Impending BTN/Comcast shitstorm
For those who aren't quite aware of the coverage situation, it basically breaks down like this:
There are more nuances, but these are the relevant aspects of the deal for now. The Big Ten Network played their second choice card this week, and they have 2 of them left. Michigan must be covered in November. Their November games are as follows:
These are all big games, with Ohio State definitely slated to appear on ABC, and one of the other two having to be on the Big Ten Network. The November 3rd weekend Big Ten schedule looks like this:
...I think you can figure out where this is headed by now. The Wisconsin @ Ohio State game is already locked into ABC. The Big Ten has a second-choice card left. They will play it in a week that a) gives them the bet game they can get, and b) puts a ton of pressure on Comcast.
The Michigan/Michigan State game is almost guaranteed to be on the Big Ten Network. Please note that this is mostly speculation, but it is not without good sources.
- ABC gets first choice for every weekend in terms.
- Big Ten Network has 2nd choice half the weeks, 3rd the other half.
- BTN gets to"play the second choice card"at their discretion.
- Each Big Ten team must be on BTN at least once per month.
There are more nuances, but these are the relevant aspects of the deal for now. The Big Ten Network played their second choice card this week, and they have 2 of them left. Michigan must be covered in November. Their November games are as follows:
- November 3 Michigan @ Michigan State
- November 10 Michigan @ Wisconsin
- November 17 Ohio State @ Michigan
These are all big games, with Ohio State definitely slated to appear on ABC, and one of the other two having to be on the Big Ten Network. The November 3rd weekend Big Ten schedule looks like this:
- Wisconsin @ Ohio State
- Michigan @ Michigan State
- Purdue @ Penn State
- Illinois @ Minnesota
- Iowa @ Northwestern
- Ball State @ Indiana
...I think you can figure out where this is headed by now. The Wisconsin @ Ohio State game is already locked into ABC. The Big Ten has a second-choice card left. They will play it in a week that a) gives them the bet game they can get, and b) puts a ton of pressure on Comcast.
The Michigan/Michigan State game is almost guaranteed to be on the Big Ten Network. Please note that this is mostly speculation, but it is not without good sources.
Labels: big ten network, football, scheduling
This entry was posted by Tim, on
Friday, October 12, 2007.
You can leave your response.
10/12/2007 01:46:00 PM
I've heard there are internet broadcasts of the BTN if you have a michigan IP address. Having not found this out until the end of last game, I was unable to download the VPN client from the university fast enough to find out if it was true.
Any clue?
10/12/2007 01:49:00 PM
I haven't heard that. I'll ask around when I head back to the BTN production. They might not know, so don't hold your breath. If they don't, I'll try to run into someone from the athletic department tonight or tomorrow morning.
10/12/2007 02:45:00 PM
This information is false. The OSU-Wisconsin game is not locked into ABC. OSU must have one conference game on the BTN, it will be either Illinois or Wisconsin. It won't be the Michigan game.
10/12/2007 02:48:00 PM
BTN executive producers have said the OSU-Wisconsin is ABC. That leaves OSU-Ill on BTN, since OSU-Mich is on ABC as well.
10/12/2007 06:48:00 PM
during the EMU open thread on mgoblog there were a few people that said it worked. I however do not know how/where they had to go for it.
10/12/2007 06:49:00 PM
I had not heard that each team must appear on BTN at least once a month. Is that really true? I only knew of the rule that every school had to have at least one conference game on the BTN.
10/12/2007 07:13:00 PM
https://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/iptv/
you have to have a kerbos (umich) name and password. The university offers IPTV, or internet television. The line up is the residential hall channels, ie, includes BTN.
10/13/2007 10:58:00 AM
formerlyanonymous,
you rock! i got my alumni password reset and it looks like i am now able to accesss the iptv site! and it's kerberos, not kerbos, btw, but i quibble =)
10/13/2007 11:08:00 AM
spoke too soon. missed the part in the FAQ where it said you need to be on the UM network. [sad face]
10/13/2007 10:34:00 PM
After Wisky got throttled by Penn State, I wouldn't bank on ABC jumping on a 2 (or more?) loss team playing OSU as their game of the week.
10/13/2007 11:20:00 PM
They have to pick one of them, and BTN is strongly making a push for the UM/MSU game. This information is not without source, miked.
10/17/2007 05:53:00 PM
This Saturday's game against Illinois will be on ABC (8:00 pm Eastern) and our game on October 27th against Minnesota will be televised by ESPN Classic (3:30 pm Eastern).
Please visit www.mgoblue.com for an Athletic Director message to our fans about the Big Ten Network.
Do not reply to this email. If you have any comments or questions about the Big Ten Network, please direct them to bigtennetwork@umich.edu.
So who do I complain about ESPN Classic?