Breaking News: Time Warner Cable and The Big Ten Network: Have a Deal

Late on Monday Night both Time Warner Cable and The Big Ten Network came to agreement on a deal in principal, ending over a year of negotations.

The details of the deal are yet to be released but it seems the major issues have been resolved.

The NFL Network had no comment on the deal.

OK, Buckeyes it's really time to call Direct TV

On a follow up from Friday's post on the negotiations between the Big Ten Network and Time Warner we learn what Time Warner had offered the Big Ten Network:

O'Connell (TWC VP) extended an offer that would show Ohio State football games carried on the Big Ten Network. As part of the deal, customers would be charged on a per-game basis, with all revenue from the games going to Ohio State.

"Time Warner Cable is committed to reaching a reasonable and fair deal," O'Connell wrote. "In addition, in the interest of all our customers, Buckeye fans and others alike, while we continue our negotiations, we are willing to offer the Ohio State football games carried on the Big Ten Network to our customers on a per-game basis, at a retail price set by you, with 100 percent of the revenue going to you. To ensure that our customers can see these games for the lowest possible price, we will not keep one penny of the revenue generated from the sale of these games."

You have to be kidding me. Having these games pay-per-view when they should be free or like a $1 a month is crazy. The Big Ten Network agrees:

A few hours later, the Big Ten Network released a statement in which it called Time Warner's offer a "publicity stunt.""Time Warner is well aware that it cannot selectively choose to air a network's programming in lieu of full carriage," the statement read.

"What proposals have recently been exchanged, there is a wide gap between what Time Warner and its competitors would seem to agree is reasonable and fair," the statement read.

I have zero confidence that a deal will be reached and it's time for Big Ten fans in TWC's cable territory to find a new TV programming provider.

It has to be Time Warner Cable because the BTN is about to announce another agreement has been reached with Mediacom (for Iowa fans).

1, 2, 3, 4 Pressure! Talks continue between Time Warner and The Big Ten Network

So what happens when the AD of a powerful University tells it's season ticket holders and alumni to leave a cable service and choose another provider that carries the Big Ten Network?

Well, it causes press releases and even more pressure to get a deal done by both sides. As we all know, OSU's games against YSU, Troy, and most likely Minnesota will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Yes, Gene Smith AD of OSU sent a letter to season ticket holders and alumni stating the following:

“Time Warner’s decision not to carry the network is a huge disappointment,” Smith said. That is especially the case, he said, because the network was able to strike a deal earlier this year with Comcast, the other big cable company serving the Big Ten region.Smith said seven in 10 homes in Big Ten states now have the network compared to four in 10 in Ohio.“It is a shame,” Smith said in the letter, “that nearly all Michigan fans have the network, but Buckeye fans do not.”

Time Warner of course had a quick reply:

In a statement, the company said it was disappointed that Ohio State “falsely” reported that Time Warner has made a decision not to carry the Big Ten Network.

“It appears the university is not being fully briefed on the status of the negotiations,” the statement said. “We’ve had positive discussions with Fox in recent days, including the active exchange of proposals. There is no stalemate or breakdown in discussions as Smith’s letter would have our customers believe.”

Bottom Line: Both sides have a week to get this deal done or TWC is going to lose a ton of customers in Ohio. Both sides better get back to the table and come to an agreement fast.

On a side note: The NFL Network had no comment or station on Time Warner Cable.

Buckeye Fans are Grinding over TWC and BTN

How would you like to have one of the top teams in college football?

How would you like to be on the Midwest Cover of Sports Illustrated College Football Preview?

How would you like to be picked as a favorite to return to the National Championship game?

How would you like to have the #1 recruit in America as your back up QB?

How would you like to own more sweater vests then Mike Phelps has Olympic Medals?

How would you like to leave the comfort of your own home to watch your favorite college team's first 3 out of 5 games?

The correct answer to the first 4 questions is YES. The answer to the last two is NO (sweater vests are strictly reserved for Columbus head coaches and grandfathers over the age of 65).

The clock continues to tick for a deal to get done between Ohio's dominate cable company Time Warner Cable and The Big Ten Network. OSU's first game on 8/30 is against "The Vest's" old school Youngstown State and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

If you're an Ohio State Fan in the state of Ohio and want to see the game, you have three options right now:

1. Buy a ticket
2. Dump Cable and get a Dish Provider
3. Go to a bar or other location that has the BTN

So what are the two sides saying? Well, they are saying two different things.

