What do you get when leagues start grossly overestimating the interest from the public? You have the NFL Network and Time Warner unable to broadcast to some customers because compromise is only a word that sits idle and alone in the Oxford Dictionary. ESPNU, the network that aired last year's Crosstown shootout blacking out a majority of Cincinnatians from cheering on their respective home town teams, was an inconvenience, but they are now on Time Warner.
When we heard that the Big Ten will have their own network, you almost had the feeling that this exact thing would happen. Time Warner, holding onto their guns, will only put the network on their digital sports tier, rather than basic, so people that want the channel, pay for the channel. Not the other way around.
As Ohio State fans with Time Warner, we'll miss out on four games this year (Youngstown State and Akron and possibly Northwestern and Kent State). The SEC could be following suit next season and the Pac-10 and ACC are considering.
"So of course cable companies are going to try to push these new sports channels to tiers, which isn't a big deal for a rabid fan willing to pay $20 more per month. But it makes the business model difficult for networks not on expanded basic."
Boy, I can't wait until we're paying $3,000 per month because regular network programming will be a thing of the past.
Buckeyes blacked out [Enquirer]