Big Ten Network (BTN)

[suza271]

19 inch Phillips Big Screen. You can find it on the Best Buy website.

And..uhh..I just got off the phone with Direct TV, and from what the rep told me, there's a HUGE problem. She claims that Direct TV will not have The Big Ten Network on overflow channels, it will just be one channel. I told her this posed a problem since there would be 4 games on at once at noon on Sept. 1. She told me that it depended on what area I lived in (I live in VA, so I'm assuming I would get the Penn State game). She told me that if my game wasn't on The Big Ten Network, it would be on CBS, ABC or ESPN, or Gameplan. I told her that Gameplan isn't picking up The Big Ten Network this year. And, why would I sign up for Direct TV if I can't watch the OSU game ANYWHERE. I mean, if this is true, I won't even be able to watch the game in a bar.

[suza271]

I read a little farther back that someone said that Direct TV is going to carry overflow channels. Does anyone have a link to that.

[schwab]

Originally Posted by suza271

19 inch Phillips Big Screen.

Now there's an oxymoron for ya.

[suza271]

Oops, sorry, I didn't mean to write big screen. I meant flat screen. I've been typing while on the phone with the morons at Direct TV.

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by suza271

I read a little farther back that someone said that Direct TV is going to carry overflow channels. Does anyone have a link to that.

I had a link a month or 2 ago. Directv WILL carry all the games on the BTN. You can't call some customer service rep and ask specifics about a station that isn't even on the air yet. Take it to the bank, Directv will carry all the BTN games. If you do a little research, you can easily find the answer.

[Oh8ch]

You can't call some customer service rep and ask specifics

You can't rely on what customer service reps tell you in general - a fact which will continue to contribute to the disinformation in this thread.

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

You can't rely on what customer service reps tell you in general - a fact which will continue to contribute to the disinformation in this thread.

Especially since the station isn't even operational yet. This guy will spend 20 minutes on the phone, when he could easily find the information himself with a search engine.

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by OSU SPORTS

Especially since the station isn't even operational yet. This guy will spend 20 minutes on the phone, when he could easily find the information himself with a search engine.

Too bad BP doesn't have a search function...

[BuckeyeInLA]

We in Los Angeles are doubly screwed. Time Warner Cable isn't offering the GamePlan Package nor will they likely come to a resolution with the BTN. Guess it's to the alumni bar for us... As if I needed another reason to go to the bar and drink during the football season...

[suza271]

Sorry. I did try to search. I tried Google and Yahoo and read this entire thread two times. There are several posts that mention Direct TV carrying overflow channels, and then someone asks for a link, but there is no link.

I googled Big Ten Network Direct TV Overflow and couldn't find anything. I also searched all of OSU Sports' posts and never found an official link that says this.

I got two reps that told me that the info on the BTN that they are reading says it will only be carried on one channel, 220, and specifically says no overflow channels. They checked with 3 supervisors. I'm not saying these guys are the last word, but I don't want to switch to Direct TV without knowing.

Look, there's nobody more than myself that wants to see this happen. I want it badly. But, I've been working on this all day and as much as I love you guys for all this info, I just want to hear it from some Direct TV person or website. So, if anyone can provide this, I'll send ya good vibes, and be very grateful.

[buck1973]

Originally Posted by suza271

Sorry. I did try to search. I tried Google and Yahoo and read this entire thread two times. There are several posts that mention Direct TV carrying overflow channels, and then someone asks for a link, but there is no link.

I googled Big Ten Network Direct TV Overflow and couldn't find anything. I also searched all of OSU Sports' posts and never found an official link that says this.

I got two reps that told me that the info on the BTN that they are reading says it will only be carried on one channel, 220, and specifically says no overflow channels. They checked with 3 supervisors. I'm not saying these guys are the last word, but I don't want to switch to Direct TV without knowing.

Look, there's nobody more than myself that wants to see this happen. I want it badly. But, I've been working on this all day and as much as I love you guys for all this info, I just want to hear it from some Direct TV person or website. So, if anyone can provide this, I'll send ya good vibes, and be very grateful.

I haven't seen anything on a Directv (not Direct TV) website, but the president of the big ten network has mentioned it several times.

Q - You have promoted that you will "overflow" broadcasts available when there are Big Ten games on simultaneous but will these cable outfits outside the area of that Big Ten school not getting the primary broadcast take the step of showing that team's games on one of their overflow channels?
We are offering it up to all of them. DirecTV has said they are going to carry these games. If you get DirecTV they are going to put on all these overflow channels.

Q&A with the Big Ten Network President - NCAA Basketball - Yahoo! Sports

On HD programming, regionalizing games and channel location on DirecTV:
"HD (high-definition) programming is a big part of what I think we should be doing. We'll be launching with more HD than any other network launch, 85-90 percent of all programming will be in HD. With regionalizing games, on Sept 1st with four games going on at the same time, we'll be giving the regions the games they want to see most. Out-of-market fans can see all the games with DirecTV on the regular choice package and this opportunity is available to cable operators as well. For DirecTV, we'll be on channel 220, near the ESPN family of channels; the overflow channels will be next to that."

Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman :: <blank>

I would imagine he knows a more about the situation than a couple of reps.

[Oh8ch]

Nice job putting those key points together Pedro. You've got my vote.

[suza271]

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

THANKS SO MUCH.

And, excuse me for calling it Direct TV. I'm new to the whole thing, and one would assume it would have normal spelling.

Also, just so everyone is aware, the rep DID tell me one useful thing. He said that if I had good credit, I could qualify for $10 off (in addition to the $5 off for 4 months) for the first 10 months of service. So, thats $15 off the first 4 months and $10 of the other 6. If you're planning to switch you might want to ask them about that.

Or, go to Best Buy and get the free TV.

[MililaniBuckeye]

"HD (high-definition) programming is a big part of what I think we should be doing. We'll be launching with more HD than any other network launch, 85-90 percent of all programming will be in HD. With regionalizing games, on Sept 1st with four games going on at the same time, we'll be giving the regions the games they want to see most. Out-of-market fans can see all the games with DirecTV on the regular choice package and this opportunity is available to cable operators as well. For DirecTV, we'll be on channel 220, near the ESPN family of channels; the overflow channels will be next to that."

DirecTV shows all their HD broadcasts in the double-digit channels (currently 70-98)...everything else, including the 200-series channels, is non-HD. Open channels in the channel 220 area (for overflow) are 214 thru 219, 221, and 223. They are going to need to carry the games in both HD and non-HD, so if the only channel they have set aside for the games is 220 (i.e., in the non-HD section), and possibly channels immediately near 220 for the overflow games, it seems that no HD broadcasts will be available despite what they say...

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

DirecTV shows all their HD broadcasts in the double-digit channels (currently 70-98)...everything else, including the 200-series channels, is non-HD. Open channels in the channel 220 area (for overflow) are 214 thru 219, 221, and 223. They are going to need to carry the games in both HD and non-HD, so if the only channel they have set aside for the games is 220 (i.e., in the non-HD section), and possibly channels immediately near 220 for the overflow games, it seems that no HD broadcasts will be available despite what they say...

The BTN will be shown in HD on Directv. Here is a list of some others that will be added to Directv's schedule. Another sat will be launched in December. There will be more than the ones on this list, these are only the ones that have been announced.

DirecTV Confimed HD - MilwaukeeHDTV.org Forums