Big Ten Network (BTN)

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by jwinslow

I thought one of the networks was looking promising... check back thru the thread for confirmation on that, however.

I have not heard anything promising (that was credible) on Time Warner.Yes. Call your local sports bar/restaurant if you want confirmation.

At this point, the only major player that might reach a deal is the Dish network. They are direct competitors of Directv and need every single channel they can obtain. Don't expect Time Warner to sign up the BTN anytime soon.

As I have previously stated in this thread, Comcast is one of the worst companies on the planet. I'm not talking about just the cable industry. They have been exposed in another scam. They hired a public relations firm in Lansing Michigan, Martin Waymire Advocacy Communications to bash the Big Ten Network on message boards and get favorable articles in newspapers.

I have no problem with a company getting their message out, but hiring a public relations firm, who in turn poses as students on message boards is sad, indeed. These are tactics usually reserved for those dirty political races we all hate. If you click on "Our Services" on the Waymire website, it states they have many contacts at newspapers. So I'm sure this PR firm is responsible, in part, for the many anti-BTN articles we see everyday. I'm sure that this PR firm in Michigan isn't the ony company hired by Comcast in the 8 state region of the Big Ten Network to promote a negative campaign.

Comcast routinely sues it's business partners at the drop of a hat to gain any contractual advantage they can, but this is the absolute rock bottom Comcast Posing as Big Ten Fans in Anti-BTN Astroturfing Campaign - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates

[sandgk]

That is hilarious!

Their over the top web pulpit is found here.

[akronbuck]

college football is monopolizing a none paid sport and it just makes me sick so they should Pay the players/teams we watch. It sounds like a political scam to me done by the schools.

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by sandgk

That is hilarious!

Their over the top web pulpit is found here.

If you click on, About Us, it states that they "currently receive corporate suport from Comcast".

Check out this thread and the "message" posted by the "MSU" student(PR Firm employee). If you scroll down the thread, there are links to a NW board and UM board, and the same exact message blasting the BTN. Comcast should have hired the Fred Flintstone Agency instead of these clowns

Wake up Martin Waymire Advocacy Communications! (Comcast hired site posing as BT fan) - SpartanTailgate.com - Michigan State Spartans Forums

By the time I was ready to post this message they removed the fake MSU student post with the statement about not putting spam on the site. . If you scroll down to the Wildcat link, you will see the same message posted by the same PR empoyee/fake MSU student, who uses the handle Victory4MSU20.

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by akronbuck

college football is monopolizing a none paid sport and it just makes me sick so they should Pay the players/teams we watch. It sounds like a political scam to me done by the schools.

It has nothing to do with the schools, it's funded by the cable companies. That is obvious. The fake web site is funded by Comcast.

[fanaticbuckeye]

Originally Posted by OSU SPORTS

At this point, the only major player that might reach a deal is the Dish network. They are direct competitors of Directv and need every single channel they can obtain. Don't expect Time Warner to sign up the BTN anytime soon.

As I have previously stated in this thread, Comcast is one of the worst companies on the planet. I'm not talking about just the cable industry. They have been exposed in another scam. They hired a public relations firm in Lansing Michigan, Martin Waymire Advocacy Communications to bash the Big Ten Network on message boards and get favorable articles in newspapers.

I have no problem with a company getting their message out, but hiring a public relations firm, who in turn poses as students on message boards is sad, indeed. These are tactics usually reserved for those dirty political races we all hate. If you click on "Our Services" on the Waymire website, it states they have many contacts at newspapers. So I'm sure this PR firm is responsible, in part, for the many anti-BTN articles we see everyday. I'm sure that this PR firm in Michigan isn't the ony company hired by Comcast in the 8 state region of the Big Ten Network to promote a negative campaign.

Comcast routinely sues it's business partners at the drop of a hat to gain any contractual advantage they can, but this is the absolute rock bottom Comcast Posing as Big Ten Fans in Anti-BTN Astroturfing Campaign - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates

Where are you getting the information about Dish Network? I am not saying I dont believe you, I have Dish Network and have been unsuccessfuly in finding anything concrete about their negotiations.

Thanks.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Originally Posted by OSU SPORTS

... If you scroll down to the Wildcat link, you will see the same message posted by the same PR empoyee/fake MSU student, who uses the handle Victory4MSU20.

Yeah, Victory4MSU420 made his way over here to get permabanned as well.

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by fanaticbuckeye

Where are you getting the information about Dish Network? I am not saying I dont believe you, I have Dish Network and have been unsuccessfuly in finding anything concrete about their negotiations.

Thanks.

