Comments on: THE BIG TEN NETWORK: YOU, SIR, ARE PEEING ON MY LEG

By: kunal

kunal — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 06:42:44 +0000

International viewers like me are going to be left out. I have been able to catch games on espn gameplan last couple of seasons. I will be having no options this year.
Given how international the big ten schools have become, it is sad that they have no internet strategy in place to accommodate their international viewers.
I am done contributing to my schools(illinois) sports funds. I hope they make enough $$ out of this network.

By: domerdana

domerdana — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:51:36 +0000

Agree with “Run up the Score”.

Why DID PSU join the Big Ten?

Arguably, PSU was probably one of the only schools that could have remained independent in football and pulled a Notre Dame by joining the Big East in other sports.

If anything the Big East would have been more compelling given their long time rivalries with Pitt and WVU.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:21:42 +0000

Okay, so this might sound like a dumb question, but will the BTN be in the BIG TEN DORM ROOMS? Here at Michigan, we get comcast, so, ummm, WTF?

By: Boclive

Boclive — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:25:55 +0000

Since I am unlikely to spend one red cent on subscribing to “the big 10 network” this is going to negatively inpact my big ten football nap on the couch.
(The best Saturday naps ever, and you know what I mean).

Thankfully, there is still the Altel Cup Series in Nascar.

By: jebushchrist

jebushchrist — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:04:35 +0000

#37:
That is the most egregious mistake I’ve ever made in my life.

By: Coop

Coop — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:38:49 +0000

#26 – I think you meant Pam Ward, not Ryan.

And, yes, she is not pleasant to look at.

By: Papa Lou BSU

Papa Lou BSU — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:24:10 +0000

“I’ll add the $1.10 a month to the amount I spend on season tickets, the Wolverine magazine, UM apparel, my Rival’s premium account, etc.”

$1.10 is what Big Ten Network wants to charge Comcast per subscriber. The actual consumer cost will probably be at least twice that (or did you think Comcast was going provide the new channel at cost?)

I have less of an issue with this when it’s packaged on the premium sports tier, where those who want it can pay for it.

The problem, even in an alleged Big Ten “home market” like Chicago (where there are nevertheless millions of us who aren’t Big Ten fans and could not care less about that overrated league), comes when the BTN is trying to get their fledgling channel on the basic tier. At those prices, such a move would cause an increase in already sky-high cable rates, essentially forcing non-Big Ten fans to subsidize Big Can’t Count fans’ viewing habits.

And if recent history is any indication, Comcast’s basic tier is full, so not only would I have to pay an extra three bucks per month so that John Q. Hawkeye down the street can watch his team’s riveting matchup against the league’s last-place team, but I’d also be losing a channel I currently receive to do so. And not some crappy, fly-by-night home shopping channel, either. The Travel Channel and ESPN Classic have both been shuffled off to the premium tier in recent years to make room for new arrivals.

Thus, I appreciate Comcast CEO’s quote along the lines of “screw that noise” in the linked NYT piece.

By: PJ from NU in SF

PJ from NU in SF — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:01:13 +0000

SKLM, you’re right. We really should rename it the First Conference, and be done with it.

Wooderson, not all of the Big 10’s public (ok, PSU is semi-public) members are land grant schools. Indiana, Iowa, Michigan are not. As far as the red-headed stepchild, NU is closer to being the cousin everyone sucks up to because he has a cool place to crash, but secretly resents because of his trust fund.

By: paulwesterdawg

paulwesterdawg — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:57:48 +0000

Reason #531 games are better in person:

Hot Co-ed 1: “We don’t have any seats near here.”

Hot Co-ed 2: “But….If we play with each others’ boobs for a while, will you let us sqeeze into your row?”

Westerdawg’s Row (In unison): “YES!”

That’s not really related to this thread. I just wanted to mention it.

By: Ghost of Carl Monday

Ghost of Carl Monday — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:42:53 +0000

I wonder if Tom Hammond’s 5-head gets in the way when he’s eating Charlie Weiss’s 3-hole out

By: Wooderson

Wooderson — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:42:32 +0000

SKLM,

I have to agree, State Penn is NOT one of the elite Big 1? members. Losing to Minnesota (multiple times) would help support that point.

By: Out of Conference

Out of Conference — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:13:10 +0000

You guys are being way too critical. Come on think about it. The worst qualities of every regional sports stations (Fox Sports, YES), plus a million of those touchy “behind the athlete” stories that we love during the Olympics, plus coverage of indoor track events, plus a game or two a week on taped-delay not covered by anyone else, and throw in 12-hours a day of informercials, and shazzam we have (insert conference name) TV! Open your minds, fools!

By: Run Up The Score

Run Up The Score — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:03:09 +0000

They really should just name it Big Televen and get it over with.

Better yet, Penn State should leave. I’d be so down with that.

By: jebushchrist

jebushchrist — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:00:42 +0000

#28 :
Remember when Penn State beat Iowa? No, seriously, do you? I don’t. Penn St is not one of the big 3 of anything unless you’re talking about most inaccurately names cities.

By: Stacy Keibler Luvs Me

Stacy Keibler Luvs Me — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:40:12 +0000

Grouchy Monday Morning QB:

BIG 10? Ridiculous. It is really Big 3 (Mich, tOSU & Penn St.) + Mid-Size 2 or 3 + MIDGET 5 or so.

BIG 10? Why not call it “Great 10″, like Britain named itself.

BIG 10? Re-change that awful name to something more accurate and descriptive -> Mid-West 10+Hicksville 1 (Penn State)