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Other conferences keeping tabs on Big Ten battle
College conferences will wait to see the outcome of the Big Ten Network before considering own TV projects.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Big Ten Conference fans aren't the only ones keeping a close eye on the Big Ten Network.
Because the Big Ten will become the first Bowl Championship Series conference to launch its own television network Aug. 30, the other five major college sports conferences are studying the situation as they decide how to move forward with distributing information to their fans.
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"I think we can learn from what issues arise and how they resolve them," said Mike Slive, the Southeastern Conference commissioner. "We also have to take into consideration the differences in our leagues and the cultures that surround our conferences."
Slive said the SEC has been discussing the creation of a similar network for more than a year. Tom Hansen, the Pacific 10 Conference commissioner, said his conference has all but ruled out creating such a network, but he is still watching the situation unfold.
"We're following it closely," Hansen said. "This is one of the major college sports moves that I can remember recently, and it will affect how we move forward with many projects, even if it's not a television network."
The BTN has faced contentious negotiations with major cable operators and the struggle to find enough programming to fill 24 hours, every day. Other conferences, the commissioners said, can find a guide on how to deal with such issues by observing the BTN's inaugural broadcasting year.
Officials from the Big Ten and BTN have said they plan to feature programming that interests every conference fan, and even some non-sports fans. Slive said the main issue for success is fan acceptance.
"We certainly have a passionate fan base that might be a fan base that would welcome a channel," Slive said. "We just have to weigh our options."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