PLease keep in mind that I used the word "might". My statement stems from the actions of Dish. They filed a brief with the FCC to try to get the BTN classified as a Regional Sports Network to circumvent the price structure. You don't go to this much trouble if you aren't interested in obtaining the BTN. They are trying to get the best deal they can. Recent statements by Silverman were favorable, in regards to Dish. The most compelling reason is that Directv is their "direct" competitor. Unlike cable customers, Dish realizes the transition from one sat provider to another is an easy one for customers who already have a sat service. Sometimes a cable customer doesn't understand the benefits of sat service or just doesn't want to bother having a dish on their house.

The other aspect is programming. The Dish already trails Directv with the NFL Sunday Ticket. Directv has announced the addition of more HD content this fall(100 projected new HD channels in the next year). This puts Dish in an awkward position. Even if they could car less about the sports content of the BTN, they have little choice. There are a lot of Dish Customers that reside in the 8 state region of the Big Ten. These customers might not switch for the BTN alone, but throw in the additional HD content and you have a great reason to switch. On top of those reasons, Directv has a very agressive sales campaign that is offering a lot of incentives for new customers. BTW, here is a partial listing of upcoming HD additions DirecTV Confimed HD - MilwaukeeHDTV.org Forums

So let's examine the ACTIONS, not words, of 3 of the main players in this situation. First Time Warner, their track record with ESPNU. It took a year for them to pick it up. Then they are involved in the absurd "free preview" idea of showing the BTN, without signing an agreement with the BTN. It's doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar to know that's not going to be given any consideration by anyone with a hearbeat at the BTN. Why waste time with such an obvious ploy.

Next up is Comcast. I only have limited space, so I won't be too long on this sleaze driven, litigation happy company. They hire a public relations firm to bash the BTN and to supply newspapers with anti BTN articles. Then the utltimate phony message. They dedicate a channel with a picure of the Big Ten Network Logo and then state that the channel is reserved for the BTN "pending permission from the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks", and then below the ad, they give you a link to their website, putting fans first.

Last up is Dish. Even when Dish filed with the FCC, that was a positive sign. They want the package, they just want the right price. They are the only one that has made any real attempt to negotiate.

[osugrad21]

I quit reading a while ago...so simple question.

As a resident of SC with Time Warner cable, I need to go ahead and cancel my ESPN Gameplan and accept the fact that I am likely headed to a sports bar every weekend that the Bucks aren't on primetime?

[OSU SPORTS]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

I quit reading a while ago...so simple question.

As a resident of SC with Time Warner cable, I need to go ahead and cancel my ESPN Gameplan and accept the fact that I am likely headed to a sports bar every weekend that the Bucks aren't on primetime?

It won't be so bad during football season, but if you are an OSU basketball fan, it will hurt. There might be as many as 15 OSU games(including the Big Ten tourney)on the BTN.

[buckiprof]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

I quit reading a while ago...so simple question.

As a resident of SC with Time Warner cable, I need to go ahead and cancel my ESPN Gameplan and accept the fact that I am likely headed to a sports bar every weekend that the Bucks aren't on primetime?

Plan on any OSU game not picked by ABC or ESPN/ESPN2 being your ticket to go to a sports bar. I am in the same boat as you on this one .

[osugrad21]

Originally Posted by buckiprof

Plan on any OSU game not picked by ABC or ESPN/ESPN2 being your ticket to go to a sports bar. I am in the same boat as you on this one .

When will we know which games are picked for regional ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 coverage? If its is even just a few games that I can get, I will keep gameplan..but I was under the impression that unless the game is one of the primetime night games, it will not be on gameplan.

[Cincinnatibuck]

There will be no Big Ten games on Gameplan. Here's the games on the BTN the first three weeks:
Saturday, September 1

Appalachian State at Michigan, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Youngstown State at Ohio State, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Florida International at Penn State, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Northeastern at Northwestern, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Bowling Green at Minnesota, 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT

Indiana State at Indiana, 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT

Saturday, September 8

Akron at Ohio State, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Nevada at Northwestern, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Bowling Green at Michigan State, Noon EDT/11a.m. CDT

Miami (Ohio) at Minnesota, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Eastern Illinois at Purdue, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Western Illinois at Illinois, 7 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. CDT

Syracuse at Iowa, 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT

Saturday, September 15

The Citadel at Wisconsin, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Buffalo at Penn State, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Akron at Indiana, Noon EDT/11 a.m. CDT

Duke at Northwestern, 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT

[t_BuckeyeScott]

If you notice the commercials, gameplan will not carry any Big10 games. Unless you just want to see more non-B10 games gameplan will not help you. You will not see any OSU games on gameplan.

[suza271]

I have a question.

What happens when ABC picks up an OSU game for regional coverage and I live in VA. Lets also say, ABC picks up the VA Tech game at the same time for another region. I would of course get Tech. If I have DTV will I still be able to see the OSU game? What happens to it if it's not on Gameplan?