Wide Open West, RCN strike deal for Big Ten Network (updated)

In a huge victory for the Big Ten Network, Wide Open West, which serves much of Chicago area (the same territory as Comcast), has signed a deal with the fledging sports net to carry the network on an expanded basic cable package in the eight states where there are Big Ten schools. Later in the day, BTN also struck a […]

Echostar to carry Big Ten Network

Now on to some real news… In a move that brings rejoice to Big Ten fans (and makes cable look bad), Echostar’s Dish Network has struck a deal with the Big Ten Network to carry its collegiate regional sports network on its basic service. The channel will also be carried in HD.

Chicago Tribune weighs in on Big Ten-Comcast war of words

They support a la carte programming (which is no surprise given they are staunch supporters of the FCC’s indecency campaign and the war in Iraq.) Of course, when was the last time The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board’s opinion on anything was revelant to anybody? Aren’t newspapers supposed to be dead by now? And since yours truly didn’t go to a […]

Cable says no to Big Ten, NFL networks

It looks like the nation’s cable channels are getting fed up with sports leagues taking them for a ride – Comcast and Time Warner – two of the nation’s largest cable companies – are taking a stand. Comcast has pushed the NFL Network into a pay-tier with other sports channels -like CSTV and NBA TV for example, while Time Warner […]

Can The Big Ten Network win?

Teddy Greenstein in today’s Trib talks about the soon-to-launch Big Ten Network and how it is struggling to get carriage among the Midwest’s biggest cable operators, including Comcast, Time Warner, Wide Open West, and Charter systems. The Big Ten Network also wants to be on an expanded sports tier, and not a pay-for-play sports tier. BTN officials point that the […]

Big Ten Network to headquarted here (Take that Indy!)

They may have gotten the tournament, but we got their network… The new Big Ten Network announced yesterday that it is basing its headquarters here in Chicago on Chicago Avenue in the renovated Montgomery Wards building. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the new headquarters, with dignitaries including Mayor Daley and Alderman Walter Burnett Jr.(27th).