[NU Sports] Is the ESPN Game Plan worth it?

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> The short answer is no - since ESPN GamePlan will no
> longer carry many Big

That's right. Gameplan won't be worth it - you can
always do it ala carte for one week if there's a
non-BT game you want to see.

But if you have the basic DirecTV package, you'll have
ABC, ESPN/ESPN2 and the BTN, which should have all of
your Wildcat and conference needs! And yes, DTV has
said they will carry the multiple games simultaneously
on overflow channels. But the only weeks that will
really matter is during the NC slate. Plus, all BTN
games will be replayed later in the week if you missed
it.

> In terms of away games, it's all up to that
> conference.  The only non B10
> home game for NU is at EMU which will be carried by
> ESPNU - which is on

And even there, you don't have to do anything now.
With DirecTV, you can just go online (or call) and add
the sports package right before the game and cancel it
after and pay only a fraction of the montly cost of
the sports package (though it's $12 or so per month,
so if you love the Pac 10 games late night on the Fox
Sports Networks, you may just want it for the month).

> of people.  For those of us in the Chicago area,
> even us in Evanston, we are
> out in the cold if we don't switch to satellite

I feel for those unable to make the switch ... but I
would hope that "hometowns" like Evanston would have
some non-cable access like maybe CBS2 picking up the
game or something (probably not NC ones, but maybe
during the season ... though they'll probably pick up
the Friggin' Illini instead!).

I still think it's just posturing ... after a week or
two of residents across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Michigan, etc. missing games and calling Comcast and
BTN, there will be some agreement worked out.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

PS - The Big Ten Network announced last week that last
year's "1 vs. 2" OSU/Michigan game will be the first
of their "classic" replay football series for the
fall, with 24 games from all schools featured. No word
on what NU games will be chosen, but you gotta think
it's a long list in recent years.

You can also go to the BTN Web site and see some
"localized" school content now - from the NU football
previews to commercials for the network for each
school (NU's will be the second to last unveiled, so
it's not up yet).

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


       
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