Even with as much time as I spent dissecting the Big Ten Network and its sparkling public relations, there seems to be one small, but fairly important, point I’ve missed. In a brief that noted BTN will carry the OSU-Kent game on Oct. 13, the Dispatch also mentioned this little thing: a requirement that each school in the conference must have one game against a conference opponent air on the conference’s network.
No biggie, right? Here’s Corso: Not so fast, my friend.
The Dispatch correctly notes that with the commitment to carry the Kent game, BTN had wrapped up the last of OSU’s October games. The others — Purdue, Michigan State and Penn State — all will be shown on ABC or one of the ESPNs.
However. Take a look at what’s left. Nov. 3 against Wisconsin, the current No. 5 team in the country. Nov. 10 against Illinois, which just beat Penn State and could be a Top 25 team at that point in the season. And Nov. 17 in Ann Arbor.
All three potentially big games. All three potentially carry conference-title implications.
And one of them won’t be on ABC or an ESPN.
Can you imagine what would happen if the Michigan game wasn’t on television in Columbus? BTN just reached an agreement with Wowway, but Time Warner, the biggest carrier in the city, isn’t budging. And with Comcast, the dominant carrier in southwestern Michigan, being as obstinate as ever, it might not be on in Ann Arbor either. Wow.
The Michigan game? Not on television? In Columbus?
A suggestion for BTN and all the cable companies that still aren’t willing to move: Time to get this figured out. You’ve got until the end of the month. It’s for your own good.
Uncle Crappy 
UC,
I don’t know where to start so I’m going to use one of your tricks and just blurt it out in stream of consciousness…
They’ve got you.
It’s that simple. The BTN is counting on your loyalty to your school. They know you can’t go down the road and root for someone else. So they don’t care that you’re unhappy and thousands like you. Ditto for the cable company. Where are you going to go?
You can choose one of two options. The first is to take what they give you when they give it to you and be happy. The second option is quit being a fan of the BT. I know, I know, I know…it’s blasphemous. And, at minimum, the mere mention of it could result in a lifetime ban from UC’s blogosphere, but hear me out.
Money is the only thing that makes corporations change. Stop buying tickets, t-shirts, wall paper, glassware, umbrellas, bumper stickers and everything else they stick their logo on. Get satellite tv or better yet no tv…it will enrich your life trust me.
Remember, if they wanted to give something to the fans they would put every game on the network and pay the cable companies to make sure they gave it to every subscriber.
It’s a money grab so just keep your money. You’ll be happier…and wealthier.
P.S. Please don’t ban me!
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Disclaimer No. 1: I have tickets to all three games. In that sense, television coverage means very little to me.
Disclaimer No. 2: The Dispatch ran a follow-up story that quoted BTN’s president saying there’s pretty much no way they’re going to get the Michigan game, and that carrying the Illinois game was the most likely option of the three.
With that stuff out of the way … you’re absolutely right, of course. It’s a total money grab, and both sides are equally guilty. I don’t know how BTN executives can keep a straight face when they talk about the value of their network; at least for the first few years, they’re carrying second and third-tier football games, men’s basketball, maybe some hockey (even though that’s not a conference sport) … and what else? I mean, I want Ohio State’s gymnastics teams to do well … but I’m not going to sit and watch them on TV.
The cable companies are just as bad, saying on one hand they’re all about their customers … and then ignoring their customers’ desires when it comes to adding new programming. And I’ve yet to find someone who can successfully reconcile the notion of “customer service” with having to schedule a four-hour window when I need the cable guy to visit my house.
Maybe the most aggravating thing is the lack of options I have here. I can get a dish, and all 700 channels; the thing is, The Wife and I don’t really watch TV. It’s on a lot, but it’s kind of like a talking lamp — with precious few exceptions, we’re generally not paying attention.
That brings me back to one of the initial points I made when I started discussing BTN — I hate everyone involved.
As for a ban for having the audacity to suggest I give up watching the Big Ten — you’re safe. It’s not going to happen, mind you, but still…
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