After leaving major cable subscribers in the dark during its initial season, the Big Ten Network has finally reached a deal with Comcast, meaning viewers in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will start to see the channel on August 15.
Here’s the press release from the Big Ten Network.
However, the deal is not permanent. Mike Farrell of Multichannel News writes that Comcast will pay the price of 70 cents a subscriber (down from BTN’s demand of $1.10) and can elect not to carry it after the 2008-09 college basketball season.
Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says under the deal, most of the Twin Cities will be able to watch the Big Ten Network, but not Charter Communications subscribers.
Bob Fernandez of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the deal was a compromise between the two sides.
Tom Witosky of the Des Moines Register says Iowans remain shut out as Comcast does not serve the state.
We’ll continue to monitor developments in this story.