Big Ten televised games decrease

After seasons of constant television coverage, the men's basketball team will take a hit this season. And we have the economy to thank, IU Media Relations Director Jeff Fanter said. \nSeven of IU's first 12 games -- including two exhibition contests -- will not be televised.\nSunday's exhibition victory against Athletes in Action was the first. Other games that will not be televised include Nike Elite, Charlotte, Southern Illinois, Ball State and both Hoosier Classic contests. IU's game against Miami of Florida will be broadcast regionally on the Sunshine Network. \nLast season, IU's Preseason NIT loss to Texas was not televised, and the loss at Indiana State would not have been on TV, had the Missouri Valley Conference and FOX Sports Net picked up the game. The last time the Hoosier Classic games were not televised was in 1991, Fanter said. \nBut this season, IU is not alone in having its coverage sliced. It is the Big Ten that is calling the shots. \nThe Big Ten has cut the overall coverage of its interconference games by 37 percent from last season, when 195 games were televised. There will also be a 16 percent drop in the total number of televised games. Only 169 games involving Big Ten teams will be on TV this season, but all but one conference game will be televised. Last season, two league games were cut from the schedule. In the four previous seasons, all 352 Big Ten games were televised. \nBig Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney released a statement earlier this week regarding the downturn in television coverage across the conference.\n"After eight years of a robust economy, significant softness set in the network, cable and local advertising marketplace in the spring and summer of 2001," Delaney's statement said. "Since Sept. 11 additional economic pressure has been generally experienced by the media as well as the companies that buy advertising time. This has and will impact to some degree the number of games presented under Big Ten television agreements."\nThe Big Ten also cited a decline in local market ratings and the lack of independent stations as reasons for the decline. \nEach Big Ten school sells its television rights to the conference, which then gives the rights to ESPN (ESPN, ESPN 2 and ESPN Regional) and CBS. CBS selects the games it wishes to televise first, followed by ESPN, ESPN 2 and then ESPN Regional. \nThe games selected by ESPN Regional can be covered by any station, but those stations affiliated with national networks are obligated to run network programming, Fanter said. \n"(Network affiliates) can't pre-empt 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' to cover IU games," Fanter said.\nWTTV-TV in Indianapolis -- one of those non-network-affiliated stations -- has covered IU men's basketball since 1979 and has recently covered games through ESPN Regional.\nSinking ratings for IU's pre-conference games have made airing the Hoosiers difficult for WTTV, station program director Harry Ford said. \n"It's not economically feasible," Ford said. "We'd love to air them, but the ratings drop has been so significant over the last several years. It's disappointing."\nFord acknowledged that the coverage problems stems from rights fees and the network does not have a problem with ESPN Regional, but WTTV isn't the only station struggling to televise games.\nESPN Regional is having a difficult time finding stations like WTTV to carry games this season all over the Big Ten. \nOther conferences have tracked down ways to sidetrack the economy and maintain high numbers regarding televised games.\nThe Big East Conference uses the same television plan as the Big Ten, giving rights to CBS and ESPN. But the Big East isn't reporting any cuts this season. \n"We have a handful of games that aren't on TV, but we haven't cut any," John Paquette, Big East associate commissioner for communications said. \nThe ACC and SEC are reporting the same outlook as the Big East. \nThe ACC has increased its number of TV games from 138 last season to 143 this season. Seventy of 72 conference games will be televised, ACC Associate Commission and Director of Men's Basketball Operations Fred Barakat said. \nIn the SEC, 142 games will be on television. \n"We have more (on TV) than last year," said DeWayne Peevy, men's basketball contact. "We definitely didn't cut any."\nBoth the SEC and ACC use national, regional and local coverage, much like the Big Ten. But the ACC and SEC have partnerships with several other networks, including Jefferson-Pilot Sports and FOX Sports Net. \nStill, the Big Ten ranks at the top of television coverage, Fanter said, and the league is searching for ways in which to avoid the problem again next season. \nFord said it was the first time he could remember WTTV will not cover this many IU games and said he isn't sure what will unfold next season. \n"It's a one-year deal," he said. "We'll see what happens next year."\nWhile many fans and players see the lack of coverage as a problem, IU coach Mike Davis isn't angered. In fact, he sees it as an advantage and said the lack of coverage won't enable opposing teams to scout the Hoosiers as well.\n"There is no down side," Davis said. "Indiana people can either read or listen to (the game)."\nWhile some players weren't aware of the TV scenario, at least one didn't agree with Davis. \n"I think it's a bunch of bull," senior guard Dane Fife said. "A lot of our families have bought satellites to be able to watch the games. Now, they have to travel three hours just to hear it on the radio. Indiana basketball has always been broadcast to the American public. It affects me. I think it's crazy"