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Big Ten Network Caught in Carriage Skirmish
Buckeye fans who also subscribe to cable in parts of central Ohio may be without access to Ohio State football games, warned the athletic director for the university in Columbus.
In a letter sent this week to backers of the Ohio State University athletic program, Athletic Director Gene Smith warned that negotiations between Big Ten Network and Time Warner Cable have not resulted in a deal for carriage. Smith called the lack of an agreement "disheartening" given that the college sports network will carry Ohio State's opener with Youngstown State and a Sept. 20 match with Troy University. Big Ten Network also may deliver Ohio State's conference opener with Minnesota.
"While negotiations are ongoing with Time Warner, it appears very unlikely that an agreement will be reached before the first game of the year, and anything beyond that is problematic," Smith said in his letter.
Smith pointed to alternatives, including DISH Network and DIRECTV, as options for getting Big Ten Network and the Buckeyes' football games.
Fox is handling negotiations for Big Ten Network. In a statement, Time Warner Cable said no one should jump to conclusions about a pending deal,
"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
Buckeye fans who also subscribe to cable in parts of central Ohio may be without access to Ohio State football games, warned the athletic director for the university in Columbus.
In a letter sent this week to backers of the Ohio State University athletic program, Athletic Director Gene Smith warned that negotiations between Big Ten Network and Time Warner Cable have not resulted in a deal for carriage. Smith called the lack of an agreement "disheartening" given that the college sports network will carry Ohio State's opener with Youngstown State and a Sept. 20 match with Troy University. Big Ten Network also may deliver Ohio State's conference opener with Minnesota.
"While negotiations are ongoing with Time Warner, it appears very unlikely that an agreement will be reached before the first game of the year, and anything beyond that is problematic," Smith said in his letter.
Smith pointed to alternatives, including DISH Network and DIRECTV, as options for getting Big Ten Network and the Buckeyes' football games.
Fox is handling negotiations for Big Ten Network. In a statement, Time Warner Cable said no one should jump to conclusions about a pending deal,
"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