Nov. 3, 2008
The Big Ten Network is dedicated to covering the Big Ten Conference and its 11 member institutions. The Big Ten Network provides unprecedented access to an extensive schedule of conference sports events and shows; original programs in academics, the arts and sciences; campus activities; and associated personalities. Sports programming includes live coverage of more events than ever before, along with news, highlights and analysis, all complemented by hours of university-produced campus programming. The Big Ten Network is a joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks. The Big Ten Network reaches a national audience through distribution arrangements with approximately 230 cable and satellite companies.
ABOUT THE BIG TEN NETWORK:
* Agreement: 20-Year joint venture between subsidiaries of the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.
* Headquarters: Chicago, Ill.
* Launch date/time: August 30, 2007, 8:00 PM ET
* Sports televised: Football, men's basketball, women's basketball and other NCAA-sponsored sports
* Programming: Approximately 400 live events, original programming, historic footage and classic games; coaches' shows; up to 60 hours per year of original programming from each institution
* Distribution: The Big Ten Network has signed national agreements with AT&T U-Verse, Charter, Comcast, Cox - Cleveland, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS and 230 cable operators and is available to 70 million households nationwide. Select content is distributed through alternative media platforms including Video On Demand, Internet, iPods, cell phones and other emerging technologies.
PROGRAMMING: Each year, the Big Ten Network televises approximately 400 live events, plus hundreds of hours of original programming, classic games, coaches' shows and campus programming. Virtually all of the network's live event programming is available in high definition.
LIVE EVENTS:
Football
* Through the creation of the Big Ten Network, every home Big Ten football game is produced * Each team is guaranteed to make a minimum of two appearances on the network per year, with one a conference game * The network televises approximately 35-40 football games each fall and nearly all of them are available in high definition
Men's Basketball
* Through the creation of the Big Ten Network, every home Big Ten basketball game is produced * Each Big Ten men's basketball team makes approximately 15-20 appearances a season on the Big Ten Network * The network televises approximately 60-65 in-conference match-ups, plus selected Big Ten Tournament contests, and virtually all of those games are produced in high definition * The network has a set on site at at the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, with anchors providing coverage and analysis of all the action
Women's Basketball
* Each Big Ten women's basketball team makes approximately 8-10 appearances on the Big Ten Network * In all, the network televises approximately 50-60 regular season games plus approximately nine Big Ten Basketball Tournament games; in 2007-08, all of these games were produced in high definition * The network has a set on site at the Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, with anchors providing coverage and analysis of all the action
NCAA-Sponsored Sports
* The Big Ten Network televises more than 170 NCAA-sponsored events in both men's and women's sports such as hockey, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, track and field, swimming and diving, etc.
Big Ten Championships
* The Big Ten Network televises 17 Big Ten Championships and Tournaments in the sports of basketball, field hockey, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball and wrestling
ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING: The Big Ten Network goes beyond the games and gives fans more access to their teams than ever before.
Big Ten Tonight - Big Ten Tonight is the only nightly sports program dedicated to covering the Big Ten, setting it apart from all other sports highlight shows. Utilizing a studio on each campus, Big Ten Tonight includes interviews with coaches and players every evening. Big Ten Tonight is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans.
Friday Night Tailgate Presented by Nissan - Want to know where to get the best ice cream at Penn State? Where is the best night life in Madison? Every Friday at 8:30pm ET, Friday Night Tailgate Presented by Nissan visits a different Big Ten campus. Lead host Mike Hall will interact with on-location correspondent Jordan Klepper and Charissa Thompson to bring viewers a taste of each campus' local flavor. Friday Night Tailgate is an irreverent, off-beat show that captures the true essence of the collegiate atmosphere before the big game.
The Journey - The Big Ten Network's original reality series, The Journey, follows one Big Ten team during the course of an entire season. Big Ten Network cameras take viewers deep inside the program by capturing compelling moments during pre-game, halftime and post-game speeches, on the team plane and buses, in practices, in the classroom and away from the field. The first season of The Journey covered Minnesota Basketball in the first year under the direction of coach Tubby Smith. In year two, The Journey follows head coach Ron Zook and the Illinois football team coming off their amazing run to the Rose Bowl. Watch Illinois Football: The Journey at 9:30pm ET every Tuesday this fall on the Big Ten Network.
Big Ten Football Saturday - We know the Big Ten because we are the Big Ten. The Big Ten Network will be there before, during and after the game with our Big Ten football crew that includes host Dave Revsine and expert analysts Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith.
* Pre-Game Show Presented by Suzuki ATVs
The Big Ten Football Saturday Pre-Game Show Presented by Suzuki ATVs is the fans' ultimate destination leading up to kickoff, giving fans all they need to know before kickoff, including late-breaking news, weather and final predictions. Join our Big Ten football crew for exclusive pre-game coverage including on-site game-day updates from the network's Brent Stover.
* Buffalo Wild Wings Halftime Show
The Big Ten Network's expert football analysts present the Buffalo Wild Wings Halftime Show, which features first-half analysis, highlights of earlier games and a look at other games around the Big Ten.
* Post-Game Show
Airing immediately after the game, the Big Ten Football Saturday Post-Game Show offers wrap-ups, exclusive interviews, reactions and complete highlights.
The Big Ten's Greatest Games - They are epic sports battles that are etched in hearts and minds of Big Ten fans across the nation. They are unforgettable moments that stir passion and pride. They are echoes of both triumphant victories and devastating defeats. Throughout the year, college football fans will have the opportunity to relive those match-ups on The Big Ten's Greatest Games.
The Big Ten Network televises two classic games each week throughout football season. The Big Ten's Greatest Games highlights some of the best moments in the rich histories of all 11 Big Ten football programs.
Big Ten Legends - Big Ten Legends is a 30-minute show that lets fans experience the conference through the eyes of those who helped create the history and foundation of the Big Ten. Relive the greatest moments of the Big Ten through untold stories and remarkable personal accounts from legends such as Archie Griffin, Jim Abbott, Lloyd Carr and many others.
Big Ten Extra Points - Big Ten Extra Points condenses every football Saturday into a 30-minute showcase with every touchdown, field goal and scoring play as well as the key moments that led to those points. It is the best action from the nation's best conference every Monday at 7pm ET.
The Big Ten Women's Show - Every Monday at 7:30pm ET, the Big Ten Women's Show is dedicated to showcasing the best of Big Ten women's athletics with highlights, previews, analysis and features. The Big Ten has been a pioneer in promoting and recognizing women's athletics, and the Big Ten Network continues that tradition, not just with this program but with the promise that the Big Ten Network will offer event equality on all its platforms within three years of its launch.
Big Ten Short Stories - For every touchdown pass, goal, dunk, spike, kick-save, pin or home run, there is an untold story about the people who made these memorable plays happen. Going behind the scenes and beyond the highlight reels, Big Ten Short Stories turns the spotlight on the people and places that make the Big Ten so special. Whether it's a feature on an amazing student-athlete, an iconic retired coach, or a fabled football stadium, this is the show tells the story. Check local listings for air dates and times.
Coaches' Q&A - Each Wednesday at 6pm ET, the Big Ten head football coaches recap last week's successes and failures, forecast next week's strategy and breakdown the X's and O's during their weekly press conferences. Coaches' Q&A takes the best sound bites from these press conferences and boils them down into an insightful 60-minute weekly program. Airing Wednesday nights, Coaches' Q&A lets the head coaches do the talking.