Big Ten Network's Contracting Footprint
Last week, my cable company here in Kansas City removed the Big Ten Network from its basic cable package. This is in KC, by far the largest city near Lincoln, NE. With the 'Huskers being one of the largest fanbases/alumni bases in the U.S., you would think cable companies would be adding the B10 Network, not removing it.
(Just thought we might need to talk about ANYTHING other than, you know.)
November 29th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
herpes? I agree but they always come back.
November 29th, 2010 at 9:08 PM ^
Not that I know much about the cable business...but did they move it to a premium package? Knowing that a lot of Cornshucker fans will pay the extra dough for the BTN?
November 29th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
And it's been exactly two years since I was pleasantly surprised to find it in my basic package, here in the heart of Big 12 country. So apparently the contract the B10 Network signed with "CableTown" was up.
I wonder how many contracts like this the network signed in the last few years. I think they get about $0.65 per subscriber, regardless of whether that subscriber gets it gratis with their basic package, or pays a lot more to include it in a premium package. So it could be that the number of B10 Network subscribers is falling, even with the addition of Big Red Nation.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:17 AM ^
It's KableTown, with a 'K'. AND THEY'RE FROM PHILADELPHIA!!!!!
November 29th, 2010 at 9:12 PM ^
It is a ploy, they take it away then when a loud cry from Nebraska fans want it back the cable company jacks up the price.
November 29th, 2010 at 9:14 PM ^
I live in Kentucky just north of Nashville, TN and my cable provider is called insight. The president of the company is a Suckeye graduate so it is available on cable. However, it you to order the sports package to get it which is like another $30 bucks on your bill. The BigTen is about money, money, and nothing but money!
November 29th, 2010 at 10:29 PM ^
You don't understand.
The Big Ten never wants to be stuck in a premium package because it reduces the households that get it. The $30 isn't charged by the Big Ten network, it's charged by your cable provider. About 60% of the Network's revenue comes from advertising and 40% from cable fees. They can charge more for advertising if they have more viewers; they have more viewers if they aren't stuck in a premium package. That's why they had such a long negotiation with Comcast, because the Big Ten wanted to be part of the basic package.
If you want to blame someone for the premium package, blame your provider.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
The network negotiated all these agreements in order to be featured as part of basic packages. And now, some of them are expiring, and the network is being removed from basic and placed on premium packages. Ergo, the number of subscribers to the Big Ten Network is likely falling, perhaps precipitously.
November 30th, 2010 at 12:46 AM ^
KC (Kansas or Missouri) isn't in the Big Ten footprint (although it is very close with Nebraska, as I'm sure a lot of SE Neb. viewers get KC stations). If the Big Ten added Missouri, Kansas or maybe even K-State, it would be. As for Kentucky, it's not in the Big Ten footprint either.
Just be glad you can get the BTN. Here in Las Vegas Cox Communications finally added BTN to its expanded sports package this year. For markets outside the Big Ten footprint it makes sense for cable companies to make BTN an extra. I'm happy to get it.
I doubt the BTN subscriber/potential viewer numbers are going down. I bet they are steadily growing.
November 29th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
and not every provider has Big Ten Channel either. Fustrating at times.
November 29th, 2010 at 9:37 PM ^
November 29th, 2010 at 10:12 PM ^
and get satellite. I think both have all the B10 network channels. I have DISH and I get 4 HD channels of B10 network, all digital. You really need all the alternate channels because then you get simultaneous football and basketball games (when scheduling times are the same).
For me costs less than cable too !
Go Blue !
November 29th, 2010 at 10:53 PM ^
At least you had it free for a while. I live in KC and have Time Warner and have never had it free. They did throw me a bone and gave me espn 3 a few games into the season this year!!!!! Unfortunately I have no other choice besides satellite.
November 30th, 2010 at 10:17 AM ^
so I had to choose between Dish and DirectTV. Dish has it in the basic package withing the Big Ten footprint (I would have had to pay for another tier) DirectTV has it everywhere on the standard package...SOLD!