I know college basketball is a ways off but IU basketball is never far from my mind. I was over at SI.com last night and read an interesting article about the new Big Ten Network by Stewart Mandel.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/06/26/bigten.network/index.html
In essence Mr. Mandel writes how Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany is playing hard ball with cable companies over the new network. The bottom line for me...and fellow IU fans...is that IU games that are not going to be on CBS or ESPN will now be on the Big Ten network. Whereas before WTTV 4 (Indianapolis) would show all games not on network TV or ESPN. Anybody...even people without cable could pick these game up.
This could be a problem for a lot of people. Bascially Delany wants the channel as part as a cable's company traditional lineup. Which...if did happen...would be ideal for regular cable subscribers (sorry to those still using an antenna) But it looks like cable companies want the channel as part of a sports package. This proves problematic on two fronts. If you have digital cable then one would have to order the sports package, which isn't that big of a deal...one would just have to shell out more money (and justify to their wife why this would be necessary) The real concern is for people who don't have digital cable, which I'm assuming is a lot of people...especially in my area. These people are going to have to get digital cable first to then get the sports pack.
It is safe to say that this will probably cause a lot of complaining and belly-aching. But for those that only care about Big Ten basketball the fact that football predates the b-ball season...the reality is that the issue should be resolved by the time IU tips off its season.
Ultimately the whole concept of the Big Ten network reeks of corporate greed. If the channel is going to be hard to get than a large number of people (especially IU fans) are going to be upset. I'm not sure why a major conference would want to limit the exposure of being able to watch one's games on TV. Unless the channel is put in the regular lineup than I think many people are going to frustrated with what Delany is doing. He is allowing other sports to be showcased on TV but ultimately, and Mandel refers to this in the article, most fans only care about one or two Big Ten sports teams. (I found it interesting--since it is true---that Mandel directly refers to Indiana basketball fans when making points about a particular fan base being passionate about their sport).
I only care about IU basketball and I better be able to watch all games from the comport of my own couch.
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