Big Ten Channel To Be Launched In August Of 2007 – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
June 21, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Commissioner Jim Delany today announced that the Big Ten Conference has partnered with Fox Cable Networks to create the Big Ten Channel. The Channel is expected to launch in August of 2007 and will be available nationwide to all cable and satellite distributors on basic tiers. DIRECTV has signed on as the first affiliate and will deliver the Channel at launch to subscribers of its “Total Choice” package. The Big Ten Channel will give Big Ten member schools unprecedented national exposure for its athletic teams as well as the opportunity to tell its academic success stories.
The Big Ten Conference also announced a new 10-year agreement with ABC/ESPN. The combined media agreements with ABC/ESPN, CBS and Fox for the Big Ten Channel will increase the number of live telecasts for all sports from 279 to 507 in the first year.
The Big Ten Channel will deliver coverage of football, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball, telecasts of all Olympic sports and conference championships, archival footage of classic Big Ten contests, coaches shows and up to 60 hours per year of original programming from each institution.
In addition to DIRECTV and distribution on basic cable, select Big Ten Channel programming also will be available via a number of emerging technologies, including, but not limited to, cell phones, iPods and the Internet.
“The Big Ten Channel is a unique opportunity for Ohio State to present a broad spectrum of our athletic offerings to the public,” said Karen A. Holbrook, President of The Ohio State University. “Many women’s and men’s sporting events will receive a degree of coverage they’ve never had before. This new channel also will give each of our universities dedicated air time to showcase our academic and research accomplishments. Additional revenue will assure that Ohio State’s athletics department continues to be self-sustaining and will expand support for our academic programs as well.”
Added Ohio State’s Director of Athletics Eugene Smith, “The Big Ten Channel affords our student-athletes and teams unprecedented national exposure and provides us with an opportunity to showcase all aspects of the Athletics Department. It also allows us to tell our many stories of success, both academically and athletically. It will immediately become an invaluable recruiting tool for our university and allows our alumni from coast-to-coast the opportunity to see our teams compete. It is also a wonderful plus for our many out-of-state parents who will now be able to see their sons and daughters in action.
“Jim Delany and his staff have done a wonderful job with this concept. I want to congratulate them for their innovative thinking. It is yet another example of the Big Ten Conference taking a leadership role.”
Here is what the Ohio State coaching staff is saying about the Big Ten Channel:
Jim Tressel (Football): “One thing we know about Ohio State fans is that they cannot get enough of watching their Buckeyes, no matter what the sport. Now, thanks to the Big Ten Channel, they will have more opportunities than ever before. What a great opportunity!”
Jim Foster (Women’s Basketball): “I think what makes fans passionate is the ability to see their team on a consistent basis. Obviously, when you are home they can come to the game. Now, the Big Ten Channel will allow them to follow us on the road as well, to see us play at Minnesota, at Michigan State and at Penn State. That’s exciting.”
Thad Matta (Men’s Basketball): Our fans now have a destination point to watch their Buckeyes 365 days a year, and to have a total grasp of what is going on with Ohio State athletics. It is truly a unique opportunity.”
