Time Warner is in deal-modeWith the announcement earlier this week that a deal between Comcast and the Big Ten Network is imminent, Buckeye fans living in Columbus are hoping their local cable television monopoly follows suit.
Time Warner was quick to put up a statement after word of the Comcast deal leaked:
We are hopeful that Time Warner Cable and Fox can reach a fair and reasonable agreement prior to football season.
We appreciate your patience as talks continue and want to assure you that we will do everything possible to achieve a positive solution for all our customers.
Translation: We have nothing new to report, but we know you're getting pissed, considering fans of your fiercest rival will now get the network.
The Comcast deal is supposedly worth between $0.70 and $0.80 per subscriber, which is well short of the network's initial asking price of $1.10. That's good news on two fronts: a framework is in place to achieve similar deals with other carriers and the lower price shows that the network is willing to negotiate.
Time Warner Columbus definitely took a hit last year heading into football season. I'm sure every one of you know at least someone that ditched the network in favor of satellite service. You can bet the YSU and OU games will be broadcast on the BTN, just like the YSU and Akron games were last season. With the opener fast approaching, how much longer will holdout fans give the network?
