Big Ten Network hoping to be picked up by Mediacom
1:00 AM
By Charlotte Eby, Journal Des Moines Bureau | Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2007
DES MOINES -- An official with the new Big Ten Network is urging Iowa's Mediacom cable subscribers who want the network's coverage of University of Iowa sports as part of their basic service to contact the cable company with their request.
The network and Mediacom are at odds over whether the network should be offered in Mediacom's basic service packages as the clock winds down to the beginning of Iowa's college football season.
"We are very strongly of the belief this should be a basic cable channel," said Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman at a news conference in Des Moines. "I challenge anyone to find 70 channels that are more relevant to the community, that will generate higher ratings than this network and that is more deserving of this kind of a spot."
Mediacom spokeswoman Phyllis Peters said the company wants to offer the Big Ten Network as part of its digital cable offerings.
"We want to make this programming available to our customers who want to view this programming and are willing to pay for it. We just simply don't think that everybody should have to pay for it," Peters said.
Peters said it would cost more for basic cable subscribers if the channel were added, and recent media polls have shown that idea is unpopular with subscribers.
Peters is optimistic they will reach a deal before Iowa's football season starts, and she notes that many University of Iowa football games will be carried on other channels available to Mediacom customers.
The network, which launches next month, is expected to deliver more than 50 University of Iowa events. Those would include as many as four Iowa football games, 17 men's basketball games, six women's basketball games, three wrestling events and other sports.
So far, the network has reached agreements with DirecTV and other operators in the state that will carry the network, but no agreement has been reached with Mediacom or Dish Network.
University of Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz wants to see a resolution.
"My hopes as a coach, obviously, are that everybody has a chance to have access to the Hawks this year, not only in football, but all sports. I think that's one of the great benefits of this concept," Ferentz told reporters Wednesday.
Ferentz said the network will give exposure to all of the university's sports programs as well the entire university.
"To me, at the end of the day, it's what people want. That's what people are going to deliver, the cable companies are going to deliver," Ferentz said.
Big Ten Conference Commissioner Jim Delany called the network a "bold and innovative step" on behalf of the 11 universities in the conference.
"I think it's going to connect with the people in the Midwest, people in Iowa, people in Michigan, people in Indiana." Delany said.
The network also will air coaches' shows and classic games. The University of Iowa will provide another 60 hours of programming that will feature non-athletic activities.
BIG TEN NETWORK
What it is n A channel covering Big Ten Conference sports and the conference's institutions. The network is a partnership between the subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.
When does it launch n Aug. 30
Where is available? n The Big Ten Network and cable providers Mediacom and Dish Network have not yet reached a deal. The network is available through DirectTV and other cable providers in Iowa. At BigTenNetwork.com, viewers can enter their zip code to find out which cable providers in their area carry the network.
The network and Mediacom are at odds over whether the network should be offered in Mediacom's basic service packages as the clock winds down to the beginning of Iowa's college football season.
"We are very strongly of the belief this should be a basic cable channel," said Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman at a news conference in Des Moines. "I challenge anyone to find 70 channels that are more relevant to the community, that will generate higher ratings than this network and that is more deserving of this kind of a spot."
Mediacom spokeswoman Phyllis Peters said the company wants to offer the Big Ten Network as part of its digital cable offerings.
"We want to make this programming available to our customers who want to view this programming and are willing to pay for it. We just simply don't think that everybody should have to pay for it," Peters said.
Peters said it would cost more for basic cable subscribers if the channel were added, and recent media polls have shown that idea is unpopular with subscribers.
Peters is optimistic they will reach a deal before Iowa's football season starts, and she notes that many University of Iowa football games will be carried on other channels available to Mediacom customers.
The network, which launches next month, is expected to deliver more than 50 University of Iowa events. Those would include as many as four Iowa football games, 17 men's basketball games, six women's basketball games, three wrestling events and other sports.
So far, the network has reached agreements with DirecTV and other operators in the state that will carry the network, but no agreement has been reached with Mediacom or Dish Network.
University of Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz wants to see a resolution.
"My hopes as a coach, obviously, are that everybody has a chance to have access to the Hawks this year, not only in football, but all sports. I think that's one of the great benefits of this concept," Ferentz told reporters Wednesday.
Ferentz said the network will give exposure to all of the university's sports programs as well the entire university.
"To me, at the end of the day, it's what people want. That's what people are going to deliver, the cable companies are going to deliver," Ferentz said.
Big Ten Conference Commissioner Jim Delany called the network a "bold and innovative step" on behalf of the 11 universities in the conference.
"I think it's going to connect with the people in the Midwest, people in Iowa, people in Michigan, people in Indiana." Delany said.
The network also will air coaches' shows and classic games. The University of Iowa will provide another 60 hours of programming that will feature non-athletic activities.
BIG TEN NETWORK
What it is n A channel covering Big Ten Conference sports and the conference's institutions. The network is a partnership between the subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.
When does it launch n Aug. 30
Where is available? n The Big Ten Network and cable providers Mediacom and Dish Network have not yet reached a deal. The network is available through DirectTV and other cable providers in Iowa. At BigTenNetwork.com, viewers can enter their zip code to find out which cable providers in their area carry the network.
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