Well here go… The 2nd largest Cable Network by subscriber just dumped the Big 10 Network in states without a Big 10 school.
Reached out to Comcast media relations regarding this Big Ten Network scrap.
Here is official clarification from the corporate office.
“In-market feed of Big Ten Network is still available – and will continue to be available – to our customers in Big Ten states.” pic.twitter.com/q2ncJrbc87
— Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn) April 12, 2018
This is big news, and potentially it could lead to a domino effect that starts conference expansion rumors all over again. How do I make sure Comcast keeps the Big 10 Network? Pick up a school currently not in the Big 10’s footprint… UCF, USF, BYU ears just perked up. Ok that’s 2011 nonsense, but expansion could be on the table again.
The Big 10 Network is going to take a revenue hit. We’re talking a significant reduction in subscribers to this channel. How much is just pure speculation at this point. Is Comcast just playing hardball or did they drop the network, because it is a losing proposition for Comcast. That’s just another guess.
Our ACC readers must now be wondering – well how does this affect the ACC Network. Good question…
We don’t just know yet, but we learned something today. John Swofford often ridiculed expansion move north may turn out to be one very smart move. If cable companies are going to hesitate in markets outside their footprint then nearly 40 Million people live in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York which are ACC footprint states.
It does mean the saturation point for conference networks may have been reached. We’ve speculated that cord cutting era would make conference networks less profitable going forward. Is this the first domino?
We about to find out about the power of the Big 10’s fanbase as the Big 10 is asking their fans to their displeasure with Comcast.
Comcast XFinity has decided unilaterally to drop BTN in many markets. All of their competitors still carry BTN everywhere. We at BTN share your disappointment. Let Comcast know how you feel.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) April 12, 2018
I think leave the ACC in a still good position for next year – the large footprint we’ve talked about, and being tied to ESPN. We told you back in October how ESPN was bundling the ACC and SEC Network in their deal with New York cable provider Altice. That gives ESPN leverage to get the SEC Network in states outside their footprint, and the same for ACC into SEC only states.
At this point there are too many questions to know where this will lead, but what Comcast has done is certainly noteworthy
