Two big TV deals were announced today.
First, NBC announced an extension of their contract to cover Notre Dame home football games. NDBC will now carry on through the 2015 season. The current deal, which paid the Irish $9M per year, was set to expire in 2010. No word on financial terms of the new deal. Notre Dame games on NBC had their lowest ratings ever last season.
The interesting thing about this deal is that it requires Notre Dame to play seven true home games and one off-site "home" game per year beginning in 2009. So, Notre Dame will play only four true road games per year. That will certainly making getting into a BCS game a lot easier.
Also, the war between the Big Ten and Comcast finally came to an end with a peace accord that will put the Big Ten Network on the cable provider's systems.
Comcast will initially offer the network on its expanded basic package in the Big Ten states. However, in Spring of 2009, Comcast will be free to move it to a more expensive (to the customer) digital package.
Outside the Big Ten states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), the provider can offer it up any way it wishes, including as part of a sports package.
Comcast will also be able to offer up some BTN programming through its video-on-demand service.
There were no details on the amount Comcast will charge subscribers as a "Big Ten Tax." Look for that line item on your next bill.
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2 comments:
The idea of a "Big Ten Tax" is silly. I happen to agree with Comcast--someone who doesn't want the Big Ten Network shouldn't have to pay for it. And I shouldn't have to pay for the crap I don't watch--Oxygen, Bravo, Home Shopping Network, etc. But Comcast would balk at pure a la carte pricing, of course. Sorry Comcast, you can't have your cake and eat it too.
I agree, and I'm kidding of course. That is what Comcast called the price BTN was asking during the fight.
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