BTN Network Reaches Midseason Form; How's it Doing?
October 16 2007 08:40 PM -- Filed in: Media | Sam Anderson
Note: If you find this topic outdated, be sure to
realize that the Big Ten Network (BTN) is going to be
carrying close to 50% of Buckeye basketball games
this year too. If football didn’t make you
switch, will basketball?
While much of the dust has settled from the initial wave of disgust, I thought it might be good to evaluate the channel now that it has been airing for almost two months. WOW has closed a deal with the BTN but obviously many fans who are subscribers to the three largest cable providers (which includes Time Warner) are still in the dark. I am a subscriber to the Buckeye Cable System and have received the network from day one. I will outline a few major items of the BTN and encourage any kind of feedback.
Throughout the first two months, the content certainly doesn’t warrant paying an extra dollar a month. The BTN happened to get lucky and carry the Michigan vs. Appalachian State fiasco but truthfully, on a day to day basis, the network is entirely unexciting. There is a reason why only 200 people show for the Northwestern vs. Penn State woman’s soccer game. While it is great to broadcast it, does it warrant an extra charge? I think not.
Content certainly relates to price as Time Warner’s (and Comcast's) biggest gripe is that while it may be a good idea for a few football Saturday’s in the fall, what about the rest of the year? All Big Ten sports are great, but is it reasonable to charge everyone extra to be able to view Wisconsin take on Iowa in Track and Field? Football games do not take place every weekend throughout the entire year.
The BTN will continue to frustrate fans who are not subscribers come basketball season as the BTN already has 7 Buckeye games scheduled to air exclusively on the network. In fact, that number is likely to grow as times and slots are finalized. Games to be aired on BTN include the Illinois game in Columbus as well as the Purdue game in West Lafayette.
Perhaps what bothers me the most is the fashion in which the BTN/Fox is conducting business. At its most basic level, the Big Ten and Fox decided to create a network to make a profit without considering the fans that lose out in the situation. Games are being aired that fans are unable to watch in the confines of their homes because of a deal that can’t be reached with the three main providers. And this alone falls at the feet of the BTN for their inability to sell their own station and offer a agreeable terms. For these negotiations to be going on during a season in which everyone is held captive is nothing short of pathetic regardless of which party is holding out. Clearly the focus is not on the fans.
While much of the dust has settled from the initial wave of disgust, I thought it might be good to evaluate the channel now that it has been airing for almost two months. WOW has closed a deal with the BTN but obviously many fans who are subscribers to the three largest cable providers (which includes Time Warner) are still in the dark. I am a subscriber to the Buckeye Cable System and have received the network from day one. I will outline a few major items of the BTN and encourage any kind of feedback.
Throughout the first two months, the content certainly doesn’t warrant paying an extra dollar a month. The BTN happened to get lucky and carry the Michigan vs. Appalachian State fiasco but truthfully, on a day to day basis, the network is entirely unexciting. There is a reason why only 200 people show for the Northwestern vs. Penn State woman’s soccer game. While it is great to broadcast it, does it warrant an extra charge? I think not.
Content certainly relates to price as Time Warner’s (and Comcast's) biggest gripe is that while it may be a good idea for a few football Saturday’s in the fall, what about the rest of the year? All Big Ten sports are great, but is it reasonable to charge everyone extra to be able to view Wisconsin take on Iowa in Track and Field? Football games do not take place every weekend throughout the entire year.
The BTN will continue to frustrate fans who are not subscribers come basketball season as the BTN already has 7 Buckeye games scheduled to air exclusively on the network. In fact, that number is likely to grow as times and slots are finalized. Games to be aired on BTN include the Illinois game in Columbus as well as the Purdue game in West Lafayette.
Perhaps what bothers me the most is the fashion in which the BTN/Fox is conducting business. At its most basic level, the Big Ten and Fox decided to create a network to make a profit without considering the fans that lose out in the situation. Games are being aired that fans are unable to watch in the confines of their homes because of a deal that can’t be reached with the three main providers. And this alone falls at the feet of the BTN for their inability to sell their own station and offer a agreeable terms. For these negotiations to be going on during a season in which everyone is held captive is nothing short of pathetic regardless of which party is holding out. Clearly the focus is not on the fans.
