By Staff
PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO – Comcast Corporation and the Big Ten Network announced today that they have reached a long-term multimedia agreement for Comcast to carry Big Ten Network programming across television, broadband and video-on-demand in time for the 2008 college football season.
Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will initially launch the network as part of its expanded basic level of service to promote it to the majority of its customers residing in states with Big Ten universities (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) starting Aug. 15th. (Comcast does not have systems in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.) In Spring 2009, Comcast may elect to move the network to a broadly distributed digital level of service in most of its systems in these states. Comcast's digital customers in the Big Ten states will also have immediate access to live Big Ten games and events in high definition, Big Ten programming via Comcast's video-on-demand platform, and a wide array of conference-related content through Comcast.net.
Outside of the Big Ten states that Comcast serves, Comcast has the option to provide Big Ten Network programming on any level of service, including its Sports Entertainment Package.
"This is a dramatic step toward our goal of achieving broad access to Big Ten athletics and to the world-class Big Ten `brand' that extends beyond fields and courts, into classrooms and labs, into the lives and minds of our students, faculty, and alumni," MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said. "We are optimistic this agreement with Comcast will accelerate agreements with other cable carriers; we realize that there are Spartan fans and supporters for whom the Big Ten Network remains inaccessible. The reach and programming of the Big Ten Network has been impressive for a first-year network. The Comcast agreement provides even more momentum for a promising, indeed historic, future."
"This is an exciting day for Big Ten fans and in particular the Spartan Nation," MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said. "With the Comcast agreement, a significant number of cable subscribers will now have access to the high-quality, in-depth programming produced by the Big Ten Network. Achieving broad distribution has been a top priority since the network launched last fall, and although some work still remains to be done with other cable carriers not only within this state but throughout the Big Ten footprint, this agreement marks a significant milestone in terms of reaching that goal."
Officials from Comcast and Big Ten Network said they look forward to utilizing both traditional and emerging media to bring more Big Ten programming to fans than was ever available to them before.
"We are very pleased with the agreement we have reached with the Big Ten Network to carry hundreds of live Big Ten events," said Madison Bond, Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Comcast Cable. "We will be providing our customers with Big Ten programming through our signature video-on-demand service, and will have lots of highlights, replays, scores and more through Comcast.net so fans can keep pace with Big Ten action whenever they want to."
Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the network is thrilled to have Comcast as a distribution partner. "This agreement allows us to reach many more Big Ten fans with our programming because of the high concentration of Comcast subscribers in Big Ten states. With the Comcast deal now in place, the Big Ten Network will be available to more than two-thirds of all homes in Big Ten Country."
Big Ten Network already produces more high-definition television content than any new sports network in television history. Over the next year, more than 400 live Big Ten sporting events will be carried by the Big Ten Network in high definition, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and soccer, as well as other NCAA-sponsored sports.
Comcast's digital customers who receive the network will have On Demand access to programming such as weekly extended highlights and condensed game replays from around the conference, classic Big Ten sporting events, bowl game coverage and coaches' shows, plus original campus programming and nightly studio shows from Big Ten Network, most of which is available in high definition.
Comcast also has the ability to deliver much of that same content to its Comcast High Speed Internet customers via the company's Comcast.net portal. Additionally, Comcast has the rights to carry certain network content on Fancast.com.