Big Ten Network gets deal with Dish

[dcrowley]

Hopefully this means the mtn can get their deal done now.

link (http://www.bigtennetwork.com/corporate/PR090607.asp)

[badger77]

They didn't have Comcast involved!!

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695205682,00.html

[dcrowley]

I f'n hate comcast. They're comcrapstic.

[Bullchuter]

Maybe it's time for our "lame" commissioner Thompson and the MWC Presidential "boys" get their act together and pullout of this dumb-... contract. and let the Local TV channels broadcast to their respective areas.

[loborick]

Maybe it's time for our "lame" commissioner Thompson and the MWC Presidential "boys" get their act together and pullout of this dumb-... contract. and let the Local TV channels broadcast to their respective areas.

Pulling out of a contract is a pretty tough thing to do. The only way they could do that is if they could prove CSTV/mtn did not live up to the contract. And I don't know what the contract says about distribution, if anything.

[EPluribusUNM]

Comcast has refused to carry the Big 10 network. It's through the looking glass on our situation. Something like 6-million Comcast customers are in the Big 10 area and many are going berzerk and are equally angry at Comcast. Probably the folks in Ann Arbor would rather have had DirecTV not show the App State game, but that's another issue.

It still appears that the same thinking (from the opposite perspective) by Comcast is keeping the Mtn. off the satellites. At some point Comcast and CBS are going to have to realize that, without a cent in incremental cost, they can see substantial revenue by negotiating realistically and giving up their monopolistic dreams.

This Detroit Free Press column shows greed on both sides -- one being the Big Ten presidents and comish, the other Comcast -- is keeping the coverage away from a lot of fans. It provides some good insight into Comcast. Maybe it's similar here. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070830/COL22/708300408

[badger77]

All I know is that I’ve got 5 different BigTen channels now and can watch 8 different contests today (the other three are on regular networks). All with no changes to my programing.

CSTV and VS. are showing 2 MWC games and Fox has the TCU game.

I don’t think Comacast will be holding out on the Big Ten much longer. Who knows about us.

[Burro lobo]

In the article, they mention that the SEC wants it's own channel and that is part of the reason Comcast is holding out on the Big 10 is to scare the SEC, I see it backfiring on them if the Big 10 does well, which I think it will!

[EPluribusUNM]

Burro, I couldn't agree more.

Since Big Ten Network is partly owned by DirecTV, it is a big deal for Dish to come in as a direct competitor with them. Some have given Comcast a pass by saying they have negotiated good deals with their cable competition in places like San Diego and Las Vegas. The trouble with that argument is that Comcast doesn't hold a franchise in these metros and consequently, they don't compete.

It makes no business sense for Comcast to hold out for Mtn. exclusivity. You've got to believe that the revenue streams right now are paltry. The big up-front investment is just sitting there as Comcast has its way. I wonder where their co-owners at CBS stand. I bet they're nervous because they have something to lose -- a rather big "something". No incremental costs and more realistic negotiating would help improve that situation.

[txlobo95]

Does not look good for the Mountain. This is the Big Ten's first year and their already on both sat systems, including a dedicated HD channel!