Time Warner Moves BTN to Basic Cable in Nebraska

by Husker Mike on Jul 25, 2011 12:55 PM CDT in Husker Fans Guide to the Big Ten

In a joint press release, Time Warner and the Big Ten Network announced that Time Warner will be adding the Big Ten Network to basic cable lineups in Nebraska. That means that cable subscribers in Lincoln, Columbus, Fremont, Falls City, Seward, and York will now not have to subscribe to digital cable to receive BTN. In addition, that ensures that those cable companies will be carrying Nebraska games this fall.

This means that Omaha's Cox Cable is the largest television service in Nebraska that has not agreed to updated terms with BTN to televise Nebraska games. Cox currently carries BTN on the digital package under an agreement reached when Omaha was considered out of the Big Ten's market area. BTN charges cable companies higher rates to cable companies inside the Big Ten market area than they charge companies outside it.

If enough cable companies fail to sign up to the BTN's new package for Nebraska, Husker games won't be televised directly by BTN. Instead, those games will be televised separately and the broadcasts only offered to cable and satellite providers who have revised their agreements with the BTN to reflect Nebraska's membership in the Big Ten.

What the heck does that mean for folks in Nebraska? Simple. If your cable or satellite provider has revised their deal with BTN (Time Warner Cable, or DirecTV, for example), or if your cable or satellite provider has just added BTN (for example, Qwest Choice TV), you'll see Nebraska games this fall. It may - or may not - be televised on the actual BTN channel, or another channel. But you'll have the game somewhere on your TV. If you've had the BTN on your cable system prior to Nebraska joining the Big Ten, you may need to double check with your cable provider.

And for folks outside of Nebraska, well, it's the status quo.

Hopefully the next step for Nebraska and the Big Ten is to formally announce the television plans for the Chattanooga (2:30 pm) and Fresno State (6 pm) games. My guess is that the last remaining hurdle is for Cox Cable and BTN to complete a revised agreement.

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I would love for BTN to be on basic cable.

I would even pay a little extra for that channel, but not enough to get it on the digital premium package.

It is what it is and we are who we are.
Sober (again) since January 10th, 2011.
Not all those who wander are lost. /////// I dont mind stealing bread.

by nateforchiefs on Jul 25, 2011 2:01 PM CDT reply actions

Cox needs to get their facts straight.

Just last weekend, I was in one of the Omaha Cox stores, and was informed by their employee that I would get the Nebraska games on BTN if I added their six-dollar sports pack to my subscription. I knew better, but had better things to do than get into a battle with a $10-an-hour part-time employee.

Call me a sucker, but I added the sports pack anyway – you also get the NFL and MLB networks, Versus, plus ESPN U and ESPN News. Additionally, since Omaha is still getting the out-of-market BTN feed, I’m able to watch some pretty good shows on the BTN On Demand channel, such as the Big Ten Legends series. (The Nile Kinnick episode made my wife cry…honest to God. It was like she was watching Teen Mom, only about something really important.)

Oh well, if Cox holds out, I guess I’ll just have to go visit my parents the first couple of weekends in September…they live in a small town served by American Broadband out of Blair, and they’ve had BTN as part of their basic package since last fall.

by jrf2027 on Jul 25, 2011 2:26 PM CDT reply actions

Let me count the reasons I hate Cox...

I have actually dropped cable for the time being because I was fed up with the ridiculous fees that Cox liked to add on from time to time, but the fact that they aren’t playing ball with BTN is killing me. I plan on adding cable back to my house during football season, but if they don’t get their act together, I think I’ll just go mooch off of others. It’s infuriating. Seriously, how many subscribers would they get for, at minimum, football season in Omaha? (This of course assumes there are people without cable… mayhap I am alone on this)

by KennardHusker on Jul 25, 2011 2:45 PM CDT reply actions

This really sucks.

When I moved to Omaha,, one of the things I was truly happy about was being out from under Time Warner’s thumb.

Now Cox is the worst cable company in the state? damnit.

I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers

by Nunyabidness on Jul 25, 2011 2:50 PM CDT reply actions

Just received this in a BTN press release

CHICAGO and ENGLEWOOD, Colo., – (July 25, 2011) – DISH Network L.L.C. and the Big Ten Network (BTN) announced today that television coverage of Nebraska Cornhusker football games and other sports will soon be available to DISH Network customers. Starting Sept. 1, DISH Network customers in Nebraska who subscribe to the America’s Top 120 Plus programming package or greater can watch Husker regular season home football games during the team’s inaugural season in the Big Ten Conference.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com

by Jon Johnston on Jul 25, 2011 3:26 PM CDT reply actions

The best news Ive had ALL day!

I just ditched Cox for Dish about a month ago purely out of spite for assorted fuckovers thru the years. My cheap ass of course grabbed the Top 120+ package to start. I think I just got a chub…

by Andy Ketterson on Jul 25, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Huskers outside Nebraska

Does the BTN show all Big Ten games that aren’t on Broadcast TV (or ESPN)? I live in Iowa, and I’m getting Direct TV, and now I’m trying to figure out how many Nebraska games I’ll have available. I found it irritating with cable last year when the “Guide” showed that Nebraska was playing on some network but then Iowa or someone else would end up being shown instead.

by Trey Hillman's Chin on Jul 25, 2011 3:42 PM CDT reply actions

yes

that’s my understanding – all of the games will be available.

Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com

by Jon Johnston on Jul 25, 2011 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Damn this sucks!!!

What a difference a year makes. Last year when the B1G & NU announced the move to the conference. I was able to watch BTN on Cox Cable as part of having the digital tier without any extra fees, but due to unforeseeable circumstances, I had to drop it. Now that I’m ready to add it back, it looks like Cox is trying to play hardball with BTN. Guess I’ll find out just how much it’ll be. lol

GBR!
throw dem bones!!!

by hskrntnfreak on Jul 25, 2011 4:58 PM CDT reply actions

Another reason to drop Cox and go with DirecTV

Directv has better sports offerings, better DVR, and ondemand. As much as I don’t want to sound like a DTV salesperson…they got it going on!

Either way…for the sake of Nebraska football I hope everything gets straight before the season starts

by Conspiracy* on Jul 25, 2011 8:35 PM CDT reply actions

Cable One in Norfolk and Charter around Sioux City are also still holding out...

According to the Omaha World-Herald.

by Husker Mike on Jul 25, 2011 11:44 PM CDT reply actions

Yea DISH!

I work for DISH Network and I was so happy to hear that as a subscriber I could look forward to watching the Huskers come Sept. 1st. It’s nice when a TV provider can surprise you with good news like this! For my friends who won’t have access to these games I recommend that they check out BestTvForMe.com so they can look at a comparison between major TV providers. It’s good to make sure that you’re getting what you want from your TV Company.

by colee1 on Jul 27, 2011 10:47 PM CDT reply actions