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Discussion in 'General DISH™ Discussion' started by nmetro, Jun 14, 2007.

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  1. Jun 14, 2007 #1 of 572
    nmetro

    nmetro Godfather

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    The following is from today's Columbus Dispatch. You'll notice that BTN is asking $1.10 per subscriber to carry the channel. This does not bode well for carriage on the DISH network.



    BIG TEN NETWORK
    Agreements with cable companies not imminent
    Thursday, June 14, 2007
    Ken Gordon
    THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

    Don’t be surprised if the Big Ten Network and major cable companies don’t announce an agreement this month, next month or even well into August.

    In any game of brinksmanship, urgency does not build until the last minute. In this case, the network plans to launch in late August, maybe only a week or so before football season.

    "There’s nothing to flip a switch on, there’s no programming right now," said Elizabeth Conlisk, the network’s vice president of communications. "Deadlines are deadlines. I think you will see that we likely will reach some of the larger agreements closer to launch."

    Ohio State confirmed Tuesday that its first two football games will be aired on the Big Ten Network: Sept. 1 against Youngstown State and Sept. 8 against Akron.

    Right now, central Ohio’s three major cable providers — Time Warner, WOW and Insight — have not agreed to pick up the network on their expanded basic tiers.

    The Big Ten Network hopes to persuade cable companies in the league’s eight-state home area to carry it on their expanded basic tiers; Big Ten fans outside the Midwest likely will have to watch it on digital cable or satellite.

    "We’re optimistic," Time Warner spokesperson Judy Barbao said. "This type of discussion is typical for channel additions."

    Satellite providers DirecTV and AT &T have forged agreements with the network. In mid-May, the network announced a deal with Buckeye CableSystem, which serves more than 150,000 households in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

    The stumbling block, of course, is money. A report in Street and Smith’s Business Journal said the network is seeking $1.10 per subscriber from cable providers compared with the 70 to 90 cents the NFL Network sought last year. That cost was a factor in Time Warner’s decision not to add the NFL Network to its digital tier.

    Conlisk remains hopeful.

    "I can’t speak to specifics, but I think we are continuing to have productive conversations," she said. "With the bigger operators, things are a little bit more complicated."

    kgordon@dispatch.com
     
  2. Jun 14, 2007 #2 of 572
    angiecopus

    angiecopus Legend

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    My dad gets two tickets to each home game, If i don't get to go to any of the games this will leave me out of watching games if its on the big ten network such as the akron game and my brother lives in akron. Not sure about the Youngstown state game. hopefully i will get to go with my dad to that game.

    angela
     
  3. Jun 14, 2007 #3 of 572
    M. Campbell

    M. Campbell Cool Member

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    Jul 5, 2006
    So does the agreement with AT&T involve Dish or does it only involve their affiliation with D*?
     
  4. Jun 14, 2007 #4 of 572
    nmetro

    nmetro Godfather

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    While The Dispatch was not clear on this, it is most likely D*. Ohio was merged into SBC then ATT,from what was Ameritech, so it is possible Ameritech had an agreement with D*. I live in Colorado, so I cannot really confirm this.
     
  5. Jun 14, 2007 #5 of 572
    mhowie

    mhowie Legend

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    If it is relevant sports-related content, the odds that Dish will pick it up are slim.
     
  6. Jun 14, 2007 #6 of 572
    allargon

    allargon Legend

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    May 2, 2007
    I would actually pay an extra $5/mo. DURING football season for it. However, I doubt if Dish will carry it if they are making NFL Network style demands. :mad:
     
  7. Jun 14, 2007 #7 of 572
    heisman

    heisman Icon

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    Feb 11, 2007
    Neither, U-Verse has signed on with BTN.
     
  8. Jun 16, 2007 #8 of 572
    jrbdmb

    jrbdmb Icon

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    If it is *limited* relevant sports-related content (remember that all the big games will still be on ESPN / ABC / CBS), and the price is far too high for what the channel is offerring ($1.10/mo. for some 3rd tier football and men's basketball games and a bunch of non-revenue sports that have extremely limited appeal), you are correct that the the odds that Dish will pick it up are slim.

    Considering that the NFL is having trouble being picked up at $0.75/sub, the BTN at $1.10 a sub is ridiculous. I'd like the channel, but don't blame Dish one bit if they pass on this one.

    And the problem with being carried on expanded cable is that in most cases these channels are already jam packed. To add the BTN something has to be dropped, which may be tough considering all the contracts in place for the channels already on the local cable system.
     
  9. Jun 20, 2007 #9 of 572
    iublue

    iublue Cool Member

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    Dec 10, 2006
    Do they have to guarantee so many subscribers?

    I want the BTN and I am presently waiting to see if they pick it up before I commit to HD. To get the BTN I am willing (not wanting) to go the Direct.

    Choice is the key.
     
