Big Ten Network

[BuffaloBuck]

I don't know who's right or wrong when it comes to carrying the BigTen Network.... it could be that the demands of the network are outrageous, it could be that Time Warner (who I hate as a company for other reasons) is trying to throw their weight around...

Either way, everyone should own a DirectTv dish if possible...most certainly if you have an HD TV.

Direct TV service is amazing, the customer service is great, the prices are reasonable, and what you get for the money is fantastic... of course you get the BTN, and if you add HD service and the sports package you get a ridiculous amount of HD programming...(like 50 HD channels, with over 100 by years end) TONs of college football on the sports channels, ESPNU, movie channels.... its great.

if you have HD and are a sports fan there really is no other choice than getting direct TV...and no, i have no vested interest in thier company doing well...just a huge fan.

[cincibuck]

A taste of my own medicine... back in August I suggested that if the Big Ten was serious in their contract negotiations they'd hold the Michigan - Notre Dame game hostage. I mean, outside of we fanatics, who gave a [censored] about OSU - YSU/Akron/Kent State, but pull the rug on ND and Michigan and you'd create some real economic leverage.

Now the Wisconsin game is on BTN, I'm stuck with TW, there's a funeral I must attend so I can't even Tivo the damn thing and I won't be free until late in the game... a 1:30 Mass...

But from a business point of view I agree with the Big Ten. Switchborads are going to light up at TW when folks wake up to the fact that this game isn't available.

[Oh8ch]

It is not often that JT disappoints me, but he did this week. I don't recall the exact quote, but he was asked about the BTN and his response was essentially that he didn't know the details of what was going on.

I understand that this is business, that TW and BTN are simply negotiating, and that none of us know enough of the details of that negotiation to legitimately point fingers.

But ultimately this is about greed. It isn't happening because the Big Ten commissioner is laying awake nights worrying about how Wisconsin is gong to pay for their ladies Field Hockey Squad. They are trying to squeeze every dime out of the Big Ten's amateur athletes. And nobody is a bigger player in the Big Ten cash pool than OSU.

And when you look at the OSU budget, just after debt maintenance, one of the next big ticket items has to be Jim Tressel's salary. He is arguably the most significant figure in Big Ten sports and should have one of the loudest voices.

So don't tell me you don't know. When 40% of your local fan base is denied access to one of the biggest games of the season (i.e. your product) you ought to be standing on somebody's desk telling them to fix it. And if you can't get it fixed you at least ought to know the details of why.

I am not suggesting that it is Tressel's fault this hasn't been resolved. But as Michael Vick would say: "JT, you got a dog in this fight!"

[jwinslow]

That's one of JT's most common phrases, like when he'll say... "I'm not sure (or 'don't know') how many yards we had out there, about 617?"

Seems to be his way of ducking questions he cannot or does not wish to answer definitively.

[BayBuck]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

When 40% of your local fan base is denied access to one of the biggest games of the season (i.e. your product)

Denied access? There must be hundreds of places that will be showing the game tomorrow, along with food and beverage service, and fans have had all season long to switch to a cable provider that includes the BTN.

Jim Tressel is keeping his focus right where it belongs--on his team, on the football field.

[Piney]

Originally Posted by BayBuck

Jim Tressel is keeping his focus right where it belongs--on his team, on the football field.

BINGO! I really don't want Tressel to worry about a TV network or anything like that during the season. Now in the offseason that is a different story.

But in all reality this is all a business. Yes it involves amateur athletes but the money made from this network does eventuall get back to them in better facilities and better coaches. And in the end it will also help fans. The more money they can make in a venture like this the less they would have to raise ticket prices (or so you would hope)

Also, if you think this is just a BTN issue you are also mistaken. Heck, the NFL network is still trying to deal with Time Warner too, and they are suppsoe to show some huge games later in the season (ie Patriots v Giants in Week 17 and a chance of history being made with a team going 16-0).

But in reality it is Time Warner trying to squeeze every last dime out of its customers and remain competitive. They keep losing customers to satellite TV that can offer better pricing and more channels for the price. So the only way TW can compete is to keep their price as low as possible and if they cave in to BTN and NFL network they will have to pass the buck to the customers and widen the divide between the cost of cable versus satellite.

It is just sick overall. Because eventually everything will be available over the internet and then what?

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

BTNHD has been added to WOW