Remember how frustrating it was last year when you couldn’t watch your team play on TV at home? You had to suddenly make new friends with neighbors and strangers who were lucky enough to have the Big Ten Network just because Comcast and the BTN were having a pissing contest?

Now most of us in the “Big Ten footprint” are adequately satisfied when Comcast finally reached a deal to broadcast the surprisingly decent Big Ten Network on basic cable. (Don’t be too excited, it will probably move to the sports tier next season). But there are plenty more markets where the BTN is still not available.

Thanks to Ross over at Yankee Stadium Insider Blog:

PSU will have a game in a couple of weeks against Iowa on the Big Ten Network and as a resident of NYC forced to subscribe to Time Warner Cable, I will ONCE AGAIN have to go to a bar to watch the game. I am sick of paying $6 for beers while watching my team compete for a MNC.

So, I urge all of you, even if you aren’t suffering like I am to email the following Time Warner executives and DEMAND that they make the deal happen in NYC:

Howard Szarfarc is Executive Vice President of Time Warner Cable’s New York City region – howard.szarfarc@twcable.com
Phone: 212-598-7200     Fax: 212-420-4803

Melinda Witmer is Executive VP, Chief Programming Officer of Time Warner Cable melinda.witmer@twcable.com

Back at the end of August, Time Warner reached a deal to broadcast the Network in the “Big Ten States” and that they would be “evaluating whether to carry the games locally in NYC”

The last I heard from Howard, this is what he had to say:

“The attached press release specifically references the “Big ten territory” which does not include NYC. I understand that discussions are continuing regarding the remaining markets.”

Before the deal got done in Big Ten Country, President of the Big Ten Network Mark Silverman had the following to say:

“DI: So what exactly is the problem? Why can’t you get anything done?

MS: There are basically four large cable companies that represent 65 percent of the area that are saying ‘no’ to us. And I believe that at some point, whether it’s through a local politician or consumer outrage, something needs to get them to try to carry the network and negotiate. Because right now they’re not talking to us. Not at all. There’s not anything that’s close to happening.

It’s one thing to negotiate and not be there yet. But we’re not. We’re not negotiating. We keep coming up with a list of things and they’re not interested in trying to do the deal. They keep saying if we’re looking for expanded basic cable, it’s not going to happen. That’s what’s so infuriating. ”

Notice that Mark mentions “consumer outrage”. It is about that time, fellow Penn Staters, I beg you – please email the above Time Warner executives and show the power that Penn State alumni have in the New York City and New Jersey area. I really don’t want to wake up and go to a bar at 11:45 AM in three weeks to watch the game on the Big Ten Network against Iowa.

Thanks to everyone who shoots off a quick email.

Its not hard, just send a quick email asking for the BTN to be available in New York City. I know many of you have never even been to New York City, but consider the bigger picture. Many voters and college football analysts call New York City and its surrounding areas home. To deny them of a chance to catch even “second tier” Big Ten games means less coverage on our conference. And it is always much more benefitial to have more coverage in recruiting, as well as when it comes to voting for Big Ten teams (even the mediocre ones that tend to play on the BTN).

So go on over, and send a 1 or 2 line email asking for the BTN to be available in NYC. Who knows? One day you might be in a city where the BTN isn’t available. And if you have the time to read this, you sure have 2 minutes to write a short email to the addresses above.

Releated Posts:

1. Holes in the Coverage
2. 19 days to Penn State football–if you have the BTN
3. Expanding The Big Ten’s Footprint? Start in Pennsylvania.
4. We’re Talking Expansion: With Frank the Tank

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