Quote:
Originally Posted by DeltAlum
I can't speak for the Big Ten Network, but we're certainly not a low budget public access channel. We are well funded and our people and production are top notch. We use exactly the same freelance people and equipment (production trucks) as the major networks. I'll say again that the lead game producer for BTN is a former Executive Producer for CBS and a producer I worked with when I was directing football for NBC Sports, so I would be amazed to hear that they don't do an outstanding telecast.
Looking at their executive team on their website, most of them come from big jobs at major networks.
Did you see the game? I'm wondering why you use the "low budget public access" phrase.
Is it because they're only on cable or DBS? Remember, so is ESPN and so are all of the FSN locals.
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I saw some of it from a friend who taped the game. Naturally, I didn't watch the whole game but it looked a little rough around the edges. I'll cut them some slack though, it was the first weekend. I worked in production for a few years but I'm not an expert by any means. However, my eye might be a tad better than the average viewer.
A lot of people here in the mid west are frustrated that we can't get this channel but don't really want to pay extra for it either.
Two questions:
Do you think there will ever be a day where tv viewers can pick their channels "ala carte"? I've heard that the BTN would cost around $1.10 a month in the eight state big ten region and .10 cents for those outside of it. I would love to have a hand picked 25-30 channel block that I would pay those fees for. Some would be pretty expensive such as espn but I'd pay for it as I know I would watch it a lot. One problem I would see is that a lot of channels wouldn't get picked up and could go under.
And the second one, do you think the big ten or anyone else might try to keep a few marquee games for themselves on their channel as incentive to be put on regular cable everywhere in the midwest? Would the ad dollars be worth it to do this?