BTN strikes deal w/Time Warner & Cablevision

[mws192]

What leverage does the Big 10 have?

They have the leverage of Fox and all their sports properties. I don't find it coincidental that at the same time this deal was reported that there were similar reports that Fox Sports 2 would be getting wider carriage in NYC (See http://www.newsday.com/sports/colum...hings-straightened-out-on-fox-cable-1.8072843 -- " FS2, which is in about 2.3 million homes in the New York area -- a figure that will rise to 3 million this summer".

Fox also owns YES, so I will not be shocked to see new YES renewals leak out next.

 

[kibblesnbits]

That's reverse leverage. They would have no trouble telling Yankee fans that seeing their team was being held hostage to get coverage of Minnesota - Rutgers volleyball. Unless the BTN was being bundled at a greatly reduced rate (see below) that could easily backfire.

The RCN deal convinces me they are not charging in league rates. We had them at a corporate (not nearly as nice as it sounds) apartment in the Forest Hills area. Signature is really their first cable tier (basic was pretty much over the air channels). We paid about $100 for TV and Internet. At those rates and with the big money they are paying ESPN, Yes, MSG, etc. there is no way they are taking another big margin hit on the Big 10. These deals sound focused on market share rather than peak royalties.

 

[Stinger92860]

They have the leverage of Fox and all their sports properties. I don't find it coincidental that at the same time this deal was reported that there were similar reports that Fox Sports 2 would be getting wider carriage in NYC (See http://www.newsday.com/sports/colum...hings-straightened-out-on-fox-cable-1.8072843 -- " FS2, which is in about 2.3 million homes in the New York area -- a figure that will rise to 3 million this summer".
Fox also owns YES, so I will not be shocked to see new YES renewals leak out next.

Is this a positive or negative for us?

 

[Sea Goat]

If Rutgers was the reason for the deal, couldn't they just have added a soap opera channel? Plain and simple - the content emanating from Piscataway will be awful, except when Julie Hermann holds a presser. If the B1G wants some quality content within their mission statement then UConn is a cinch to be added now. If alleged "looney tunes" Gray was right with his prognostication two days ago then this all makes sense.

 

[upstater]

The thing about the BTN blogger is that she links to an article stating Rutgers now has coverage outside NJ state lines. Did she assume that meant Manhattan, because the article she links to says nothing about that. Of course BTN gives them coverage outside NJ state lines. BTN is all over America.

The RCN deal just puts BTN on premium, it is not basic, so the B1G was unable to place the channel on that part of Manhattan.

 

[JayRU09]

How is this so bad for UConn? Seriously. Was this not expected? I mean, who knows. Maybe the BTN got NYC distribution because the cable companies were told UConn will be included. Just saying.

I take it you missed the months of UCONN/Syracuse/ACC/hell ANYONE in the world saying that we couldn't pull this off even in New Jersey because no one cares about us. And it was even worse for NYC where people like the former BE commissioner saying that St. John's is a bigger NY brand than us.

Well guess what, we did it. I don't care how any opposing fans rationalize it either, because it's happening and *bleep* Syracuse.

 

[upstater]

I take it you missed the months of UCONN/Syracuse/ACC/hell ANYONE in the world saying that we couldn't pull this off even in New Jersey because no one cares about us. And it was even worse for NYC where people like the former BE commissioner saying that St. John's is a bigger NY brand than us.

Well guess what, we did it. I don't care how any opposing fans rationalize it either, because it's happening and *bleep* Syracuse.

You're totally wrong here. We've been saying for months that you would easily get New Jersey but New York City would be a very tough nut to crack. Nothing has changed. The article you linked to was a misreading by a blogger. The other info above about RCN shows they put BTN in a premium sports package, not on basic.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Leave it to UNJ people to think they're responsible for accomplishing anything here, other than having a campus and a football program for the big 10 conference to bend over and abuse, close to the Manhattan island.

