Big Ten Network (BTN)

[DaytonBuck]

Big Ten and Fox Announce Official Name and Unveil Logo for Big Ten Network

?The Television Home of the Big Ten Conference? Launches Mobile Tour;
First Stops are Penn State and Wisconsin this Weekend


PARK RIDGE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks today announced the official name and unveiled the logo for their 20-year broadcast partnership which from this point on will be called the Big Ten Network.
The network, which was announced in June, will launch in August 2007 and will operate 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. The Big Ten Network will be majority-owned by the Big Ten Conference, while Fox will hold a minority interest in the new network.
The Big Ten Network logo features 11 stars below the ?Big Ten Network? text representing the conference?s 11 member institutions.
?The announcement of the official name of the Big Ten Network and the development of the new logo will aid in creating brand awareness of our network nationwide,? said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany.
The Big Ten Network is dedicated to becoming the destination for Big Ten fans around the country. Showcasing a wide array of classic-to-current sports as well as original programming produced by the conference?s 11 institutions, it will be available to all carriers and distributors nationwide.
The Big Ten Network?s first affiliate, DIRECTV, will deliver the Network through its Total Choice Package to subscribers at launch. In addition to traditional distribution through cable and satellite, select Big Ten Network content will also be available through alternative media platforms such as the Internet, iPods, cell phones and/or other emerging technologies.
?Plans for the Big Ten Network are rapidly moving forward, and we are excited about the launch of our new network?s identity,? said Fox Sports Networks President Bob Thompson.
In a joint effort to provide additional information to the public, the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks will launch the Big Ten Network Mobile Tour this weekend. The mobile tour will visit Penn State University for the Michigan-Penn State football game and the University of Wisconsin for the Minnesota-Wisconsin football game.
The Big Ten Network Mobile Tour will visit member institutions throughout the 2006 football season as well as other athletic events in the winter and spring. The Mobile Tour features a branded gazebo and designated staff who will be providing information and updates regarding the Big Ten Network.

Link

[DaddyBigBucks]

With all of the griping going on regarding ESPN-U carrying the upcoming game, it is painfully obvious that this is a one-week preview of the season-long firestorm that will occur next year when the above mentioned network begins televising Big 10 games.

This post is to remind everyone that we already have a thread about this. We are certain to have a few dozen new threads started about this network as next season approaches. Those threads will all be merged with this one.

My thoughts on the issue:

Fully One hour and Seventeen minutes into the Spielman on Sports Show; they finally mentioned the word "economics" in their interminable discussion about this. Make no mistake folks; economics is what this debate is about.

Some of you think that you should be able to influence a businesses decisions by some means other than spending money with that business or choosing to not spend money with them. The only way I have ever seen this work is by filing frivolous lawsuits and having a judge agree with you. It is a common practice these days. Give it a shot.

As for further discussion on this; I have said my peace. I have no intention of debating this issue with anyone. This is a football board.

[BuckeyeMike80]

Here's a question...

Generally on Saturdays, when there are multiple games that the "four letter network" has, they tend to expand the number of channels available in the 200s on DirecTV.

I wonder if Fox will do the same?

[OSU Knights]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeMike80

Here's a question...

Generally on Saturdays, when there are multiple games that the "four letter network" has, they tend to expand the number of channels available in the 200s on DirecTV.

I wonder if Fox will do the same?

I hope they will, that would be pretty sweet if they did. Then all of my friends and I can watch the games.

[matcar]

Much has been discussed about this already, but I like what I'm reading about the Big 10 Network. According to their site, most of the games will be produced in High Definition...sweet.

Launching in August 2007, the Big Ten Network is a new cable TV channel dedicated to covering both the athletic and academic content of the Big Ten Conference. Showcasing a wide array of sports as well as original programming produced by the conference's 11 institutions, the Big Ten Network will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Big Ten Network will be available to all cable and satellite carriers and distributors nationwide. Most events and programs will be produced in High-Definition television (HDTV).
In addition to traditional distribution through cable and satellite, select Big Ten Network content will also be made available through alternative media platforms such as the Internet, iPods, cell phones and/or other emerging technologies.
Programming on the Big Ten Network will include:
35+ football games per season
At least 105 regular season men's basketball games
At least 55 regular season women's basketball games
Big Ten championship events
Archived Big Ten events, including bowl games
170 Olympic sporting events
Coaches' shows
660 hours of institutional programming

And

Football

35+ football games per season
Each school will have at least two games aired (at least one of which will be a conference game)

As has been noted elsewhere, if you are an out-of-towner, you'll need ABC, ESPN Gameplan, and Big 10 network to see all games.