  10. Jun 20, 2007 #10 of 572
    gopherscot

    gopherscot Legend

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    Mar 25, 2002
    Same thing here .... I am not wanting to go to Direct but willing to as well!
     
  11. Jun 20, 2007 #11 of 572
    Codeman00

    Codeman00 Godfather

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    Nashville, TN
    I'll pay $5 a month for it, I don't really care. Just make it available to me to make that decision..thats all I ask.

    It really ticks me off that we are all in the dark about this. Charlie could tell us on Charlie Chat what is going on but no...here we sit wondering until the last minute.
     
  12. Jun 21, 2007 #12 of 572
    iublue

    iublue Cool Member

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    Dec 10, 2006
    just because Dish can't or won't carry the BTN? Painter and Sampson has the rivalry headed back to the Knight/Keady days and it should be good fun for several years. I have not missed watching an IU game for probably 20+ years and I can't/won't miss one in the future and if I have to go to Direct I will.

    Have you emailed Dish? I did and told them bluntly that if they did not carry the BTN then I was gone even after years of being with dish.

    I would still like to know how much it costs Dish to carry a channel. I find it hard to believe that they would not at least break even on the deal and keep customers like me, you and gopherscot in the process.

    Like you said choice is the key.
     
  13. Jun 21, 2007 #13 of 572
    lionsrule

    lionsrule Godfather

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    Nov 25, 2003
    ......if direct has this channel in HD come labor day and dish doesn't, I'M GONE....
     
  14. Jun 21, 2007 #14 of 572
    PghGuy

    PghGuy AllStar

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    Oct 13, 2006
    If you have not missed watching a game in 20 years, why would not having the BTN cause you to switch to Direct? You obviously are not missing these games well before BTN even existed... :confused:
     
  15. Jun 21, 2007 #15 of 572
    jcrandall

    jcrandall Godfather

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    Jun 18, 2004
    Charlie will give you the same negotating answer for years past the last minute.

    I called in on a chat last year about FSN Detroit HD, and was told they planned to have 11 or 21 (can't remeber) RSN launced by spring 07, and they aren't even close to that many.
     
  16. Jun 21, 2007 #16 of 572
    iublue

    iublue Cool Member

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    Dec 10, 2006

    From what I have read some games are going to be ONLY on the BTN. No local feeds or ESPN+, so if you do not have the BTN then you don't watch the game.

    That is unacceptable to me.
     
  17. Jun 21, 2007 #17 of 572
    M. Campbell

    M. Campbell Cool Member

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    Jul 5, 2006
    Thank you. I appreciate the reply and I was not aware of this affiliation with AT&T.
     
  18. Jun 21, 2007 #18 of 572
    DCSholtis

    DCSholtis Up The Irons!

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    Correct. Big Ten games will no longer be in the Game Plan Package. The schedule is already up for the first few weeks, the BTN will be carrying 5 games each of the first 3 Saturdays. As far as pricing they are charging $1.10 per sub in Big Ten territory. Outside of Big Ten territory they are asking for .10 per sub.

    Link for the schedule (1st 3 weeks only):

    http://www.bigtennetwork.com/news/index.asp?ArticleSource=24

    They will have an HD feed which D* will carry.

    This is their FAQ page:

    http://www.bigtennetwork.com/managex/index.asp?ArticleSource=418
     
  19. Jun 21, 2007 #19 of 572
    OrangeandBlue33

    OrangeandBlue33 Mentor

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    Dec 15, 2003
    For people who want this channel I think it's time to take a couple of minutes and send a polite request, urging Dish Network to add the Big Ten Network. If you don't do something now, when September rolls around and E* still hasn't added the channel, don't come on here complaining. Action needs to be taken now to let E* know that we are serious about our Big Ten Sports.

    I've been an E* customer for over 9 years, but I will make the switch if they can't figure out some means to deliver this channel to my receiver. The Big Ten Network will be the ONLY place to see those games which don't make it to ABC, ESPN.

    Emails and calls can make a difference. I just wrote a note at this link:

    DISH Network -- Contact Us

    If there are other addresses or phone numbers that others know of that may be beneficial, post them so everyone that wants to can easily voice their opinion.

    Do it now! Don't wait!
     
  20. Jun 21, 2007 #20 of 572
    nmetro

    nmetro Godfather

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    The only question left open with BTN, other than will Dish carry it or not, is:

    What happens when ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 chooses to broadcast in regions, i.e. Big12 game in Colorado at the same time a Big 10 game is shown in Ohio, where will the regionals end up? Last year they were broadcasted on ESPN GamePlan. BTN is not showing all the Big 10 games, only 35 of them. So, if the games don't show up on ESPN GamePlan or BTN, then what will be the arrangement. Iasked this question on the BTN web site a couple weeks ago; still no answer.

    Finally, BTN plans to show all their games in HD, so in addition to the $1.10 (or $.10) per subscriber cost, you also have a bandwidth issue for showing games on multiple channels. Things are really going to get interesting over the next 10 weeks!

    Nick
     
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