 

[JayRU09]

Yes, the official website of the Big Ten Network who has access to every member of the BTN is wrong and misreading things. Because there is no possible way that they just called their boss to clarify what has actually happened.

And Carl, like I said, I don't care how opposing fans rationalize this. Because it has happened. That's it. You can try to come up with any reason as to why this happened, all that matters is that it has.

 

[JayRU09]

You're totally wrong here. We've been saying for months that you would easily get New Jersey but New York City would be a very tough nut to crack. Nothing has changed. The article you linked to was a misreading by a blogger. The other info above about RCN shows they put BTN in a premium sports package, not on basic.

Read the post. It will go on RCN's 'signature' package. After having a quick look at RCN's website, 'Signature' is the lowest tier they sell.

 

[woomba]

It may be better to just wait for the details to come out before either side claims victory - there's too many unknowns right now to definitively say that Big Ten has accomplished its goal in NYC.

 

[upstater]

Yes, the official website of the Big Ten Network who has access to every member of the BTN is wrong and misreading things. Because there is no possible way that they just called their boss to clarify what has actually happened.

And Carl, like I said, I don't care how opposing fans rationalize this. Because it has happened. That's it. You can try to come up with any reason as to why this happened, all that matters is that it has.

So you're saying the BTN site is just a propaganda piece, kind of like ESPN and NFL.com. Yes, agreed. But some of those writers are clueless about the top brass's intentions. The writer then links to a NJ.com site which gores against what she was saying. That's poor anyway you cut it, but OK.

As for RCN you misrepresent it. Signature and Premium are NOT basic: http://www.rcn.com/new-york/digital-cable-tv/services-and-pricing/channel-lineups. I'll grant you that Basic is probably a very small part of the sub base, but if you don't know the Sig./Premium breakdown and sub rate, then what are we talking about exactly? I get BTN where I live too in a package. It's everywhere. The key is for 90% of subscribers to pay at least $1 a month for it. That's what you're looking for. With RCN we're talking about a system that didn't have BTN at all adding it to non-basic packages named Sig. and Premium. If the B1G managed to get the channel on RCN's signature package for $1 a month, then you scored bigtime. Even if that's not basic. But given the inclusion of Premium in the deal, it could be that they will charge .10 a sub per month for Sig. and $1 for premium.

For that matter, we don't even know what BTN signed with TW and Cablevision:

The RCN Big Apple agreement comes on the heels of BTN president Mark Silverman saying the service has scored accords that will widen its penetration on Cablevision and Time Warner Cable systems in the New York DMA. Whereas those MSOs have been offering BTN on their sports tiers, the new pacts will afford the network a wider berth.

All we know is that they are off the sports packages on into more widely available packages.

 

[kibblesnbits]

So you're saying the BTN site is just a propganda piece, kind of like ESPN and NFL.com. The write then links to a NJ.com site which gores against what she was saying. That's poor anyway you cut it, but OK.

As for RCN you misrepresent it. Signature and Premium are NOT basic: http://www.rcn.com/new-york/digital-cable-tv/services-and-pricing/channel-lineups. I'll grant you that Basic is probably a very small part of the sub base, but if you don't know the Sig./Premium breakdown and sub rate, then what are we talking about exactly? I get BTN where I live too on my package. It's everywhere. The key is for 90% of subscribers to pay at least $1 a month for it. That's what you're looking for. With RCN we're talking about a system that didn't have BTN at all adding it to non-basic packages named sig. and Premium. If the B1G managed to get the channel on RCN's signature package for $1 a month, then you scored bigtime. Even if that's not basic. But given the inclusion of Premium in the deal, it could be that they will charge .10 a sub per month for Sig. and $1 for premium.

For that matter, we don't even know what BTN signed with TW and Cablevision:



All we know is that they are off the sports packages on into more widely available packages.

The last statement re: TW and Cablevision is key. The BTN isn't opened to new territory with those deals as they already carried it. The question is how many more subscribers will get it and at what rate.

