Many of you may remember the "war of words" that Bill Martin engaged in with Comcast over the Big Ten Network. In fact, he posted two letters on mgoblue.com discussing the issues. Well, apparently Gene Smith (tUOS' director of athletics) has fired the next shot........this time at Time Warner.There's a glaring difference between the letters, however. Bill Martin speaks to the economic forces involved, the duplicity of Comcast, and the benefits of the BTN:
"The Big Ten Network is about more than just the 40 football games produced each year. We will have at least 13 men's basketball games on the BTN, at least seven of which are conference games. In total the BTN will broadcast 140 men's basketball games and 55 women's basketball games. In the past, coverage of our men's basketball game was sporadic at best (last year 10 games weren't covered at all, and 11 games were syndicated with limited local coverage), and coverage of women's basketball was virtually non-existent. When the BTN achieves its distribution goals, coverage for all of our sports will be much broader and deeper.The Big Ten Network is also more than just sports - it is really an extension of our schools, with 660 hours of campus programming and a dedication to no alcohol advertising and event-equity for men's and women's sports. We believe the network is totally in line with the values of our conference, institutions and fans."
Gene Smith's letter?????
"As the network enters it's second season, we are proud of all the Ohio State programming on the network and we are proud of how the network represents the rest of the Big Ten. In its first year on the air, the Big Ten Network featured more than 200 hours of Buckeye programming,
including four football games, 22 men's and women's basketball games and two Buckeye classics, the 2003 National Championship victory over Miami and the thrilling 2006 defeat of Michigan." (emphasis added)He also points out to his readers "Seven in 10 homes in the Big Ten states now have the network, versus 4 in Ohio. It is a shame that due to Time Warner's decision, nearly all Michigan fans have the network, but Buckeye fans do not."
That's right Geney. We win. You lose. No matter how much you pound on us on the football field we still trump. In fact, this week's BTN programming is ALL Michigan ALL the time. On Tuesday (Aug. 26), the Network will air Big Ten Legends: Lloyd Carr, debuting at 6 p.m., followed by the kickoff of season two of The Big Ten’s Greatest Games, which will feature Michigan’s 2000 Orange Bowl overtime win against Alabama, beginning at 7 p.m. (yeah, season premiere of Greatest Game doesn't involve you!) Then on Friday (Aug. 29) at 8:30 p.m., the Wolverines will be the focus on the season premiere of Big Ten Friday Night Tailgate presented by Nissan. This weekend will also mark the debut of former Wolverine tight end Tony McGee on the Big Ten Network. McGee joins the BTN this season as an analyst during the network's weekend football coverage.
So maybe you don't really want the BTN afterall........
HT: SiC
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8 comments:
apparently, they got the deal done...
having been in Ohio this month, there has definitely been some outrage by folks worried they wouldn't get the games AGAIN when most other folks in B10 territory would clearly have reasonable access.
Link
The deal got done. I am glad that the good people from the state of Ohio get to watch the 1969 Michigan OSU game replay.
thank god. we have Insight (which signed last August). my in-laws & a large number of the extended family/friends lived in Time Warner areas.
guess who had a houseful of f'ing tosu fans in his family room every time the sucks were on BTN?
maybe i'll get lucky and the wife will go to THEIR houses this year?
No shit they struck a deal? Now to the guide to find what channel it is on..... and so far it doesn't exist yet on TWC. I haven't gotten the annoying TWC email yet either announcing the BTN so they must not have it setup yet. Yay to getting forced to watch all the TO$U games when they are the same time as MI.
BAH,
on insight, if you have the digital package, you get the "spill over" channels. BTN does 2 to 4 games any saturday. they have an "A" game for a specific geographic area, but you can watch one of the others on their over flow.
so even though the tosu game may be broadcast in Ohio, you can likely pick up one of the other games on another channel.
my point exactly.....
12:00 PM Youngstown State at #2 Ohio State Big Ten Network
12:00 PM Akron at #13 Wisconsin Big Ten Network
I live in Cuyahoga Falls which is 5 minutes north of Akron. Which game do you think we will be able to see? My guess is the lousy Suckeyes trouncing a mediocre div 2 team than the local college team getting trounced by Wisconsin.
Do you think TWC will have the "spillover channels"? If so then that will work out and I will enjoy the Akron Wisconsin game even though Akron will get stomped. Will also be nice not to be forced to watch every TO$U game. I will be ready Saturday redardless with the flag and helmet on the porch, the stereo on, a beer in my hand and several more in the fridge, and a nooce on the annoying children to leave me alone for 3 and a half hours starting at 3:30. Can't wait.
Time Warner's website shows that BTN will be channels 77, 333, and 334 in my area but it hasn't been put into effect yet. It says it should be done by Saturday's games though. My guess is 333 will be the main channel showing the Suckeyes Sat while 334 will be the supplement showing Akron U and Wisconsin. Glad I'll be able to watch all MI games this year looks like.
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