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Joined: 2/6/2007
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Comcast, Big Ten Network Reach Broad Multimedia Agreement For Big Ten Network Content
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Courtesy: OhioStateBuckeyes.com
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Release: 06/19/2008
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Comcast
customers to receive Big Ten Network HD, Big Ten Network high-speed
Internet content through Comcast.net; and condensed game replays and
other programs through Comcast On Demand
Philadelphia and Chicago – Comcast Corporation and the Big
Ten Network announced today that they have reached a long-term
multimedia agreement for Comcast to carry Big Ten Network programming
across television, broadband and video-on-demand in time for the 2008
college football season. Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will initially
launch the network as part of its expanded basic level of service to
promote it to the majority of its customers residing in states with Big
Ten universities (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) starting August 15th. (Comcast does not
have systems in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.) In Spring 2009,
Comcast may elect to move the network to a broadly distributed digital
level of service in most of its systems in these states. Comcast’s
digital customers in the Big Ten states will also have immediate access
to live Big Ten games and events in high definition, Big Ten
programming via Comcast’s video-on-demand platform, and a wide array of
conference-related content through Comcast.net. Outside of the Big Ten states that Comcast serves, Comcast has
the option to provide Big Ten Network programming on any level of
service, including its Sports Entertainment Package. Officials from Comcast and Big Ten Network said they look
forward to utilizing both traditional and emerging media to bring more
Big Ten programming to fans than was ever available to them before. “We are very pleased with the agreement we have reached with
the Big Ten Network to carry hundreds of live Big Ten events,” said
Madison Bond, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Comcast
Cable. “We will be providing our customers with Big Ten programming
through our signature video-on-demand service, and will have lots of
highlights, replays, scores and more through Comcast.net so fans can
keep pace with Big Ten action whenever they want to.” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the network is
thrilled to have Comcast as a distribution partner. “This agreement
allows us to reach many more Big Ten fans with our programming because
of the high concentration of Comcast subscribers in Big Ten states.
With the Comcast deal now in place, the Big Ten Network will be
available to more than two-thirds of all homes in Big Ten Country.” Big Ten Network already produces more high-definition
television content than any new sports network in television history.
Over the next year, more than 400 live Big Ten sporting events will be
carried by the Big Ten Network in high definition, including football,
men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball and soccer, as well as
other NCAA-sponsored sports. Comcast’s digital customers who receive the network will have
On Demand access to programming such as weekly extended highlights and
condensed game replays from around the conference, classic Big Ten
sporting events, bowl game coverage and coaches’ shows, plus original
campus programming and nightly studio shows from Big Ten Network, most
of which is available in high definition. Comcast also has the ability to deliver much of that same
content to its Comcast High Speed Internet customers via the company’s
Comcast.net portal. Additionally, Comcast has the rights to carry
certain network content on Fancast.com. Gene Smith, Ohio State director of athletics
Statement on the Comcast Corporation agreement with the Big Ten Network.
“We
are delighted Comcast is the latest entity to carry Big Ten Network
programming,” Smith said. “We feel hopeful this development will lead
to better negotiations with Time Warner Cable. The partnership with
Comcast demonstrates the Big Ten is flexible in trying to provide our
fans with high quality programming from the 11 campuses.” About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation
(Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation's leading
provider of entertainment, information and communications products and
services. With 24.7 million cable customers, 14.1 million high-speed
Internet customers, and 5.2 million voice customers, Comcast is
principally involved in the development, management and operation of
broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content. Comcast's content networks and investments include E!
Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4,
PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, ten Comcast SportsNet networks and Comcast
Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet
business. Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor,
whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team,
the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose
arenas in Philadelphia. About the Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Network is
dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member
institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an
extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original
programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and
associated personalities. Sports programming includes live coverage of
more major men's and women's events than ever before, along with news,
highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of
university-produced campus programming. The network is available to all
cable and satellite carriers and television distributors nationwide,
with most programs offered in stunning high-definition television
(HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of
the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1481874
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Joined: 2/6/2007
Posts: 747
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Big Ten Network: Comcast deal won't have much effect in Ohio
Friday,
June 20, 2008 2:53 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Big Ten Network and Comcast, the nation's largest cable provider, yesterday announced a
long-term multimedia agreement for Comcast to carry Big Ten Network programming across television,
broadband and video-on-demand starting with the 2008 college football season.
