Big Ten Network denies fans what is rightfully theirs
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 08/22/2007
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I want my Big Ten Network.
And so does every other Purdue fan.
On Aug. 30, history will be made and I, or anyone else who doesn't live in the residence halls or doesn't have a dish with DIRECTV embroidered on it, won't see it.
As of today, there is still no agreement between the conference network and cable giant Comcast on where the channel should be located on a customer's roll-a-dex of channels.
The Big Ten Network wants Comcast to provide its channel on expanded-basic cable with a fee of $1.10 per customer. However, Comcast wants the network to be provided on its sports tier package at the same cost.
After further review, I'm siding with Comcast.
As sad as it is, the Earth doesn't revolve around sports. There are actually people out there who would rather watch marathons of Lifetime movies than rival football games. Some people won't want to pay another $1.10 for a channel they will never watch.
And they shouldn't have to, but I would. Heck, I'll pay $5. Maybe even $10 if I knew it would live up to all the hype.
That's why I side with Comcast. Customers who want the channel will buy the channel at probably whatever cost. The Big Ten Network, though, is trying to win the lottery when it should be asking for donations.
The conference network seems to think its product is going to be the biggest thing to hit sports since the computer-generated yellow first down line. But it's not.
The Big Ten Network needs to give in and let Comcast do it its way. It's the one that knows what's right for cable television and its customers, not the Big Ten Network.
CSTV, a channel dedicated to college sports, is on Comcast's sports tier, along with other minor sports channels, like the NFL Network. And that's exactly what the Big Ten Network is: a minor sports channel.
The only people who are going to watch the Big Ten Network are university students, alumni and fans of the Big Ten. Maybe they'll get some football enthusiasts. That is if they can find it on their televisions.
If the conference network doesn't open its eyes soon, Purdue fans around the world won't be able to see the home kickoff of 2007 and will be wanting their Big Ten Network.
Tyler Wilson is a junior in the College of Liberal Arts. He can be reached via e-mail at sports@purdueexponent.org.