Big Ten Network too specific for basic cable

I love the Big Ten. I love the rough-and-tough style of play across the board in all athletic competitions. I love the rivalries that have sprung up throughout the years between teams and, consequently, the fans. I love thousands of students cheering and booing in the spirit of sport. I love the oxymoronic nature of having 11 teams in the conference. Heck, I even love Ohio State head basketball coach Thad Matta – and nobody likes Thad Matta, especially all those people he beats.\nAs a result of this affection, ever since I heard that the Big Ten would be getting its own cable network, I’ve been on board with the idea. More hardcore athletic events on TV that have the teams I want to see? It’s like a dream come true. The tough thing about dreams, though, is that eventually you wake up.\nBig Ten Network executives are struggling to convince cable companies to carry their product. Specifically, they are having major difficulties with Comcast. The tension is a result of a disagreement involving the manner in which the station will be provided. Network officials want the station to be provided as part of a basic cable package, while Comcast believes it should be provided as a second-tier option subscribers can add for a fee. The debate has some across-the-conference questioning about whether the Network is the great plan it once appeared to be.\nNow, as I’ve professed my love of the Big Ten above, my initial thought was that every man, woman, child, dog, parakeet, gerbil, etc. should have access to the wonderful competition in the Big Ten. Then I descended from cloud nine and reluctantly faced reality.\nI think Comcast has a compelling argument. It is impractical to place an expensive network with such specific programming as part of a basic cable package if it will not pick up the necessary ratings. Also, the major athletics events that will capture the attention of most viewers throughout the Midwest will still be shown by the major networks: ABC, CBS and ESPN. That fact supports Comcast’s stance, since the general sports audience will still be able to see the major Big Ten match-ups.\nIn an attempt to aid the network, discussion began again last week concerning adding another big name school to the conference. But it seems that even if such a school were added (Syracuse and Rutgers have both been mentioned in the last week), the Big Ten Network is still too exclusive to be a basic cable station.\nNetwork officials are hopeful that a deal will be made with Comcast, as well as other major cable providers, as the August 30 launch date approaches. Whether as a basic cable channel or an extra cost, I will hopefully be able to add it to my personal channel selection. But for the housewife sitting at home who knows as much about sports as she can pick up from her husband swearing at the television, it would be just another click of the remote on her way to the Game Show Network.