[BlockOFanatic]

As has been noted elsewhere, if you are an out-of-towner, you'll need ABC, ESPN Gameplan, and Big 10 network to see all games

And even being an "In-Towner" is no guarantee. With last season's Indiana game, even people who lived in columbus couldn't watch the game unless they had ESPNU. I'm so glad I went to that game.

[cincibuck]

My first thought is skepticism. Any of you old enough to remember when a team could have only two appearances in a year? That was brought about by the MAC and a couple of other smaller conferences and so you got Kent State at Western Michigan instead of Ohio State - Illinois (back when you really wanted to see Ohio State - Illinois) If there are only 35 games you can bet your ass that you're going to see a lot of Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan State and a lot less Ohio state and Michigan. The potential to suck will be tremendous.

Then I slip into cynacism: is this the precursor to a pay as you go Big 10 Ticket... one price gets you all Big 10 football games?

[jwinslow]

Looks like I'll be using directv for satellite, as it comes with their standard package.

According to their site, most of the games will be produced in High Definition...sweet.

If they can afford it, then I'm sure ABC/ESPN will be expanding their HD coverage as well.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by cincibuck

My first thought is skepticism. Any of you old enough to remember when a team could have only two appearances in a year? That was brought about by the MAC and a couple of other smaller conferences and so you got Kent State at Western Michigan instead of Ohio State - Illinois (back when you really wanted to see Ohio State - Illinois) If there are only 35 games you can bet your ass that you're going to see a lot of Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan State and a lot less Ohio state and Michigan. The potential to suck will be tremendous.

Then I slip into cynacism: is this the precursor to a pay as you go Big 10 Ticket... one price gets you all Big 10 football games?

remember when only one maybe two games were on tv at all per week?

[CookyPuss]

Big Ten Network reaches deals with DirecTV, AT&T

Mark Silverman, president of the new network, said Friday the 24-hour sports channel has been picked up by national cable providers DirecTV and AT&T.

But the network is still in talks with 30 regional providers, including Time Warner and Comcast, to become part of basic cable packages.

[BB73]

I guess it's time for me to write Comcast and threaten to go with DirecTV if Comcast doesn't add the Big Ten Network.

[GrizzlyBuck]

I wrote a scalding letter to Time Warner about the ESPNU fiasco last year. I know that it was coercion on espins part, but I had an axe to grind with TW anyway regarding their HD package. I mentioned the Big Ten network in my letter as well. I spoke with a TW lineman the other day and he said capacity is one problem. If I understood correctly, a lot of the cable boxes out there are old and in order to offer many more channels, they might have to upgrade which would be very costly. Sounds like the old business lexicon of profits over all else.

[OSU SPORTS]

If you have Directv AND have the total choice package, The Big Ten Network is included. There seems to be a good chance of getting some older OSU games, that haven't been shown on ESPN or ESPN Classic. They mention the archives on the Big Ten Network website and "historic" footage, as well. Plus, the more games in High Def, the better. I am puzzled by the 24 hour nature of the station. Although many people complained about some Big Ten games being on ESPNU last year, some Big Ten games weren't even televised, in past few years.

[CookyPuss]

2007 Big Ten Network Prime-time Football Schedule:
Sept. 1 Indiana State at Indiana, 8 p.m. EDT
Sept. 8 Syracuse at Iowa, 7 p.m. CDT
Sept. 15 Duke at Northwestern, 7 p.m. CDT
Oct. 13 Indiana at Michigan State, 7 p.m. EDT
Nov. 3 Illinois at Minnesota, 7 p.m. CDT

I think it will have a bigger impact on tOSU basketball than football. I have Direct TV so, I'm kind of excited about being able to see more B-ball games since I do not get the Full Court package.

[OSU SPORTS]

Those are just the games that have been released so far. They plan on having 35 or more football games. I suspect that both OSU and UM will have games on the Big Ten Network.