BTN:

"We're definitely concerned that the pace of negotiations isn't moving quickly enough," Mark Silverman told The Dispatch. "We've had some preliminary talks with Time Warner, but we hope they will become more substantive quickly. There's still time, but we're a long way apart, and we've got a lot of ground to cover."

TWC:

Time Warner spokeswoman Judy Barbao said the plan is to strike a deal before Aug. 30, when the Buckeyes play host to Youngstown State on the Big Ten Network. "The fact that the Big Ten Network was able to reach an agreement with Comcast was encouraging," Barbao said. "We are committed to doing what we can to get a deal done."

Memo to Time Warner: Time is not on your side and if you don't want to lose a ton of subcribers you better get a deal done with the Big Ten Network in the next week or so.

Good News in the Time Warner - Big Ten Network Talks

Looks like both Time Warner and the Big Ten Network are at the table talking about a way to get a deal done before the start of the football season. BTN President Mark Silverman had this to say; "We're working and talking to Time Warner," Silverman said. "We'll have an update hopefully in the next few weeks."

Side Note: Let's all take a look at the calendar. You have a month to get the deal signed and get the network on your cable channel lineup. Let's step up the communication!

Of course we're hopeful," Time Warner spokesperson Heidi Mock said. "Our last communication (from the corporate office) were that discussions were ongoing."
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• Sounds like Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins had a great trip to the Playboy mansion for his All American photo shoot. He was pictured wearing a straw hat and throwing up outside the mansion. "My stomach was acting up. I didn't even know there were cameras around," Jenkins said. "It was an enjoyable weekend."
• Guess who's still around..........Yes, Tate Forcier has recently cut down his list to 6 schools. "I've got a solid six," Forcier said. "Right now it is Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Florida, Washington State and New Mexico." If he comes to Michigan, would you say; We have a plethora of young QB's next year? It for sure would be the 3 Amigo's!

Big Problems in Ohio for the Big Ten Network

The State of Michigan is all set, Comcast and the Big Ten Network have a deal. Doesn't really matter because Michigan's first slate of games is on National TV anyway (ESPN, ABC, or NBC).

So Michigan fans are covered for now (of course Michigan will have to have at least one conference game on the BTN and most likely the Toledo game as well).

Still the BTN has major issues in the State of Ohio where Time Warner Cable rules and now The Ohio State University or UOS (for Mr. Pryor) two out of their first 4 games will be on the network. The Buckeyes' games against Youngstown State on Aug. 30 and Troy on Sept. 20.

Time Warner (which is on the block) still doesn't have a deal with The Big Ten Network even though most of their concerns were the same as Comcast's. So why no deal? We don't know.

But the fact of the matter is that OSU vs Youngstown State and OSU vs Troy will both be on the BTN. If you include the mandatory Big Ten Conference game, OSU will be on the BTN at least 3 times this season. (OSU vs USC will be a night game on ABC and 9/6 game vs Ohio U will be a ESPN or the deuce)

Memo to Time Warner Cable: Get this deal done or you will be losing a ton of customers to a Dish provider in Ohio. If your a Michigan fan in Ohio you have most likely until 10/11 (Toledo) until the Wolverines show up on the BTN. OSU fans have until 8/30.

Tick Toc................................

Will the schedule force Time Warner's hand?

So the last "Big" Cable company to not have a deal with the Big Ten Network is Time Warner. TWC had the same complaints/positions as Comcast did but a deal doesn't seem to be imminent. Why? you ask. There are other things going on at TWC. Time Warner Cable is on the "blocks" and could be sold at any time. Comcast are your interested? You have about 2 months to purchase them and get them integrated. Ok, that won't happen.

So what's next? Time Warner holds the most cable boxes in Mid-Southern Ohio. Which means there are going to be a lot of angry Buckeye fans if a deal isn't done before the end of August.

So what would motivate Time Warner to get a deal done soon? Customers complaining didn't seem to help last year. Maybe loss of revenue will do the trick. If a deal isn't done soon, Time Warner will lose a ton of households in Ohio to one of the dish providers.

The reason they will move? This little tidbit from the Mark Silverman, President of The Big Ten Network:

Silverman said the first three weekends of this season's football schedule should be announced sometime after July 1. Each of the 11 teams is guaranteed to be on the Big Ten Network at least once for a non-conference game and once for a conference match up.

Meaning football fans in Ohio will know two months in advance if their favorite Big Ten team falls on the network early in the season. They will also know that the rules state they have to be on during the Big Ten campaign as well. Two months advance = plenty of time to change providers. TWC is going to be sold anyway, why stick it out with them?

Good Luck Time Warner, the clock is ticking.......