Big Ten Network Frequently Asked Questions
Updated April 14, 2008

Why was the Big Ten Network created?
A few years ago, Big Ten Conference executives met with ABC/ESPN executives to discuss extending the conference's football and basketball agreements that were expiring within a few years. In that meeting, the Big Ten was told that as part of a renewal, the conference would need to move some football games to Thursday nights, that it would have more games than ever before appear on ESPN platforms that did not have widespread distribution, and that it would not receive the additional exposure for women's athletics it was seeking.

Following this meeting, the Big Ten decided to fully evaluate having its own network to complement its national television agreements. The conference determined that it could form a network that would include football and basketball games, while also greatly increasing the number of women's and Olympic sports seen on television.

In addition, by controlling its own network, the Big Ten could avoid airing beer commercials, gambling ads and infomercials.

Subsequently, the Big Ten went back to ABC/ESPN and renewed its agreement, which also increased the number of games seen on those networks. And, importantly, the Big Ten was able to retain enough live games and the rights to classic games to launch the Big Ten Network.

The network launched on August 30, 2007, and is on the air 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. Fox has a proven track record of successfully launching other networks.

Why was the Big Ten Network created when fans used to watch the games for free?
The notion that all Big Ten games were on free, over-the-air TV is incorrect. In 2005 and 2006, 13 Big Ten football games were not televised at all. During that same time, football games were moving from being regionally or locally syndicated so that they could be seen on over the air stations to other ESPN platforms that were not widely available, a total of 42 games. Similarly, in 2006, 85 men's basketball games received no television coverage, while 16 contests were on either ESPNU or ESPN360. The trend of games moving away from local syndication would have continued with or without the Big Ten Network.

With the Big Ten Network, every home Big Ten football and men's basketball game will now be produced for a national audience, with those revenues distributed directly to the schools. We believe that fans within the Big Ten's eight-state footprint should be able to see these games on their existing expanded basic cable package. Outside the eight states, fans would likely have to subscribe to a different level of service.

When fully distributed, the Big Ten Network ensures that every home Big Ten football and men's basketball game will be produced for a national audience.

Why are some cable companies saying the Big Ten Network wants me to pay extra to receive it?
Many are trying to confuse the issue. It's true that cable operators pay the network a fee to receive our programming. These operators offset that cost by selling advertising and selling the Big Ten Network's HD channel to their subscribers. So it is the operators' decision as to whether they pass their costs on to consumers.

So, how much does the network cost cable operators?
Under a dollar within the Big Ten's eight states, and about a dime everywhere else. Overall, the Big Ten Network's national average price to cable companies is about 30 cents. According to research by SNL Kagan, the Big Ten Network's in-market rate of under $1 is less expensive than 29 regional sports networks.

How many people get the Big Ten Network?
Through distribution agreements with DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse, Insight Communications, WideOpenWest, RCN, Service Electric and more than 240 cable operators across the country, the Big Ten Network became the first new network in cable or satellite television history to reach 30 million subscribers within its first 30 days. However, we will not be satisfied until every potential subscriber in the Big Ten's eight-state region is receiving the network.

Why won't the Big Ten Network go onto a sports tier in Big Ten Country?
There are many reasons.

*Cornerstones to the Community. The Big Ten Conference includes ten public institutions and one private university which act as cornerstones to their local communities and that are very important to the people who attended these schools or live nearby. We believe it's important that these same local communities have complete access to these institutions and their programming.

*The network warrants widespread distribution. The conference is committed to broad distribution of the Big Ten Network's programming, which has wide appeal, particularly within the eight-state Big Ten region. The evidence of this is that, on cable/satellite systems that currently carry the network, ratings for its Saturday football games have consistently ranked among the top 12 programs among all cable programs across all networks. Ratings for football telecasts have also rated higher than college football on NBC and CBS, and in some markets have rated higher than the baseball playoffs on TBS. Programming this popular within Big Ten Country deserves to be broadly distributed.

*All regional sports networks are on expanded basic. Although the network is the first of its kind and will distribute all its programming throughout the country, its local appeal is comparable to regional sports networks (commonly known as "RSN's," such as Fox Sports Net Detroit, or Comcast SportsNet Chicago). All of these networks are carried on expanded basic cable, and not a sports tier.

*Sports tiers are limited. Only 4% of households currently have what is considered to be a sports tier package, and such packages are not available in all markets. Some cable companies want to carry the network on a sports tier because they would make significantly more money. We want to work with all of our carriers to help their businesses, but we believe the core Big Ten Network service must appear on expanded basic television inside the eight Big Ten States. DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, WOW, RCN, Service Electric and about 240 other cable companies already added the network to their expanded basic level of service or comparable package.

How many men's and women's basketball games were on the network during the season?
The Big Ten Network televised 140 regular season men's basketball games this season, plus three Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament games. Including postseason play, there were 20 Illinois games, 19 Indiana games, 25 Iowa games, 15 Michigan games, 15 Michigan State games, 19 Minnesota games, 19 Northwestern games, 14 Ohio State games, 17 Penn State games, 18 Purdue games and 21 Wisconsin games on the Big Ten Network.