The deal calls for the network to appear on Comcast's expanded basic cable at no additional cost
to subscribers during the upcoming football and basketball seasons but will give Comcast the right
to move the network to its higher-priced digital cable service next year.
Comcast has agreed to pay about 70 cents per subscriber to the Big Ten, which had sought $1.10.
It's the first major cable operator to agree to carry the network.
Even with the deal, only 40 percent of Ohio households with cable and satellite service will
have access to the Big Ten Network, compared with 89, 83 and 79 percent in the respective
neighboring states of Indiana, Pennsylvania and Michigan, according to the network.
The agreement leaves Time Warner, central Ohio's market leader, as the nation's largest cable
provider without an agreement with the Big Ten Network. Time Warner spokeswoman Judy Barbao said
the company "had some good talks this spring" with the network and is looking forward to more talks
this summer.
"We're hoping to get a deal done before football season," Barbao said.
The network is available on central Ohio's two other cable providers, Insight and Wide Open
West; AT&T U-verse, which is transmitted over phone lines; and DirecTV and Dish satellite
services. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/06/20/big_ten_network20.ART_ART_06-20-08_C3_6VAHSH4.html?sid=101
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Joined: 2/6/2007
Posts: 747
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OSU football: Three games picked up by Big Ten Network
Youngstown State, Troy games will air there, plus a league game
Thursday,
July 3, 2008 3:25 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State football fans who don't get the Big Ten Network on their cable television system
might miss only three games this season, rather than the four they missed in 2007.
The network announced yesterday that it will broadcast the Buckeyes' games against Youngstown
State on Aug. 30 and Troy on Sept. 20. Both are noon kickoffs.
One of Ohio State's Big Ten conference games will be on the Big Ten Network, as well. The
agreement between the conference and network guarantees each team one conference game on the
network. That will be decided later, either six or 12 days before the game.
But that's probably it, because the Buckeyes' other two nonconference games have been spoken
for.
The Big Ten announced yesterday that the Sept. 6 game against Ohio University will be at noon on
ESPN or ESPN2.
It was previously announced that a game Sept. 13 at Southern California will be nationally
televised at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Last season, four Ohio State games were on the Big Ten Network: Youngstown State, Akron, Kent
State and Wisconsin.
The Big Ten Network was launched in August 2007 and still is not available to about 60 percent
of Ohio households that have cable or satellite service.
It remains unavailable on Time Warner, central Ohio's largest provider. Area residents with
Insight or Wide Open West cable service have the network, as well as subscribers to AT&T
U-Verse and satellite providers DirecTV and Dish.
In June, the Big Ten Network reached agreement with Comcast, which doubled the network's number
of subscribers in the eight-state conference region.
Network spokeswoman Elizabeth Conlisk said Ohio and Wisconsin, which also is dominated by Time
Warner, remain the states with the least network access.
"We're in conversations with Time Warner and we're hopeful," Conlisk said. "The mere fact (of
the Comcast agreement) is helpful."
Two other Ohio State start times were previously announced: at Wisconsin on Oct. 4 and against
Penn State on Oct. 25 will be 8 p.m. kickoffs. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2008/07/03/osu_fb03.ART_ART_07-03-08_C2_NJALBEV.html?sid=101
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Joined: 2/6/2007
Posts: 747
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Big Ten Network
TV talks continue, but time almost up
Saturday,
August 9, 2008 3:12 AM
The Columbus Dispatch
Still huddling with time running out.
That's the status of talks between Time Warner Cable and the
year-old Big Ten Network as Ohio State's season opener in football
approaches.
Negotiators for the dominant cable provider in central Ohio and the
network continue to meet to avoid a repeat of last season, when many
fans had no access to four OSU games broadcast by the network.
Time Warner spokeswoman Judy Barbao said the plan is to strike a
deal before Aug. 30, when the Buckeyes play host to Youngstown State on
the Big Ten Network.
The president of the Big Ten Network, though, is worried that time is slipping away.
"We're definitely concerned that the pace of negotiations isn't moving quickly enough," Mark Silverman told The Dispatch.
"We've had some preliminary talks with Time Warner, but we hope they
will become more substantive quickly. There's still time, but we're a
long way apart, and we've got a lot of ground to cover."
