Big Ten Network

[afoulk]

After being concerned that I would not be able to see Big Ten football games on ESPN Gameplan this year due to the startup of the new Big Ten Network, I contacted Dish to request they carry the new sports network. I received a totally unexpected response. Here it is, with my original request/question.

Question: I would like to request that you carry the Big Ten Network in one of your programming packages. I will change to DirecTV to obtain this programming.

Answer:
Thank you for your email. You may be able to view Big Ten on channel 435. For further assistance, please call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-333-3474. We are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for your convenience.

I'm not sure what to think of the response, but there may be some hope that Dish will add the channel before football season.​

 

[RandallA]

Channel 435 is Fox Sports New England, isn't it?

 

[Mr Tony]

correct Randall

 

[tsduke]

Sounds like the person responding to you doesn't even know what The Big Ten Network is.

 

[Poke]

Well for now it will not be until August. So Dish and everyone else has time to get it added to their programming.

 

[jhamps10]

After being concerned that I would not be able to see Big Ten football games on ESPN Gameplan this year due to the startup of the new Big Ten Network, I contacted Dish to request they carry the new sports network. I received a totally unexpected response. Here it is, with my original request/question.

Question: I would like to request that you carry the Big Ten Network in one of your programming packages. I will change to DirecTV to obtain this programming.

Answer:
Thank you for your email. You may be able to view Big Ten on channel 435. For further assistance, please call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-333-3474. We are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for your convenience.

I'm not sure what to think of the response, but there may be some hope that Dish will add the channel before football season.​

I'd e-mail ceo@echostar.com to get any possible confirm on that one. I'm not buying it however.

 

[TheGuv]

I just emailed the "ceo" telling him that I am already disappointed with Dish Network for not keeping MLB Extra Innings and not being able to get the upcoming Baseball channel that begins in 2009.

I wrote Charlie Cheese that the Big Ten channel will be a make-or-break issue for me.

Charlie was warned that unless the Big Ten channel is added this year, I will be leaving Dish Network PERMANENTLY early next year when my VIP 621 committment is over and that I will be going to his "satellite competitor"

 

[gopherscot]

I am with you ... been with Echostar for over 5 years ... but this is one thing that will make me switch. Living in the heart of Big 10 country they would be crazy not to add this channel ... at least to the mutli-sports package. D* is putting it in the Total Choice ... so it can't be that expensive.

 

[Hall]

Living in the heart of Big 10 country they would be crazy not to add this channel

Why would they ?? "They" have customers outside of the Big 10 region.... My point is, you have to look at things like this from Dish's perspective. It's no different than people wanting Dish to add the YES Network. Of course, the vast majority of those asking for it live in New York. Most people outside of New York and the greater area likely have NEVER heard of the channel !

Channels like YES or the Big 10 Network are fine for the regions they primarily target. Where I live, obviously the Big 10 Network could appeal to me. Can they, or will they, add it just for "us" without penalizing their entire customer base ?? Make it regional just like Fox Sports Cincinnati is for me (or those who get the multi-sports package). That way, Dish can say "we've got 'x' number of qualified customers and we'll pay 'y' per customer". Don't do it like DirecTV who subsidizes Sunday Ticket with their entire customer base.

 

[gopherscot]

No problem ... add it to the multi-sports package. Turner South is available for people in a select 5 or 6 state region ... why not the Big 10 network? I am more than happy to pay extra ... but just make it available!

 

[Allin4greeN]

Why would they ?? "They" have customers outside of the Big 10 region.... My point is, you have to look at things like this from Dish's perspective. It's no different than people wanting Dish to add the YES Network. Of course, the vast majority of those asking for it live in New York. Most people outside of New York and the greater area likely have NEVER heard of the channel !

Channels like YES or the Big 10 Network are fine for the regions they primarily target. Where I live, obviously the Big 10 Network could appeal to me. Can they, or will they, add it just for "us" without penalizing their entire customer base ?? Make it regional just like Fox Sports Cincinnati is for me (or those who get the multi-sports package). That way, Dish can say "we've got 'x' number of qualified customers and we'll pay 'y' per customer". Don't do it like DirecTV who subsidizes Sunday Ticket with their entire customer base.

hall, that makes way too much sense... <sigh> I suppose that means we'll never see B10N.

[rant] E* customers in the Phil DMA get really boinked when it comes to sports. What with Comcrap's vice grips firmly squeezing the balls of the legislature... I doubt I'll ever see an RSN offered here [/rant]

 

[Tom Bombadil]

As was stated earlier, the cost for the B10 Network can't be that high, as D* threw it into a popular tier. A few cable companies have picked it up too.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=24572

Given the size of the B10 universities (huge) and that their alumni are spread all over the nation, it would have pretty broad appeal. D* isn't limiting it to a geographic region.