The network also had 64 women's basketball games, more than any other network. Including the postseason, games by school were: Illinois, 10; Indiana, 10, Iowa; 10; Michigan, 10; Michigan State, 10; Minnesota, 11; Northwestern, 12; Ohio State, 9; Penn State, 12; Purdue, 10; and Wisconsin, 9. Nine of those games were Big Ten Tournament games.

Are you going to make a deal with Comcast?
We continue to negotiate with Comcast and we continue to make progress. At this time, we have national agreements in place with DIRECTV, DISH Network and AT&T U-Verse as well as cable agreements with Insight Communications, WideOpenWest, RCN, Service Electric and more than 240 cable operators.

Will the Big Ten Network carry the games I want to see?
The Big Ten Network carries more Big Ten football games and more Big Ten basketball games than any other network.

We televised 41 football games in 2007 (38 in HD) and televised 140 men's basketball games this past winter, including 64 conference match-ups and three Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament games. We also televised 64 women's basketball games, including nine Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament games.

The Big Ten Conference also has long-term agreements with ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. The Big Ten Network has a 20-year contract and is the destination for more Big Ten coverage than any other network.

How do you handle multiple games at once? Which game will I get to see?
The Big Ten Network sometimes will air multiple football games at the same time, and will regionalize the games so that we can cater to each specific market. Fans will see the games they care most about. We offer the games we are not broadcasting in certain markets to our distribution partners to air on their "overflow" channels, so that fans who live outside their university's state can watch their teams. These overflow channels are only available during the football season.

DIRECTV, DISH Network and AT&T U-Verse carry our "overflow" games. For cable subscribers, the decision whether or not to air Big Ten Network "overflow" games will be made by their cable operator.

Check BigTenNetwork.com each week during the football season to get specific overflow channel information for DIRECTV, DISH Network and AT&T U-Verse. If you are a cable subscriber, check with your provider.

On what level of service does DIRECTV offer the network?
DIRECTV offers the Big Ten Network on its CHOICE Package, DIRECTV's most widely distributed programming package. The network is on DIRECTV Channel 610. Check local listings or your DIRECTV channel guide for program information.

Does DIRECTV carry the Big Ten Network in HD?
Yes, DIRECTV carries the Big Ten Network in both standard-definition and high-definition on channel 610 (viewers will see two Channels 610s in the on-screen program guide: one labeled BTN and one labeled BTNHD). Overflow football games can be found on neighboring channels (currently 609 and 612) and are also available in both standard-definition and high-definition. (These channels are only available during football season.) Customers must have an MPEG4 HD receiver and 5-LNB satellite dish in order to receive the Big Ten Network in HD from DIRECTV.

On what level of service does DISH Network offer the network?
Inside the eight states with Big Ten universities, Big Ten Network is now available on DISH Network's America's Top 100 Plus package. Outside the eight states, subscribers to America's Top 100 Plus also will need to purchase DISH's Multi-Sport Pack.

Why did DISH change the level of service?
Big Ten Network and DISH had agreed the network would reside within America's Top 100 Plus in the eight Big Ten states after DISH's national customers had an opportunity to see the network's initial football and basketball seasons. That preview ended in March. AT100+ includes all of the top regional sports networks and national sports networks like Big Ten Network, and is DISH's equivalent of the expanded basic level of service on cable.

How can fans outside of the eight-state region see the Big Ten Network?
All television distributors have been offered the Big Ten Network as an enhancement to their line-ups. DIRECTV and DISH Network offer the Big Ten Network as well.

The network has significantly reduced the cost to cable operators to carry the network outside the Big Ten area. Even though the level of service cable/satellite providers may offer for the network may vary, we want to work with them so that fans who would like to order it may be able to.

How much programming does the Big Ten Network broadcast in high-definition?
The Big Ten Network will produce more original HD than any other network in history. We are producing more than 400 events and our nightly live studio show in HD, totaling more than 1,000 hours of original HD content in our first year alone. If you do not have a high-definition television, you will still be able to receive all of our programming in standard definition.

Does ESPN GamePlan or ESPN Full Court still carry Big Ten games?
In years past, the only Big Ten games that appeared on ESPN GamePlan or ESPN Full Court were the regional ABC football games and the football and basketball games aired on ESPN Regional and ESPN Plus. Those regional ABC football games now air on ESPN/ESPN2 out of market. The ESPN Regional/ESPN Plus basketball games are now carried by the Big Ten Network and are available to a national audience.

Overall, the Big Ten Network produces significantly more football and men's basketball games than have aired regionally in recent years, and these games are available to all cable and satellite systems as part of their contracts to carry the Big Ten Network.

Does the Big Ten Network stream games via the Internet?
Yes. In our first year, we streamed 10 men's basketball games and 10 spring football games. As we move forward, we are working hard to create and execute a broadband video strategy that will complement the high-quality programming found on our network. Several factors will play a role in determining the breadth and depth of our broadband streaming offering, including rights issues and negotiations with cable and satellite providers. Keep an eye on BigTenNetwork.com for the latest information.

How will the Big Ten Network's profits be distributed?
The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. All fees and any other revenues to the conference will be shared equally among all 11 Big Ten institutions and the conference office. This increased financial support will help the universities to continue providing broad-based athletic programs, while enhancing the experience for all students on our campuses. For example, some schools are using the money to finance more scholarships, while others are building much-needed new facilities.