Women’s coverage is network’s best attribute

It’s fair to say that since its inception, the quality of the programming on the Big Ten Network has been low. From the annoying commentary to the sub-par analysis, the only reason to watch the network is coverage of competition – which I have taken to watching with the television muted – along with two other factors. First is the presence of Dave Revsine, who was imported from ESPN, as lead anchor. The other is much more important for the world of sports and for the network, which is taking major strides in equality. The Big Ten Network, for all its faults, has the potential to revitalize interest in women’s athletics.\nThe Big Ten Women’s Show is a half hour dedicated to (obviously) women. For those 30 minutes, the network discusses only the actions and lives of female athletes, who are just as fierce as the men in the Big Ten. \nWhile the show might not be the most watched program, it is certainly a great addition to the channel’s line up, because for a great sports fan, more sports is good sports. The Big Ten Network is at least trying to reach those fans.\nThe unprecedented promise of the network to open its inaugural year with 40 percent of its programming committed to women’s athletics and to grant it 50 percent by its third year – a decision no doubt geared toward gender equality – left some skeptical. Would the network have trouble selling women’s competition? \nAlmost a month into the network’s existence, those skeptics’ remarks should be silenced. The upswing of women’s sports fans will be supplemented by the network, something that can benefit both parties.\nBut the greatest accomplishment that comes from airing such programming is that, hopefully, fans will begin to look for news concerning women’s athletics, instead of only going to ESPN.com and looking at the NCAA football rankings. It was the Big Ten Network that led me to spend much of an afternoon cruising the Internet to learn a great deal about women’s athletics at IU. \nAs far as history goes, IU women’s athletics certainly do not disappoint. For example, how many football fans can say they know who Lin Loring is? Thought so. He’s the head coach of our women’s tennis team, which in 30 years has captured 16 Big Ten championships. \nWhat IU supporter can name the two schools – one in an exhibition and one in the regular season – the IU women’s soccer team lost to before beginning its seven-game winning streak? Any takers? Missouri and Florida, respectively.\nBut this is not intended as a criticism of the fans. Rather, it is the revealing of a social trend that is right under our noses. It is a social trend that the Big Ten Network is trying to change and is at least making some progress in.\nHowever, it is important, above all else, to point out that the greatest benefit for fans who watch the network’s coverage of women’s athletics is not the progress toward equality, but simply that the competition is fun to watch. \nJust like the men’s athletic competition we are all accustomed to seeing in Big Ten seasons, the women are hard-nosed and tough, making them exciting to watch. Fans can take pride in that fact. And while men’s athletics will surely continue to dominate the media spectrum, the Big Ten Network has provided an outlet for a whole level of world-class competition.