter. Just because there is a vocal group here demanding a channel doesn't mean that the majority of the US cares. Take a look at the thread asking if you will switch if Dish doesn't carry this channel. Now either a bunch of people who want it don't care to vote or as usual a whole bunch of people just don't really feel threatened by this channel not being carried.

Bullseye! Bingo! On the money!

 

[jimijam28]

its the same sh*t every time a new sport channel come on.... it started more than 10yrs ago with fox sports world,... and how everybody was going to leave dish blah blah... the point is when its a good deal for dish they will sign a deal.

 

[tsduke]

For those of who keep saying the BTN is showing mostly crap games. We E* customers missed Div. I AA App. St upset Michigan.

 

[db2]

Yep, best game of day broadcast on...Big Ten Network.

On another note, suddenly thousands of Michigan fans are glad they do not get BTN