It is one thing for E* to not pick up expensive, premium sports packages like NFL:ST and MLB:EI. But if they don't pick up a much lowered price package that D* can offer in a basic national package, then that's a sign that E* is backing off of sports to an even larger degree than ever before.

 

[Hall]

Given the size of the B10 universities (huge) and that their alumni are spread all over the nation, it would have pretty broad appeal. D* isn't limiting it to a geographic region.

Offering the network in the Big 10 region is a no-brainer, assuming the cost is reasonable. Offering it nationwide, fully understanding what you say about alumni being all over the country, and they are, is a different matter though. Sure, some guy in California went to Ohio State and would love to watch OSU sports, but does his neighbor ?? Odds are, probably not. In those cases, I have to repeat, "put your money where your mouth is" and pay for a "multi-sports" package if you really want that channel.

I wouldn't pay $1.99/mo or even $0.99/mo for the "PAC 10 Network", "Big East", etc, etc. Granted, I'm not a big sports fan either.

What D* does, or has done, again, may or may not be a fair comparison. They offer it and factor the price into everyone's rate, whether they want or watch the channel(s) or not.

 

[jrbdmb]

I'd like to get the channel in the fall, but agree that Multi-Sport (or a la carte) is the right place for it. Perhaps you include it for subs in the Big 10 footprint, but no reason for all subs in Alabama or California to pay for this.

 

[thedamaja]

The Big Ten Network will have little or no effect on Football or Basketball games.
From the Big Ten Network website.

Q: How will these new arrangements impact game selection?
A: The answer is very little. In previous years, ABC had first selection of Saturday afternoon football games, and that will continue. CBS had first pick of weekend men's basketball games, and that will continue. In previous years, ESPN had first selection of weekday men's basketball games, and that will continue. ESPN on most weekends has second and third selection of football games, and this will continue. In past years, ESPN Regional Television, the Conference's syndication outlet, had first pick of the remaining football and men's basketball games. Now, those games will appear on the Big Ten Network and/or Big Ten Network platforms. All games will be selected on merit and the respective network's estimation of viewer demand and appeal.

 

[Hall]

Yeah, but this will help when ABC/ESPN/Disney tries and pulls their stunts of putting a "big" game on a channel like ESPNU, which they did a number of times last year. Many cable companies and satellite providers don't offer that channel except in higher tiers or in sports tiers and ESPN thought they could get the providers to give in.

If they try that this year, the Big 10 Network will be allowed to broadcast the game then, right ??

 

[FlyingJ]

The Big Ten Network will have little or no effect on Football or Basketball games.

Right, that's why they are putting a ton of kash into it. Believe me, when that season (football) starts up, those that do not receive the B10N will be screaming bloody murder! There were oSU games this past season that were not on locally or on cable, only on sat and the fanbase went nuts. They were on ESPNU. Like to see the cable or sat co in Columbus not have the B10N, bye bye sub!

 

[thedamaja]

Yeah, but this will help when ABC/ESPN/Disney tries and pulls their stunts of putting a "big" game on a channel like ESPNU, which they did a number of times last year. Many cable companies and satellite providers don't offer that channel except in higher tiers or in sports tiers and ESPN thought they could get the providers to give in.

If they try that this year, the Big 10 Network will be allowed to broadcast the game then, right ??

Yes it looks they can simulcast the game. Then again they can't broadcast more than one game at a time or may just decide to go with something that isn't getting any air play at all.

Like womens Curling

If Dish picks the channel up great, if not I have no worries about seeing my Badgers through the normal channels.

 

[tsduke]

The Big Ten Network will have little or no effect on Football or Basketball games.
From the Big Ten Network website.

Q: How will these new arrangements impact game selection?
A: The answer is very little. In previous years, ABC had first selection of Saturday afternoon football games, and that will continue. CBS had first pick of weekend men's basketball games, and that will continue. In previous years, ESPN had first selection of weekday men's basketball games, and that will continue. ESPN on most weekends has second and third selection of football games, and this will continue. In past years, ESPN Regional Television, the Conference's syndication outlet, had first pick of the remaining football and men's basketball games. Now, those games will appear on the Big Ten Network and/or Big Ten Network platforms. All games will be selected on merit and the respective network's estimation of viewer demand and appeal.

That isn't true. Since they will air most the non-national TV games that used to be on ESPN plus us Iowa Hawkeye fans , for an example, will go without a few games.

 

[oswald]

I don't care whether I pay more for it or not, I just want the opportunity to purchase it. Not getting the Big Ten Network on Dish in some capacity is a deal breaker for me (although I understand Hall's perspective).