A major cable MSO has finally agreed to carry the Big Ten Network. The big breakthrough came with the biggest MSO of all, Comcast, which has agreed to carry the Big Ten Network as part of its expanded basic service in the states with Big Ten universities, beginning August 15th. That’s Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. (Comcast has no systems in Iowa.) However, that will not include the Philadelphia region, where the network will only be on a “broadly distributed” digital tier. Financial terms of the long-term deal were not disclosed, but the parties said it included delivery of television, broadband and VOD content from the Big Ten Network.
Outside of those Big Ten states, Comcast has the option to provide Big Ten Network programming on any level of service, including its Sports Entertainment Package. The Big Ten Network is a joint venture of the Big Ten conference and Fox Cable Networks.
