Finding some IU games on Bloomington TV might be difficult

The Big Ten Network is taking a cue from the movie “Field of Dreams,” hoping that “If you build it, they will come.”\nHaving already signed deals with DirecTV, AT&T and Buckeye cable companies, the network is banking that larger cable companies will pick up the network before its launch in late August. \nDespite the confidence that the network will be distributed to cable providers by launch time, it may run into many of the same problems that the NFL Network and ESPNU ran into when trying to be put on basic cable. \nHowever, unlike ESPNU and the NFL Network, on which a given team usually only appears once per season, the Big Ten Network will televise more than 35 football games and 105 basketball games. This means that while ABC, ESPN and CBS will still pick up the biggest games, any games that were on ESPN Plus, which is WTTV in Bloomington previous seasons will now move to the Big Ten Network. Additionally, two IU football games are already slated to be televised on the network.\nIn terms of what this means for Bloomington, the network has not reached an agreement with Insight – soon to become Comcast – so it is unclear whether it will be available to students in IU dorms.\nBig Ten Network President Mark Silverman is confident that the network will be on cable and that fans should not worry.\n“All of our distribution deals to date have included the Big Ten Network being available on expanded basic,” Silverman said during an online chat last Thursday. “We expect this to continue as we negotiate and complete distribution deals with all cable operators.”\nUnlike ESPN Plus, the Big Ten Network will not be able to televise out-of-conference road games. \n“We will be interested in televising away games, but recognize those rights may not be available,” Silverman said in the chat.\nHoosier basketball fans will be glad to hear that the Hoosiers only have one non-conference road game, which will take place at Southern Illinois. ESPN picked up IU’s game against SIU last year. \nThe other good news is the network will also show many other sports outside of football and basketball that were not previously aired. \nSome students on campus were unaware of the network’s coming and the possible unavailability of many IU games.\n“I just haven’t heard of the network before, I didn’t know anything about it,” IU student Grant Huber said. \nIU graduate student Lauren Simek said although she hadn’t heard of the network she wouldn’t be interested anyway.\n“I haven’t heard about it because I am a grad student and am kind of removed from basketball,” Simek said. \nSilverman advised those interested in their local cable companies picking up the network to call and inquire. Although the company may not have plans to carry the Big Ten Network in the fall, Silverman said when customers call their cable companies inquiring about the network, it lets them know consumers are interested.