Big Ten Network

Infobox TV channel
name = Big Ten Network
logosize = 300px
logofile = BigTenNetwork.png logoalt = Big Ten Network Logo
logo2 =
launch = August 30, 2007
closed date =
picture format = 480i (SDTV)
720p (HDTV)
share =
share as of =
share source =
network =
owner = Big Ten Conference (51%)
Fox Cable Networks (a division of News Corporation (49%)
slogan = This is Big Ten Country, This is Where it Lives
country = United States
broadcast area =
headquarters = Chicago, Illinois
former names =
sister names =
timeshift names =
web = [http://www.bigtennetwork.com/ BigTenNetwork.com]
sat serv 1 = DirecTV
sat chan 1 = 610
(overflow 608, 609, 611, 612, 615, 617, 623)
sat serv 2 = Dish Network
sat chan 2 = 439 (SD)
9500 (HD)
(overflow SD 5440-5443)
(overflow HD 9501-9504)
cable serv 1 = Available on most Midwestern cable systems
cable chan 1 = Check local listings for channels

The Big Ten Network is a regional sports network in the United States launched on August 30, 2007. The network is a joint project of the Big Ten Conference, a collegiate athletic conference, and Fox Cable Networks (a division of News Corporation) and is a regional channel devoted to Big Ten athletic and academic programs. It is headquartered in the former Montgomery Ward & Co. catalog building at 600 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago, Illinois. [ [http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?post_date=2006-12-20&id=23255 Chicago Business News, Analysis & Articles | Former Ward's building to house Big Ten Network | Crain's ] ] The Big Ten Network represents a 20-year partnership between the Big Ten and Fox Cable Networks. The Big Ten Network is majority-owned (51%) by the Big Ten Conference, with Fox Cable Networks holding a minority interest (49%). [ [http://www.latimes.com/sports/custom/extras/la-sp-tvcol23jun23,1,3794537.column?coll=la-sports-extras&ctrack=1&cset=true Pac-10 Isn't Planning to Launch a Network - Los Angeles Times ] ] Fox will handle the administration and daily operations of the channel. The conference officially announced the formation of the network on June 21, 2006.

Executive Personnel

Mark Silverman is the first President of the network. He was formerly a General Manager and Senior Vice President of ABC Cable Networks Group. [ [http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/120506aaa.html Mark Silverman Named President of Big Ten Network :: Former Disney-ABC Executive to Lead ] ]

Leon Schweir is the network's Executive Producer and Vice President of Production. He previously had spent 26 years working at Madison Square Garden Network in New York City. [ [http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/013007aaa.html Leon Schweir Named Executive Producer/VP Production of Big Ten Network :: Emmy Award-Winning Producer responsible for all studio and event production ] ]

Kevin Weiberg, former Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, is the network's Vice-President of University Planning and Development. [ [http://www.bigtennetwork.com/news/index.asp?ArticleSource=23 News - Big Ten Network ] ]

On-Air Talent

tudio

Football

;Hosts
# Dave Revsine [ [http://www.bigtennetwork.com/news/index.asp?ArticleSource=22 News - Big Ten Network ] ]
# Mike Hall
# Rick Pizzo
# Ann Kreiter

;Analysts
# Gerry DiNardo
# Howard Griffith

Basketball

;Hosts
# Dave Revsine

;Analysts
# Gene Keady
# Jimmy Jackson
# Tim Doyle

Pairings

;Football
# Thom Brennaman / Charles Davis
# Wayne Larrivee / Chris Martin
# Mark Neely / Glen Mason
# Matt Devlin / Ian Allen
# Mike Crispino / Anthony Herron
# Tom Werme / Tony McGee

;Sideline reporters
# Charissa Thompson

;Basketball

;Play-By-Play

*Dick Bremer
*Mike Crispino
*Matt Devlin
*Tom Hamilton
*Jim Kelly
*Wayne Larrivee
*Larry Morgan
*Mark Neely
*Dave Revsine
*Brent Stover
*Roger Twibell
*Rich Waltz

;Color Commentator

*Kenny Battle
*Bob Donewald
*Tim Doyle
*Jim Dulcher
*Bob Ford
*Bill Hosket, Jr.
*James Jackson
*Gene Keady
*Greg Kelser
*John Laskowski
*Mac McCausland
*Tim McCormick
*Wayne Morgan
*Shon Morris
*Rich Zvosec

