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EchoStar’s Dish Picks Up Big Ten Network

Sep 6, 2007  •  Post A Comment

EchoStar Communications agreed to launch the Big Ten Network on its Dish Network satellite TV service in time for this weekend’s football games.
The Big Ten Network launched Aug. 30 on DirecTV, but it has been in a battle with some cable operators, especially Comcast, over coverage in the eight states in which the conference’s schools are located.
Dish Network is putting the Big Ten Network on Channel 429, where it will be available to customers who subscribe to its America’s Top 100 package.
Comcast has balked at putting the Big Ten Network on a digital basic tier and wants it distributed as part of a sports tier. The Big Ten Network seeks carriage on basic tiers within the conference’s footprint.
Dish also will be carrying the Big Ten Network’s high-definition feed starting next week.
The network is 51 percent owned by the Big Ten Conference and 49 percent owned by Fox Cable Networks.
“Dish Network recognizes how important Big Ten games are to our customers, and we are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Big Ten Network so we may continue offering our customers the best in college and all sports,” said Eric Sahl, senior VP of programming for Dish Network.
“Dish Network continues to enhance its HD sports lineup, and we’re going to produce more events in HD than any new network in television history,” said Mark Silverman, president of the Big Ten Network. “We look forward to working closely with Dish Network to bring more and more viewers to the Big Ten Network.”
(Editor: Horowitz)

21 Comments

  1. COMCAST!!!! What a joke! THank god i got rid of them for Direct TV!

  2. Very happy to here good news about Big Ten Network.
    Thank You.

  3. It’s actually on Channel 439 (at least it is on mine)…and it’s coming in loud and clear!

  4. Comcast sucks. I ditched it too. Cheap suckers. I’ll never go back.

  5. Working in the cable industry, I understand completely why not only my cable provider but also my cable employer balk at striking a deal with Big Ten Network. Why should 100% of cable subscribers be required to pay for the per-subscriber cost of a carriage license when only 15-20% of the subscribers might want to view that network’s programming?
    Out of the hundreds of customers with whom I speak on a weekly basis, less than ten customers have stated that BTN reception is the #1 reason why they are disconnecting cable service to subscribe to satellite service. Our ICOMS software requires a disconnect reason in order to complete the requested disconnect order entry. Ergo, I always probe for the customer’s reason for disconnecting… including NFL Sunday Ticket, AT&T U-Verse, and BTN. Really, folks… less than ten customers want BTN so much that they are willing to switch service.
    In the meantime, BTN denies itself viewership and revenue by refusing to compromise with Comcast and other Midwest cable providers who comprehend the truth of the matter when it comes to their subscribers’ viewing habits. Last spring, it took action by Sen Kerry to rouse Major League Baseball from its own silly slumber… will Sen Bayh have to intervene with BTN?
    It’s a question that deserves an answer.

  6. As a Penn State fan I love watching the Big Ten Network on DISH Network. To me, DISH offers the best value programming among all satellite and cable TV providers and with the additon of the Big Ten Network, there programming offering is now even stronger.

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