Broadcast sports: Big Ten Network is still without place on Comcast

As the network gets set to debut Thursday, with the Gophers scheduled for Saturday, many viewers are out of luck.

By Judd Zulgad, Star Tribune

Last update: August 23, 2007 - 9:38 PM

Comcast didn't do its customers any favors this week.

The cable giant informed subscribers via Ch. 255 that the soon-to-launch Big Ten Network will be placed there "pending authorization of the conference and Fox Cable Networks."

Two problems: First, the sides don't appear to be close to an agreement. Second, if the BTN does eventually appear on Comcast, it almost certainly won't be on Ch. 255, because that is part of its sports tier. In other words, that channel could be bereft of programming for a long time.

Officials at the BTN -- in which Fox has a 49 percent ownership stake and is serving as the distribution arm -- have made it clear that almost everything is negotiable. This includes the $1.10-per-subscriber price the network has been seeking in conference markets. BTN execs are demanding that their channel be on expanded basic service of the cable operators in the eight-state Big Ten region.

Comcast, which serves much of the Twin Cities, is intent on housing the network on a digital sports tier, meaning those who want it can pay a fee and therefore additional costs won't be passed on.

Bob Thompson, the president of Fox Sports Networks, said Comcast has been asked to remove the information that has been airing on Ch. 255. But Comcast spokeswoman Mary Beth Schubert said the message is there "to let our customers know we are committed to making the Big Ten Network available as part of the sports tier if the Big Ten and Fox Cable Networks will agree to let customers have that choice."

So with the BTN set to debut Thursday and the Gophers football opener against Bowling Green scheduled to air two days later, Comcast customers appear to be out of luck. Thompson said Thursday that "given the state of these negotiations, or lack thereof, we are prepared to come out and say Comcast is not going to be on [board] at launch or for next weekend's games."

According to Thompson, other than Comcast saying "the price is too high and we want to put it on a digital sports tier," there haven't been negotiations for a month. But Bill Connors, the Midwest division president of Comcast, said the two sides were talking as of Wednesday night. "This is a classic attempt by Fox and the Big Ten Network to confuse consumers and avoid the facts," Connors said.

Thompson did express optimism about talks with Charter Communications and Mediacom -- which also serve much of Minnesota -- as well as Dish Network. An agreement already is in place with DirecTV (Ch. 220).

Fine-tuning

• After having Dave Lee and Dave Mona upstairs and Darrell Thompson on the sideline for the radio broadcasts of Gophers football last season, all three will be in the booth this season for the Learfield-produced games that air on WCCO (830-AM) and other affiliates.

• Coach speak: The one-hour radio shows featuring the Vikings' Brad Childress and Gophers' Tim Brewster will be aired on Thursday nights this season. Childress, who was on Monday nights last year, will continue to do two segments with host Paul Allen beginning at 6 p.m. on KFAN (1130 AM). Brewster's show will debut at 7 p.m. Aug. 30 on WCCO. Mike Max and Mike Grimm will host

• The Wild and WCCO Radio have had discussions about extending an agreement that runs through this season. With the Twins no longer on WCCO, the station will air all seven of the Wild's preseason games. KFAN is interested in the radio rights.

• Alfonso Fernandez and Benny Ricardo will return as the radio team for seven Spanish language broadcasts of Vikings games on KFXN (690 AM).

• The Timberwolves have reached a multiyear agreement with MNN to continue serving as distributor for the 30-plus-station radio network.