RCN is an exception as most carriers already offered it somewhere. I've had the BTN for several years as part of Charter's high end Gold package (that I will probably drop due to cost). I can't see any way they move it down to their basic package here - unless at giveaway rates because it would be a direct margin hit on their already lowest margin offerings. There isn't the demand for it. Hell, I'm a huge sports fan and I've watched a few hockey games and a volleyball game in all that time.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

So as a Rutgers fan, does this equal the greatest athletic accomplishment in school history and is that still finishing 3rd in the BE and winning the Texas bowl.

I'll hang up and listen.

 

[JayRU09]

So as a Rutgers fan, does this equal the greatest athletic accomplishment in school history and is that still finishing 3rd in the BE and winning the Texas bowl.

I'll hang up and listen.

We finished 2nd that year holmes.

Finished 1st in 2012 as well.

What this does is secure our future. We will now have the stability and the income to move forward with upgrades across the board. Plans just 'leaked' for an 'athlete's village' and a huge renovation to the RAC. I've seen the list of candidates we're going after if we fire Flood, and the two at the top have interest in us and are some pretty big name hires.

In many ways, this is as big if not bigger than anything in our athletic history. It ensures that we have a chance at something moving forward. Having a chance at a bright future to me is a heck of a lot better than only having a past.

 

[whaler11]

So as a Rutgers fan, does this equal the greatest athletic accomplishment in school history and is that still finishing 3rd in the BE and winning the Texas bowl.

I'll hang up and listen.

I'd love to bash Rutgers as usual, but I'm shocked at how quickly and easily this has gone for them.

I really thought it was going to be a war.

I don't really hate Rutgers beyond a handful of internet posters and Schiano. All the fans I know in real life are really good fans. The one thing about being as bad as they were for that long is that long time fans are all pretty diehard.

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'd love to bash Rutgers as usual, but I'm shocked at how quickly and easily this has gone for them.

I really thought it was going to be a war.

I don't really hate Rutgers beyond a handful of internet posters and Schiano. All the fans I know in real life are really good fans. The one thing about being as bad as they were for that long is that long time fans are all pretty diehard.

You know actual UNJ fans?

I don't. I don't know a single actual human being that is a fan of UNJ, and I have family that live in North Jersey. I've seen them dressed in red at the stadium, when they come up to CT and lose.

I occasionally see a car with the R sticker on it when driving through that corridor of hell that is the I-95 in jersey. I think jersey is the only place on the entire east coast from south beach all they way to Portland ME, where you can get lost on I-95, because they choose to call the highway something else other than Interstate 95. Much like they choose to call the University of New Jersey something else.

You can't just change the name of something and make it different. Only in Jersey.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

@JayRU09 Lmao, ok tied for 2nd to a WVU that beat you. Wonderful. And 2012, the year you lost a de facto conference title game at home to Louisville.

Look, why you would feel the need to come gloat on the greatest day in Rutgers pathetic existence on a UConn message board speaks volumes.

We may be screwed at UConn and we know it. The last thing we need is a jerk off Rutgers fan throwing it in ot faces.

 

[JayRU09]

Only 'gloating' because for so long it's been the same story from everyone, 'Rutgers doesn't draw in NYC'. Well, sure seems like the cable companies are disagreeing with that line of thinking.

People wanted to and continue to knock us every chance they get, so now we get to have the upper hand for once. And damn if it doesn't feel pretty good.

Would have loved to win some national championships or gone to a BCS bowl, but we didn't and we are where we are. In a premier conference with a future.

I've been trying to be civil with you guys as I am a fan of UCONN and would love to see you guys in the B1G, but the more that the B1G accomplishes with this move the more it seems that UCONN fans just keep making fun of our athletics history while pointing to their own.

Well, have fun with history then.

 

[OkaForPrez]

. Having a chance at a bright future to me is a heck of a lot better than only having a past.

Watch it there Jay. You can't be talking about your past, so I assume you are talking about ours. And our past is still the present. We haven't even hung our newest NC banner yet.

