Big Ten Network

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Silverman and Delaney on Tour

Big Ten Commissioner, Jim Delaney, and Big Ten Network President, Mark Silverman, are currently touring Big Ten campuses promoting the network. This morning they appeared on Champaign, Illinois, radio station WDWS with host Jim Turpin. Following is an exchange with a caller who asked specifically about negotiations with DISH.

Caller: My wife and I are very satisfied customers of DISH satellite television and, given your initial agreement with DirecTV, where does DISH fit into your picture?

Turpin: What’s happening with DISH, Mark?

Silverman: Sure. Thanks for calling, Dick. We’re talking with DISH, we’re talking with all the cable providers. We do not yet have a deal done with DISH, but we are continuing to talk with them. We have two weeks before we go on the air. I believe this next week or so is very important for us to try and finalize these deals, and at this juncture, you know, we’re going to do all we can, and the input we’ve gotten from DISH is that they want to carry the network, and we’re going to try and get this done.
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It sounds to me like he chose his words very carefully well before he went on the air. It doesn't sound especially promissing.
 
Silverman and Delaney on Tour - Part II

Another caller to WDWS (Champaign, IL) inquired about the overflow channels.

Caller: I have DISH Network, and if you guys negotiate a deal with DISH Network, are there going to be overflow channels so I can watch my Hoosiers play basketball, football, if the U of I is playing at the same time?

Silverman: We’re offering up the overflow channels to every single distributor. It would be my hope that, when we come to an agreement with DISH, that that would be a part of that agreement as well.

Caller: But … if you do make an agreement with them, that’s not cast in stone, whereas with DirecTV, it’s an absolute certainty, is that correct?

Silverman: That is correct. With DirecTV, it is a certainty. With every other operator, the larger ones like DISH, all we can do is offer up the network and it’s up to them if they elect to carry it or not.
 
Don't give in Dish!

Pay BTN 5 cents per subscriber and nothing higher. The general populace doesn't want it. Don't make people pay for something they don't want. The BTN negotiators should be wearing masks at the bargaining table the way they are trying to hold Dish and the cable systems up! If BTN agrees to have it as a multi-sports Pak channel, and people can elect coverage, then FINE! Otherwise, go pound sand!
 
The general populace doesn't want it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you don't want BTN that's fine but please speak only for yourself. The "general populace" did not elect you to speak for them.
 
You're first number could be correct, but no way are 25% of Dish subs in the Big Ten area "die hards" that will switch to DirecTV just for 2nd and 3rd tier games on this channel. I'd say that 5% is a more reasonable guess (and I'm sure Charlie and his team have figured out a guess at this as well).

I guess I am one of the 5% who will switch to DirectTV over this issue. I already lost access to MLB-EI, which I subscribed to. Too not be able to watch the BTN on my home TV is unbearable.

Now, it looks like I will have to go to a bar or a lucky friend's house who has DirectTV to watch Big Ten basketball games, which I really enjoy.

I have a VIP622 18-month lease contract that ends next May. I have been with Dish Network since '99, but will leave and go to DirectTV at the time if Charlie doesn't improve Dish Network's sport's offerings.
 
I don't want to switch to DirecTV, either, but I will if that what it takes to see the Fighting Illini. I think the impending outcry of the "general populace" is highly underestimated.
 
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you don't want BTN that's fine but please speak only for yourself. The "general populace" did not elect you to speak for them.

I second that .... I am sick of people making generalizations. Fact is many WILL leave if the channel is not added. Unfortunately some of the damage is already done. I am holding out for an agreement but come later this Fall if no deal ... hello Direct TV.
 
I second that .... I am sick of people making generalizations. Fact is many WILL leave if the channel is not added. Unfortunately some of the damage is already done. I am holding out for an agreement but come later this Fall if no deal ... hello Direct TV.

That goes for me too! I really like E*'s service and equipment but not getting to watch "Big Blue" for even one game would send me to D*. I live for college football in the fall!! And I'm sure there are alot of others out there that may not be following the news on BTN and would be unhappy campers when they find out they cannot watch their favorite team.
 
Too not be able to watch the BTN on my home TV is unbearable.

It is unbearable or it WILL BE unbearable? The channel doesn't even exist yet. This is getting so tired. Ok so some of you are going to switch if BTN isn't added, we get it. No one here can fix it and posting the same thing over and over doesn't help resolve the situation at all.

edit: This should say WOULD BE....the idea that E* has already decided not to carry BTN permeates this thread and is incorrect.
 
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Hi fellow posters,

Can we please temper the name calling in this thread? Clearly there are posters who want BTN regardless, others who want it only under certain conditions, and those who do not want it, period. We have seen each of these positions repeated, over and over again (which I think is a large part of what is driving the incivilities). At this point, let's try to keep this thread to where we provide information or reports about what is happening regarding the BTN and E*. I'm not trying to advocate censorship, but the cat fighting is getting old and it really isn't adding much to this thread. Thanks in advance.
 
Hi fellow posters,

Can we please temper the name calling in this thread? Clearly there are posters who want BTN regardless, others who want it only under certain conditions, and those who do not want it, period. We have seen each of these positions repeated, over and over again (which I think is a large part of what is driving the incivilities). At this point, let's try to keep this thread to where we provide information or reports about what is happening regarding the BTN and E*. I'm not trying to advocate censorship, but the cat fighting is getting old and it really isn't adding much to this thread. Thanks in advance.

Exactly.
 
So sharing your feelings on leaving if B10 is not added, is not part of this thread? I think if people are going to leave they should have the right to say it.

and i DON't think they should have to be put up with some of the snippy grammar corrections & name calling that has been going on.
 
So sharing your feelings on leaving if B10 is not added, is not part of this thread? I think if people are going to leave they should have the right to say it.

and i DON't think they should have to be put up with some of the snippy grammar corrections & name calling that has been going on.

This is the exact thought I had as I read this post. I think some, including myself, get frustrated by not getting some things on Dish Network that many of us really want. The answer is not always to change to Direct TV. I personally love this service and have been with them for seven years. I love the 622 and would hate to give it up. Having certain others make snide comments about our frustration does not help.
 
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