Big Ten Breaks the Way for Conference TV
Recently, the Big Ten got word that their TV network, called “the Big Ten Network” (hey, we’re simple folk) was getting picked up by Comcast. Starting mid-August, just in time for football season, Comcast users in seven out of eight states where you’ll find Big Ten teams will be able to get the channel.
Other conferences are sitting up and taking notice. In particular, the SEC is currently exploring TV options, hopefully bringing fans “the SEC Network” within the next few years.
The Big Ten Network has a rough first year. Due to previous contracts, the network wasn’t always able to broadcast the best conference games, and few people what to watch Michigan State or Iowa when they could be watching Ohio State or Illinois.
The network will start out on the “expanded basic” Comcast package, which means that if you’re a Comcast viewer, you’ll most likely get the channel. That’s a real plus, because originally it was thought that the BTN would only be added to the premium package, which fewer people have (and let’s face it…there are few people who will switch to the much more expensive premium package JUST for the BTN).
Stewart Mandel of Inside College Football at SportsIllustrated.com has a very interesting article posted about the complexities surrounding a conference TV channel and why it works well for the Big Ten but may not work as well for the SEC. I do think, though, that in the next ten years, most of the conference will have TV channels, which will hopefully give fans everywhere more viewing options every Saturday.
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