Big Ten Network has decided shorten its name to three letters and unveil a new logo in the process. It will now be known as BTN and also show various new logo featuring each conference’s school colors. There’s also a generic logo to boot. So instead of seeing listings for “Big Ten Network” during in the Primetime & Late Night Viewing Picks, you’ll see it listed as “BTN”. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure it out. Here’s the announcement from BTN.
Big Ten Network announces a re-branding, unveils new logo, URL
Website migrates to BTN.com
CHICAGO – The Big Ten Network today announced a re-branding of the network as BTN, and accompanying new logo and web domain of BTN.com.
Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the changes reflect the network’s evolution and direction. The logo also offers greater flexibility for multiple applications, including creating school-specific BTN logos using school colors (available for viewing at http://on.fb.me/BTN-logos).
“Fans, viewers, media and our colleagues have already naturally gravitated toward the BTN name in recent years. It makes sense to adopt it,” Silverman said. “These changes are a logical step in our evolution, and give us an umbrella under which we can launch other businesses across digital platforms during our next phase of growth and development.”
The first such new venture will be unveiled next month.
The new logo also is part of a complete redesign of the network’s graphics, animation and music packages that viewers will see for the first time during the network’s coverage of the Big Ten Football Media Days and Kickoff Luncheon in July. The new logo incorporates some of the design elements as the previous logo, particularly the star, and complements the Big Ten Conference’s new logo.
BTN programming will remain focused on the Big Ten Conference and national developments affecting its 12 universities. Available to more than 80 million homes across the country, the Big Ten Network is the only internationally distributed conference network.
While the network’s website is now www.BTN.com, the previous URL of www.BigTenNetwork.com will bounce visitors to the new domain.
BTN TIMELINE
June 21, 2006 – Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks announce a 20-year partnership to create and launch the Big Ten Network
December 5, 2006 –Hires Mark Silverman as president.
August 30, 2007 – Network goes on the air
September 1, 2007 – First live football games, including Michigan vs. Appalachian State
September 29, 2007 Becomes first new television network to reach the 30 million subscribers in first 30 days on the air
December 21, 2007 –First original series, The Journey: Minnesota Basketball debuts.
March 13-14, 2008 – Carries first Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament games from Indianapolis, including Minnesota’s miracle buzzer-beater victory vs. Indiana.
Summer 2008 – Availability increases to approximately 75 million homes across the United States and Canada.
October 26, 2008 –Adds Gus Johnson to men’s basketball talent roster.
April 8, 2009 – Earns its first-ever Sports Emmy nomination
September 3, 2009 – Streams first Big Ten football game for an international audience on www.BigTenTicket.com.
September 19, 2009 – Penn State students announce, produce and shoot the network’s first-ever Student U production.
March 3, 2010 – Announces that legendary sports broadcaster Keith Jackson will host Big Ten Icons, counting down the top student-athletes in Big Ten history
June 11, 2010 – Carries a press conference live from Lincoln, Neb., announcing Nebraska’s joining the Big Ten.
September 18, 2010 Big Ten Icons debuts, with Charles Woodson at No. 20.
March 10, 2011 –Big Ten Icons concludes, as Illinois’ Red Grange named the top Big Ten Icon
March 22, 2011 – Earns a second Sports Emmy nomination
May 16, 2011 – Network rebrands itself as BTN, unveils new logo and primary website at www.BTN.com.
That’s it.
