Big Ten Network (BTN)

[Cincinnatibuck]

Big Ten Network High Definition is now on Directv Ch. 220

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by Cincinnatibuck

Big Ten Network High Definition is now on Directv Ch. 220

Discussions of reception quality and full list of channels as they roll out on DBSTalk.com

[Thump]

Originally Posted by Cincinnatibuck

Big Ten Network High Definition is now on Directv Ch. 220

Did it just come out this morning b/c as of last night, it was still in the old signal.

[Thump]

DIRECTV: DIRECTV - HD Programming

[DaddyBigBucks]

[BuckeyeNation27]

Originally Posted by heisman

Correct, along with Ntre Ame vs. UCLA. So, regional coverage, which means if you are out of the region, you can only get it on gameplan. It should be interesting for me living in Chicago. Big Ten HQ's are here, but it's NoD's biggest fan base, who are they going to show?

I thought the Big Ten was no longer on GamePlan.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNation27

I thought the Big Ten was no longer on GamePlan.

Iowa/Wiscy was available on GamePlan last Saturday night (at least for me). I didn't bother paying for it though.

[Thump]

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

Iowa/Wiscy was available on GamePlan last Saturday night (at least for me). I didn't bother paying for it though.

That's b/c it was an ABC game with another game on that same time slot.

[OWUBuckeye51]

Originally Posted by Thump

DIRECTV: DIRECTV - HD Programming

I know that BTN was promoting the fact that their marquee game this weekend (maybe Penn State vs Illinois?) is in HD...they weren't promoting the cable/satellite platform though.

[heisman]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNation27

I thought the Big Ten was no longer on GamePlan.

I thought the same thing before the season started. The MSU vs. Wisky game is on gameplan this Saturday as well. That game will be available on ABC throughout Big Ten country, so probably not as big of an issue as the following week when NoD is the other regional game opposing ours vs. Purdue. I think we've been sold a bill of goods by BTN.

[cincibuck]

Originally Posted by heisman

I thought the same thing before the season started. The MSU vs. Wisky game is on gameplan this Saturday as well. That game will be available on ABC throughout Big Ten country, so probably not as big of an issue as the following week when NoD is the other regional game opposing ours vs. Purdue. I think we've been sold a bill of goods by BTN.

Yep. You knew they were in trouble when the games you wanted to see, Penn state - Notre Dame, Michigan - Notre Dame, MSU - Notre Dame, Purdue - Notre Dame, OSU - Washington, Penn State - Michigan etc. Were offered up to the networks first.

Outside of we Buckeye fans who cared if OSU - Akron was not available in the mainstream market?

The product wasn't seen as "worth it" to cable carriers. It didn't help that the Big 10 is having a very down year.

The SEC, especially given the regional appeal of those teams, may succeed where the BTN fails.

[Buck94]

Originally Posted by cincibuck

The SEC, especially given the regional appeal of those teams, may succeed where the BTN fails.

I totally agree that the SEC will have a more rabid appeal locally and will put more pressure on the carriers, but I do not agree with your assertion that the BTN is failing. Maybe I missed some of your other points.

Sure, the games being carried this season are not compelling, but that trend will change year over year as more games move away from ESPN/ABC. When the MBB season starts up, the pressure will pick back up on the cable companies who have not decided to carry the network.

This time around, those companies will not have near the strength of argument that "the BTN is too expensive and will result in a higher cable bill and that it is a niche' channel". Although some may still agree with this, the fact that every carrier who signed with the BTN was able to do so without raising rates, shoots a big hole in that argument.

[Thump]

Watched the replay of the 2000 NW vs. scUM game last night that was 54-51 NW.

[Dryden]

Originally Posted by heisman

I think we've been sold a bill of goods by BTN.

There are other varsity sports besides football.

When up to 15 mens basketball games, per program, get moved over to BTN, plus the Big Ten Tournament, the cable companies will finally fold.

BTN made a reach with football, underestimating the resourcefulness of the fans to find a way to view three preferred games over three months. Fans in markets such as Illinois, Indiana, and East Lansing, I'm sure, were never terribly concerned about having 1/4th of their football season blacked out anyway. These basketball schools will lead the charge come December, though.

[mooktarr]

Originally Posted by Thump

Watched the replay of the 2000 NW vs. scUM game last night that was 54-51 NW.

I watched that too, Thump. NW was feeling it.