Live Sports Coverage

The network broadcasts over 35 football games per season (including at least two per conference team). 41 football games were broadcasted on the network in 2007. It also broadcasts at least 105 regular-season men's basketball games and three Big Ten Tournament games. In the 2007-2008 season, it broadcasted a total of 135 men's basketball games. It also broadcasts at least 55 regular-season women's basketball games per season and nine Big Ten Tournament games. It also broadcasts 170 Olympic sporting events per year as well as 660 hours per year of institutional programming and coverage from the conference's vast library of historic sporting events, including bowl games. Other live sports coverage includes soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, ice hockey, field hockey, wrestling, golf, tennis, cross country, rowing, track & field and swimming & diving. The network has a commitment to "event equality", reporting an intention to produce and distribute an equal number of men's and women's events by year three. [ [http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/062107aab.html Big Ten Announces Commitment to Event Equality for Men and Women on Big Ten Network :: National network pledges to equal number of men's and women's events by third year ] ]

Regular shows

*"Big Ten Tonight": Big Ten Network's flagship show, its a thirty- minute or hour-long nightly show similar to ESPN's "SportsCenter". Dave Revsine and Mike Hall take turns as anchor. Rick Pizzo co-hosts. Other reporters and analysists appear depending on the sport being discussed.
*"Big Ten Football Saturday": On Saturdays during football season, the day's games are discussed and highlights are shown. There's the pre-game, halftime, and post-game editions for all games. Dave Revsine hosts and Gerry DiNardo (who they call "Coach") and Howard Griffith provide analysis.
*"Big Ten Friday Tailgate": 90 minute preview and analysis show on Friday nights. Also features two young reporters broadcasting from campus sites. The hosts are Mike Hall, Charissa Thompson, Jordan Klepper, and Steve Waltien.
*"Big Ten Extra Points": Highlights of the weekend's football games
*"Coaches Q&A": Excerpts from the week's press conferences
*"The Big Ten's Greatest Games": Classic football and basketball games, usually with the meaningless parts edited out to fit time constraints.
*"The Big Ten Women's Show": Covers women's sports throughout the conference
*Various magazine shows and coach's shows.

Program milestones

*First program: Big Ten Tonight, August 30, 2007 at 8 p.m. ET
*First live games: Four regional college football telecasts on September 1 at noon ET, including Appalachian State's historic upset win over Michigan
*First women's sports event: Syracuse at Michigan State, soccer, September 2
*First men's non-revenue sports event: UCLA at Indiana, soccer, September 2

Notable Games

*September 1, 2007: Appalachian State vs. Michigan (Football). In the first game ever broadcast by the network, second-tier Appalachian State pulls off a 34-32 upset over the then-number-five Michigan, blocking a field goal on the game's final play.
*November 17, 2007: Indiana vs. Purdue (Football). A last second field goal propels Indiana to their first bowl game in 13 years for their late coach Terry Hoeppner.
*February 24, 2008: Indiana vs. Northwestern (Basketball). The Hoosiers edge the Wildcats in the first game under interim head coach Dan Dakich, after a scandal involving unauthorized telephone calls to recruits forced Kelvin Sampson to resign. (Tom Crean later became the permanent successor.)

Big Ten Network HD

Big Ten Network HD is a 720p high definition simulcast of Big Ten Network. It is available on DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse, some Comcast systems, Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, and several other cable television systems. Big Ten Network HD utilizes stylized pillarboxing for programs not available in HD.Substantially all of its live events will be produced in High-Definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network claims it produces more original High-Definition programming than any new network in television history. [ [http://www.bigtennetwork.com/corporate/PR5707b.asp Big Ten Network to Produce More High-Definition Programming than Any New Network in History - Big Ten Network ] ]

Overflow feeds

For Saturday early games, Big Ten Network can produce up to 5 football games at the same time, 1 of which is the national "Game of the Week" (available on the main channel on satellite, and cable systems in The Big Ten Region of which no games involving a team in their market is being played, or outside of The Big Ten Region unless a team in their market is involved), and the other 4 are each regionalized to cable systems to the participating teams' markets and available on the regular channel in their area. Some systems offer Big Ten Network overflow or "out-of-market" feeds used for games that feature teams not located in their market. Customers with all 4 overflow feeds can choose which of the 5 different available games that they want to watch and not be stuck watching the game available on the main channel in their area. The overflow feeds are available on DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse, some Comcast systems, and several other cable systems. Some systems offer only some of the overflow feeds, not all 4. Other systems don't offer any overflow feeds at all. Viewers can find the channel number(s) of the game(s) available on their system by using [http://bigtennetwork.com/gamefinder/index.asp The Big Ten Network Game Finder]

