Looks like this issue isn't over:
UPDATED: Legislature jumping into Big Ten Network fray (The Daily Briefing)
UPDATED: Legislature jumping into Big Ten Network fray
A Cincinnati Republican says he?s tired of hearing from frustrated television watchers who can?t see their favorite Ohio sports teams because of disputes between cable operators and programmers ? so he?s doing something about it.
Rep. Lou Blessing, joined by 21 co-sponsors, today introduced what he?s calling the ?
Cable Antidiscrimination and Dispute Resolution Act of 2007.?
It would require mandatory third-party negotiations when the two sides, such as Time Warner Cable and the Big Ten Network, can?t come to an agreement.
Time Warner subscribers will miss the
Ohio State-
Wisconsin football game this Saturday, the fourth Ohio State game this year broadcast exclusively on the Big Ten Network.
At issue are the network's asking price, a reported $1 per month per subscriber in the Big Ten's eight states, and Time Warner's contention that the network belongs on a pricier digital tier of sports channels. The network insists it be on expanded-basic service, which includes channels such as ESPN.
Blessing is also upset about the lack of availability of the
NFL Network.
?When cable operators like Time Warner refuse to consider offering expanded programming because they are more worried about protecting their bottom line than serving Ohio customers, I?m deeply troubled,? Blessing said in a statement.
Because Time Warner has not reached an agreement to carry the network, more than 40 percent of the homes in the Columbus television market, as defined by Nielsen Media Research, will not receive the game telecast if a deal is not done this week.
Basically it would mean that the two sides would go to an arbitrator to sort out the issue. I would rather have closure than it to be a dead issue.
Off to the bar