 

[UConn9604]

Only 'gloating' because for so long it's been the same story from everyone, 'Rutgers doesn't draw in NYC'. Well, sure seems like the cable companies are disagreeing with that line of thinking.

People wanted to and continue to knock us every chance they get, so now we get to have the upper hand for once. And damn if it doesn't feel pretty good.

Would have loved to win some national championships or gone to a BCS bowl, but we didn't and we are where we are. In a premier conference with a future.

I've been trying to be civil with you guys as I am a fan of UCONN and would love to see you guys in the B1G, but the more that the B1G accomplishes with this move the more it seems that UCONN fans just keep making fun of our athletics history while pointing to their own.

Well, have fun with history then.

I hesitate to say this, because I would really like to join you in the Big Ten and continue scheduling games with you regardless, but do you realize that Rutgers itself has never done anything to earn that slot? Literally, nothing?

Pretend that Ugly Betty was a billionaire trust fund baby. That's your athletic program: attracting lots of attention for none of the right reasons.

 

[SubbaBub]

Are the carriage fees x the # of households satisfactory to Fox and the B1G?

If yes, we're doomed.
If not, we're doomed, but in the traditionally good way.

 

[HuskyJ]

Having a chance at a bright future to me is a heck of a lot better than only having a past.

 

[ruthetiger]

You know actual UNJ fans?

I don't. I don't know a single actual human being that is a fan of UNJ, and I have family that live in North Jersey. I've seen them dressed in red at the stadium, when they come up to CT and lose.

I occasionally see a car with the R sticker on it when driving through that corridor of hell that is the I-95 in jersey. I think jersey is the only place on the entire east coast from south beach all they way to Portland ME, where you can get lost on I-95, because they choose to call the highway something else other than Interstate 95. Much like they choose to call the University of New Jersey something else.

You can't just change the name of something and make it different. Only in Jersey.

?????

 

[Kolumbo]

Much like they choose to call the University of New Jersey something else.

You can't just change the name of something and make it different. Only in Jersey.

It's SUNJ, CS. Or is it NJSU? No matter. Tomato, rotten tomato.

 

[ruthetiger]

I hesitate to say this, because I would really like to join you in the Big Ten and continue scheduling games with you regardless, but do you realize that Rutgers itself has never done anything to earn that slot? Literally, nothing?

Pretend that Ugly Betty was a billionaire trust fund baby. That's your athletic program: attracting lots of attention for none of the right reasons.

This isn't a knock on you guys, but I think most of us understand that we don't deserve the invite. We already know we've not warrented the invite from the BT, the thing is, the BT thought otherwise.

 

[noeynox]

This isn't a knock on you guys, but I think most of us understand that we don't deserve the invite. We already know we've not warrented the invite from the BT, the thing is, the BT thought otherwise.

Exactly it doesn't matter who thinks you deserve an invite or not. You got in. I don't get anyone begrudging RU getting into the B1G. Their administrators have been angling to get into the Bit Ten for a while now. We had past administrators tyring to hold the Big East together with duct tape and bubble gum.

 

[itgoeslike]

Only 'gloating' because for so long it's been the same story from everyone, 'Rutgers doesn't draw in NYC'. Well, sure seems like the cable companies are disagreeing with that line of thinking.

It likely has more to do with the potential of current B1G teams drawing well in NYC and less to do with Rutgers' drawing power.

 

[OkaForPrez]

It likely has more to do with the potential of current B1G teams drawing well in NYC and less to do with Rutgers' drawing power.

That's sour grapes, if that were the case the BTN would already be on basic in the NYC DMA. We still don't know the full details, but if that is in fact what's happened here, you have to tip your hat to Delaney and RU for getting it done.

 

[ruthetiger]

It likely has more to do with the potential of current B1G teams drawing well in NYC and less to do with Rutgers' drawing power.

Seriously? Does it really matter? Either way, folks are gonna make their way to the stadium for a game.