The stakes rose yesterday when it was learned that Ohio State's Big
Ten opener -- Sept. 27 against Minnesota -- is likely to be shown on
the Big Ten Network. That would place three of the Buckeyes' first five
games -- Youngstown State, Troy (Sept. 20) and Minnesota -- on the Big
Ten Network.
The network is likely to pick up a second conference game.
Silverman wouldn't specify any sticking points between the sides. "It's not one area -- we're significantly apart," he said.
In June, the Big Ten Network reached a deal with Philadelphia-based
Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, to carry its programming
on expanded basic cable in states with Big Ten schools. Comcast will
pay the network about 70 cents per customer. Starting next spring,
Comcast has the option of moving the network to a digital level of
service in markets where most customers already subscribe to digital.
The deal -- which gave the Big Ten the basic-cable exposure it
wanted while giving Comcast flexibility to shift the network to
higher-priced services -- could provide a framework for Time Warner,
the nation's second-largest provider.
It serves about 40 percent of central Ohio households.
"The fact that the Big Ten Network was able to reach an agreement
with Comcast was encouraging," Barbao said. "We are committed to doing
what we can to get a deal done."
Even with Comcast on board, less than half of Ohio households with
cable and satellite service will have access to the Big Ten Network,
compared with 89 percent in Indiana, 83 percent in Pennsylvania and 79
percent in Michigan, according to the network.
The network is available on central Ohio's two other cable
providers, Insight and Wide Open West; AT&T U-verse, which is
transmitted over phone lines; and DirecTV and Dish satellite services.
[email protected]
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Joined: 2/6/2007
Posts: 747
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College football
Time Warner Cable, Big Ten Network reach deal
Tuesday,
August 26, 2008 3:16 AM
The Columbus Dispatch
Chalk up a victory for Buckeye fans in a struggle between two national powers.
Late last night, Time Warner Cable and the Big Ten Network reached a deal allowing the country's
second-largest cable company to carry the year-old network's programming.
That means Ohio State football fans who subscribe to Time Warner will be able to watch the
team's season opener Saturday against Youngstown State -- and subsequent games carried by the
network -- from the comfort of home.
The agreement ends a yearlong stalemate between the dominant cable company in central Ohio and
BTN, which is to broadcast three of the first five OSU games this season, including the Sept. 27
Big Ten opener against Minnesota.
Terms of the agreement were not immediately available, but Time Warner and network officials
issued the following joint statement last night:
"Time Warner Cable and the Big Ten Network announced that they have reached an
agreement-in-principle on terms of carriage for the Big Ten Network and its high-definition and
video-on-demand programming on Time Warner Cable's lineups throughout the Big Ten territory,
including Ohio and Wisconsin.
"The pending agreement will ensure that Time Warner Cable's customers across these Big Ten
states will have access to this Saturday's Big Ten college-football season openers and all future
Big Ten Network programming on an expanded basic level of service."
In an e-mail last night, Time Warner spokeswoman Judy Barbao said: "We worked hard to ensure an
agreement that was in the best interest of our customers, and we believe it's a fair deal."
BTN spokeswoman Elizabeth Conlisk said the deal gives both sides enough time to prepare for the
weekend. "It will take effect in time for everyone to catch the Big Ten action Saturday," she
said.
The channel location and other details are expected to be available today. With negotiations
dragging on, the two sides appeared headed nowhere in recent days as the season neared.
Last week, OSU Athletics Director Gene Smith urged fans and alumni to consider switching from
Time Warner to another provider offering the Big Ten Network.
Time Warner Cable cried foul, accusing him of taking sides and of falsely claiming that the
company didn't want to carry the network.
Before the agreement, about 70 percent of homes in Big Ten states had access to BTN, compared
with about 40 percent in Ohio.
In central Ohio, the network also is available on cable providers Insight and Wide Open West;
AT&T U-verse, which is transmitted over phone lines; and DirecTV and Dish satellite
services.
South Side resident Jim Maley, a lifelong Buckeye fan and years-long Time Warner subscriber, was
pleased to hear about the deal but said he would have survived without it.
Maley, 53, said he thought the cable company had made fair-enough offers and the Big Ten Network
"was holding them hostage."
"I think Time Warner was doing the best it could for those who wanted the Big Ten Network."
Had an agreement eluded the two parties, Maley said, he had a fallback plan for the Buckeye
games.
"I probably would have listened to them on the radio, like I did last year -- like the old
days."
[email protected]
[email protected]
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