Why the Big Ten Network Sucks Ass

I am a huge Big Ten Fan, but I can not stand the Big Ten Network. Comcast is a close second.

This startup network that I understand is majority owned by the big ten conference (51%) and Fox (49%) is a slap in the face to the fans. They make it sound like Comcast and other cable providers are the bad guys but what appears to be happening is the conference is using a loyal fan-base to mussel its way into its own mini-network making millions of dollars off games that were basically free to consumers last year.

So what is the problem? Why cant I get this “network on Comcast”. Its because Comcast wont pay. Face it I have no love for Comcast and their wallet fleecing practices but in this case part of me is glad they have not caved in… yet. Why. Well our beloved conference, the one that is at least partially funded with PUBLIC money, is asking a whooping $1.10 per subscriber per month. Does not sound like much? Try $63 million that’s what it adds up to at the low end, I have seen Time-Warners estimates in the $200 million dollar range. Considering other PROVEN sports channels ask some where near ½ of that it seems Big Ten is out to line there pockets. Who do you think will be paying that money? Comcast? Not likely. Try more fees for the cable we already pay too much for.

Here is a quote from an SI article:

The longer the cable companies hold out, the more ticked the fans are going to get. And while it's the Big Ten itself that caused the predicament by creating the network, fans are far more likely to direct their frustration at the cable company than they are their favorite conference.

Here is my favorite quote from the Detroit Free Press:

Public universities perform many noble services. This is not one of them.

And Comcast execs can blather all day and night about looking out for their customers' best interest, but come on. This is a large, aggressive, money-hungry company. I'm not saying Comcast would push you out of a tree to install another cable line, but I'd make sure it doesn't have any trucks around before you climb up there.

So who do I blame? Jim Delany Big Ten Commissioner, most because he is fueling the fire with a bunch of BS blathered all over the airwaves about Comcast taking the games from fans when Big Ten did it themselves. Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman, yes he also is one fellow I would place some blame on. Oh, and almost every Comcast exec, who don’t tell you we pay (albeit less) for the Golf channel and other less exciting fair most likely because they own a stake in that and other channels.

In the end it is the public, the fans, that loose. The very ones that have made these sports great. These same Alumni, and others who take pride in there teams and support them through good seasons and bad. With the economy so bad in this region taking more hard earned dollars away from people just seems wrong. Shame on you. Shame on you all.