Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
Nebraska and Northwestern are both only on BTN Plus 4 times. I can't imagine there is more of an appetite for Nebraska and Northwestern basketball than us.
Only Rutgers seems to be on BTN Plus more, a whopping 9 times.
Illini Basketball 2017-2018
- Status
Nebraska and Northwestern are both only on BTN Plus 4 times. I can't imagine there is more of an appetite for Nebraska and Northwestern basketball than us.
Only Rutgers seems to be on BTN Plus more, a whopping 9 times.
4 vs 5 times is really splitting hairs. You also have to factor in that we're playing one of our weakest schedules in recent history. It's not any kind of conspiracy.
Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
4 vs 5 would be splitting hairs, but we are on 7 times not 5. The fact is there used to be 1 or 2 of these games plus exhibitions now it is becoming half the conference slate. BTN has overflow channels they could be utilizing but would rather squeeze extra money out of Big Ten fans.
We are on BTN Plus 5 times. Don't just search for "Illinois" in the listing.
See above, suck less and play a better schedule.
No they don't, they only have those for football on Saturdays. In fact, it's because much of their capacity is in use for football that they resort to using streaming. I do agree they want the money, too. I'm all for the suggestion that BTN subscribers should get free access.
Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
Obviously we don't see eye to eye on the function of the BTN. I disagree that it should be used to promote just the best teams, but the entire league. Illinois fans shouldn't have to pay more than IU and MSU fans to see their team play. If they want to put the best games on at favorable times, fine, but at least give everyone a chance see the games they paid for.
The overflow channels are listed by my cable provider year round. Don't make excuses for Fox and the Big Ten, they can afford it.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
I got 5 BT+ games too. Southern, Marshall, Augustana, North Carolina Central and Grand Canyon.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Plus, they stretched it out, so you would have to keep the service 2 months, instead of the traditional 1 month. Grand Canyon is 12/30.
BTN was created to carry the games that used to be on ESPN Plus, i.e. the games ESPN, CBS (and now FS1) didn't pick up. So we're already talking about the less attractive games.
Not sure who you're disagreeing with here since I already stated I agree on the financial part.
They exist on my cable listings, too. Along with the NHL, MLB, and NBA PPV channels. Doesn't mean they are in use or available on the back end.
Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
ESPN Plus was better than this, at least all the games were on TV and didn't require paying for a sub-standard streaming service.
Disagree with your "play better" solution. Everyone should have their games on TV if they are Big Ten members.
There is no reason they can't be used other than the BTN trying to squeeze every last cent out of us. If the games were BTNGO quality and didn't require an additional fee I could live with streaming only option.
Ah, the annual lies that get told this time of year. You don't have to go back very far to find games that were not on TV at all. The game vs Longwood in 2004 is one example.
Well, my solution is one that might actually happen, despite your disagreement. Just explaining the facts of life here.
Well, I can tell you there are actual reasons but you don't seem to by open minded enough to hear them. Mainly that you're basically asking for a second permanent BTN channel, which is daunting from several angles - both getting the bandwidth and then getting all the providers to carry it.
On that we have agreed several times in this thread already. :thumb:
Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
Why do you have to call me a liar though? I do remember the Longwood game not being on TV, but only due to that being an anomaly. The Full Court Package was more comprehensive than what we have now.
Your "actual reasons" and "realistic solutions" are essentially just making excuses for the BTN. They could better accommodate the fans if they wanted to.
I didn't call you a liar. Every year there's someone who makes the claim that "all games used to be on TV!" And it's just not true.
Not for me. Comcast out here didn't even offer the Full Court channels, so I was fvcked. And it was around $100, no? I like what we have now much better, thank you.
Not at all, I'm simply explaining the facts of life. Again, we've already agreed the primary gripe is that we all have to pay for something we shouldn't have to buy. Don't take out your anger on me, I agree with you.
Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
Well someone who lies is a liar, no?
I had no issues with Full Court, the first few years of BTN were an improvement, but since adding Rutgers and Maryland there are less and less games on TV which is obviously not ideal.
Look, I don't need you to "explain the facts of life" to me, frankly that's pretty arrogant for you to say so. The BTN obviously has the resources to better accommodate the fans if they chose to.
That's another issue altogether, I have not been a fan of conference expansion and it's probably been one of the worst things to happen to Illinois sports fans in a long time,
LOL, well you just contradicted yourself....
Also, regarding the "fairness" of the BTN - most of the TV money is driven by football, where Ohio St, Michigan, Penn St, etc have been subsidizing our program and by proxy, our entire athletic department for a long, long time so we probably don't have much of a leg to stand on there.
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Sal Iacuzzo
- Yonkers, NY
Actually, this is quite a poor understanding of the economics of sports teams.
If you're referring to that first sentence, I left out a word and just added it.
Huh? The comment was prior to the BTN, all games were on TV. Since the BTN has been around for 10 years, you have to go back to before it existed. I think there may have been games in 2005 or 2006 that weren't on TV as well, I didn't check. The Longwood game is memorable since it took place during our 37-2 season. If you go back farther in time, even more games were not televised.
~7PM on 23rd. Believe ESPN2.
This view might help:
Another thing I just noticed, no Big Ten games on WatchESPN, is that not part of the new contract? That's another reason why we probably got more BTN Plus games, a couple of those would have been streamed on ESPN instead. Which is too bad as it's a better service and "free".
Swear I read where the B1G is stopping ESPN3 games.
icengineer
- Southern Illinois
- Status