Carriage

Carriage negotiations with several major cable companies were stalled for several months because the cable providers wanted to put the channel on a digital sports tier and charge only customers who wanted it, and Big Ten Network wanted to put it on extended basic and charge all cable customers a subscriber fee whether they wanted the channel or not. However, since Comcast and The Big Ten Network have reached a deal, the other major providers in The Big Ten Region (Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable, etc.) have followed suit.

Recent Carriage Deal Agreements

In late summer and early autumn 2008, several large cable companies in The Big Ten Region reached carriage agreements with The Big Ten Network, or are reported to be close to a deal. With these announcements, The Big Ten Network will now reach every major cable TV provider in The Big Ten Region.

*On August 23, 2008, Cedar Rapids, Iowa newspaper "The Gazette" reported that sources close to negotiations between the network and Mediacom said the two sides have reached an agreement in principle. On August 28 the official announcement was made. [ [http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/SPORTS/27671286/1008/sports?location_refer=$urlTrackSectionName GazetteOnline.com, "Mediacom, BTN reach a deal."] ] [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/mediacom-communications-launch-big-ten/story.aspx?guid={736E4C32-F560-4BE0-BCCC-4E18E8A6CC68}&dist=hppr Mediacom Communications to Launch Big Ten Network] ] Mediacom provides service to most of Iowa, including Iowa City, where the Big Ten's University of Iowa is located.

*On August 25, 2008, it was announced in a joint statement that Time Warner Cable and The Big Ten Network reached a carriage deal. Time Warner will carry the channel on its expanded basic service in the eight states where Big Ten schools operate. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2008/08/26/bigten.network.ap/index.html Time Warner Cable to carry Big Ten Network on expanded basic this fall] ] No further details have been announced. [ [http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6590161.html Time Warner, Big Ten Network Strike Carriage Deal] ]

*On August 26, 2008, an agreement between The Big Ten Network and Charter Communications was announced [ [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-wi-bigtennetwork,0,1815689.story Charter reaches deal with Big Ten Network] ] .

*On August 26, 2008, The Indianapolis Star reported that Brighthouse Networks and The Big Ten Network are "very close to a deal". [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/SPORTS/808270371 Brighthouse and Big Ten Network close to deal] ] .

*On August 28, 2008, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that Cox Communications had reached a deal to carry the Big Ten Network. [ [http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2008/08/ohio_state_football_cox_cable.html Cox Cable finalizes Big Ten Network deal] ]

*On September 25, 2008, Broadstripe said it will add the channel to its systems in Michigan on September 30, 2008. [ [http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6599671.html? Broadstripe Delivers Big Ten network in Michigan] ]

International carriage

In September 2008, the CRTC officially approved a request by Shaw Communications to allow carriage of the Big Ten Network in Canada on digital cable television. Although CTVglobemedia brought up concerns about it competing with TSN (a major Canadian sports network, which airs some college sports), it was determined that it wouldn't be competitive due to its consideration as a "very niche service". [cite web|url=http://www.digitalhome.ca/content/view/2803/279/|title=Shaw gets okay to distribute Big Ten Network |publisher=DigitalHome.ca|accessdate=2008-09-26]

Current availability

The network is currently available on 140 other small cable companies, including university cable systems in all Big Ten campus dorms [ [http://bigtennetwork.com/index.asp Big Ten Network ] ] with the exception of the University of Illinois.

Partner Channels

*Fox College Sports
*Fox Sports Net

imilar Channels

* MountainWest Sports Network
* CBS College Sports Network
* ESPNU

External links

* [http://www.bigtennetwork.com Big Ten Network Website]
* [http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/062106aad.html Official Announcement of the creation of the network]
* [http://www.bigtennetwork.com/managex/index.asp?ArticleSource=418 Big Ten Network FAQ]
* [http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/101206aaa.html Press release announcing official name and logo]
* [http://www.celisee.com/big_ten_network/2008/08.html Big Ten Network] Available on Cable this weekend

References