Northwestern University Athletics
Midcontinent To Launch Big Ten Network In August
8/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 4, 2008
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. and CHICAGO -- Midcontinent Communications, the Upper Midwest's leading provider of television, local and long-distance telephone service, broadband and cable advertising services to communities in the Dakotas and western Minnesota, and the Big Ten Network today announced that Midcontinent will add the Big Ten Network to its channel lineups beginning August 15.
The announcement was made by Tom Simmons, Midcontinent Senior Vice President of Public Policy, and Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman.
"We're thrilled that Midcontinent is joining the long and growing list of affiliates offering the Big Ten Network to their customers," Silverman said. "When fans tune in, they'll find unparalleled coverage of Big Ten sports -- they'll see more action and more in-depth analysis than ever before."
Simmons said Midcontinent recognizes that many of its subscribers are Big Ten fans, and so the company was focused on offering the network in time for football season. "We're really pleased that we will be adding the network to our channel lineup, and we expect it to become a very popular destination for our customers very quickly," he said.
Midcontinent will offer the network on the expanded basic level of service to its customers in Minnesota, one of the eight Big Ten states, and on a digital level of service elsewhere.
The Big Ten Network has carriage agreements with more than 230 community-based cable systems, and all of the top alternative video, satellite and telephony-based video suppliers providing local service within the eight states with Big Ten universities. By Aug. 15, the network will be available to approximately 70 percent of all homes in the eight Big Ten states and could reach up to 55 million homes nationwide.
About Midcontinent Communications
Midcontinent Communications is the Upper Midwest's leading provider of cable television, local and long distance telephone service, broadband Internet access, and cable advertising services to communities in North and South Dakota, and Western Minnesota. Midcontinent's service area includes over 200 communities serving over 200,000 customers. For more information, please visit our website at www.midcocomm.com.
About the Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Network is the first national network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 400 live events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the destination for Big Ten fans across the country and allows fans to see their favorite team, regardless of where they live. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Big Ten Network showcases a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televises more Olympic sporting events and women's sports than has ever been aired on any other network. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation's finest universities. Each year, the network offers approximately 40 football games, 140 regular season men's basketball games, 55 women's basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Championship events, a nightly studio show, coaches' shows and classic games. Available to all cable and satellite providers nationwide, the network has agreements with Comcast, DirecTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-Verse, Verizon FiOS and more than 230 cable operators and could reach up to 55 million households on Aug. 15, 2008. For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.
