[NU Sports] FW: Comcast to add Big Ten Network in time for 2008 college football season

[Roy Lamberton]

Still not on the cable here in Delaware.

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
& sometime Unix Guru....
Computer Applications & Support Associates
--------------- Also ---------------------------
Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R]
Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball
Alumnus of Northwestern University - Sp 1974
==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========
"You have a Republic Madam --
     If you can keep it" - Benjamin Franklin
================================================


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Big Ten Network [mailto:do_not_reply at bigtennetwork.com]
> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 2:10 PM
> To: Roy Lamberton
> Subject: Comcast to add Big Ten Network in time for 2008 college football
> season
> 
> COMCAST UPDATE - JUNE 19, 2008
> 
> Dear Big Ten Network Insider,
> 
> Today, we are announcing that the Big Ten Network and Comcast have reached
> a sweeping agreement for Comcast to carry the Big Ten Network in time for
> the 2008 college football season. The press release is below. Our agreement
> is the result of a willingness on both sides to work toward a positive
> conclusion, and shows what happens when there is a commitment to getting a
> deal done.
> 
> For those of you whose cable company still does not carry the network,
> please know that we are working extremely hard to bring it to you and we
> hope to be able to reach agreements with Time Warner, Charter, and Mediacom
> before football season begins.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Mark Silverman
> President, Big Ten Network
> 
> 
> COMCAST, BIG TEN NETWORK REACH BROAD MULTIMEDIA AGREEMENT FOR BIG TEN
> NETWORK CONTENT
> 
> Comcast customers to receive Big Ten Network HD, Big Ten Network high-speed
> Internet content through Comcast.net, and condensed game replays and other
> programs through Comcast On Demand
> 
> Philadelphia and Chicago - Comcast Corporation and the Big Ten Network
> announced today that they have reached a long-term multimedia agreement for
> Comcast to carry Big Ten Network programming across television, broadband
> and video-on-demand in time for the 2008 college football season.
> 
> Under the terms of the agreement, Comcast will initially launch the network
> as part of its expanded basic level of service to promote it to the
> majority of its customers residing in states with Big Ten universities
> (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania,
> with the exception of the Philadelphia region which will launch on a
> broadly distributed digital level of service) starting August 15th.
> (Comcast does not have systems in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.) In
> Spring 2009, Comcast may elect to move the network to a broadly distributed
> digital level of service in most of its systems in these states. Comcast's
> digital customers in the Big Ten states will also have immediate access to
> live Big Ten games and events in high definition, Big Ten programming via
> Comcast's video-on-demand platform, and a wide array of conference-related
> content through Comcast.net.
> 
> Outside of the Big Ten states that Comcast serves, Comcast has the option
> to provide Big Ten Network programming on any level of service, including
> its Sports Entertainment Package.
> 
> Officials from Comcast and Big Ten Network said they look forward to
> utilizing both traditional and emerging media to bring more Big Ten
> programming to fans than was ever available to them before.
> 
> "We are very pleased with the agreement we have reached with the Big Ten
> Network to carry hundreds of live Big Ten events," said Madison Bond,
> Executive Vice President, Content Acquisition, Comcast Cable. "We will be
> providing our customers with Big Ten programming through our signature
> video-on-demand service, and will have lots of highlights, replays, scores
> and more through Comcast.net so fans can keep pace with Big Ten action
> whenever they want to."
> 
> Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said the network is thrilled to
> have Comcast as a distribution partner. "This agreement allows us to reach
> many more Big Ten fans with our programming because of the high
> concentration of Comcast subscribers in Big Ten states. With the Comcast
> deal now in place, the Big Ten Network will be available to more than two-
> thirds of all homes in Big Ten Country."
> 
> Big Ten Network already produces more high-definition television content
> than any new sports network in television history. Over the next year, more
> than 400 live Big Ten sporting events will be carried by the Big Ten
> Network in high definition, including football, men's and women's
> basketball, baseball, softball and soccer, as well as other NCAA-sponsored
> sports.
> 
> Comcast's digital customers who receive the network will have On Demand
> access to programming such as weekly extended highlights and condensed game
> replays from around the conference, classic Big Ten sporting events, bowl
> game coverage and coaches' shows, plus original campus programming and
> nightly studio shows from Big Ten Network, most of which is available in
> high definition.
> 
> Comcast also has the ability to deliver much of that same content to its
> Comcast High Speed Internet customers via the company's Comcast.net portal.
> Additionally, Comcast has the rights to carry certain network content on
> Fancast.com.
> 
> About Comcast Corporation
> Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)
> (http://www.bigtennetwork.com/link.asp?l=3&mid=78877&lid=93843 is the
> nation's leading provider of entertainment, information and communications
> products and services. With 24.7 million cable customers, 14.1 million
> high-speed Internet customers, and 5.2 million voice customers, Comcast is
> principally involved in the development, management and operation of
> broadband cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
> 
> Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment
> Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout,
> TV One, ten Comcast SportsNet networks and Comcast Interactive Media, which
> develops and operates Comcast's Internet business. Comcast also has a
> majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the
> Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball
> team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia.
> 
> About the Big Ten Network
> The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its
> 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access
> to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original
> programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and
> associated personalities. Sports programming includes live coverage of more
> major men's and women's events than ever before, along with news,
> highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced
> campus programming. The network is available to all cable and satellite
> carriers and television distributors nationwide, with most programs offered
> in stunning high-definition television (HDTV). The Big Ten Network is a
> joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable
> Networks.
> 
> Contact Us
> Big Ten Network
> 600 W. Chicago Ave., Suite 875
> Chicago, IL  60610
> 
> Web: www.BigTenNetwork.com
> 
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