Big Ten Network Update

This is spiraling out of control. I think much of the fault lies with the Big Ten Network. They want to be part of a cable company's classic package (hence more money for them). If cable provider's do this than they are going to jack their prices up because sports-themed channels demand lucrative licensing rights (which stinks for consumers...especially those that don't care about sports).

If you are an Insight customer click here for their stance with the Big Ten Network. You will also be able to send an email to the Big Ten Network.

I think they are making a good point in that the channel should be part of their sports package--like the NFL network and ESPU.

Here are some more points that Insight is making with regard to the Big Ten Network:

* Insight will still have a lot of Big Ten sporting events - including football. In fact, the top football match-ups involving Big Ten schools will continue to be available on ABC, ESPN & ESPN2 (which we carry on Classic cable for all of our customers). Those contracts and existing agreements mean that the marquee games—and postseason action—won’t be on the Big Ten Network. The network’s own Web site acknowledges that it will not have first choice of football games during any week in the season. They’ll have the second pick only three times, and the third pick in another three weeks. That means that in most weeks, Big Ten Network will air games that ESPN and ESPN2 have chosen not to carry. We understand that diehard fans want to see every game in which their team plays. That’s why we are so upset that the Big Ten Network is refusing to let us launch their channel alongside other college sports networks.
* The Big Ten Network is pushing the limit by asking for more money than almost any other channel despite having one of the weakest Big Ten schedules. Make no mistake about it, the Big Ten Network is looking for customers to pay a whole lot more than they currently pay to watch college sports, while at Insight we are trying to keep the cost of sports programming in line for our customers. That is what this disagreement is about.
* Sports Networks are expensive and we don’t want our customers who are not sports fans to have to pay for them. Although we have offered the BTN a substantial payment for each Digital customer who would receive the network, they have continued to holdout. We are guessing that our offer simply isn’t enough to satisfy their greed.
* Insight has made an offer to launch the Big Ten Network (BTN) on digital. The BTN has not yet accepted our offer, and unless they do we will probably not be carrying the Big Ten games on the BTN. At this point the ball is in BTN’s court. We are ready to flip the switch when they are ready to give customers a choice.
* BTN has decided that rather than accept our offer to put them on Insight Digital 2.0 with the other college sports networks (ESPN U and CSTV) they would hold out for Classic carriage. By doing this they are attempting to extract a very large license fee for every Classic customer, not just those interested in college sports programming.
* We understand that are customers are disappointed. We are too. We serve many college towns, and understand the passion of college sports fans. We are also a leader in delivering sports programming from the top sports networks. Insight was one of the first (and few) cable companies that agreed to carry ESPN U, College Sports Television, and the NFL Network all as part of Insight Digital 2.0. So we are puzzled that the BTN has refused to accept our offer.
* We are aware that some customers of other cable companies are receiving the games. The Big Ten Network likes to talk about the large number of cable companies that they have already signed up. All of these companies combined have fewer customers than Insight has digital customers. The BTN has continued to reject the digital carriage offers from all of the major cable companies.
* We would love to bring the Big Ten Network and these extra games to our customers, and if the BTN accepts our offer we will carry the games.

It looks like the Big Ten Network is going to have to be the first to blink...and I think they should be the first to do so.