Aug. 24, 2009
Altoona, Pa. - Atlantic Broadband and the Big Ten Network announced today that they have reached an agreement that will make the network available to Atlantic Broadband's viewers in central and northern Pennsylvania beginning Sept. 1.
The agreement comes in time for Atlantic Broadband to carry all of this season's Penn State football games offered exclusively on the Big Ten Network, including the Sept. 5 game against Akron, the Sept. 12 game against Syracuse, the Sept. 19 game against Temple, and any other games to be scheduled later in the season.
In addition, Atlantic Broadband viewers will be able to enjoy the Big Ten Network's exclusive slate of Penn State basketball and other PSU and Big Ten Conference sports coverage - 350 live events in all, classic games and a wide array of features on Big Ten sports, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Big Ten Network will be available to Atlantic Broadband customers in the Altoona-Johnstown areas of central Pennsylvania and the Bradford-Warren areas of northern Pennsylvania. Both Value and Digital service level customers can watch the network on Channel 66, while those with HD service will see the network in high-definition on Channel 766. In addition, Atlantic Broadband Digital customers will be able to watch highlights of Penn State sports and campus programming on their own schedule, 24/7, through Video on Demand.
"We are very pleased to bring Penn State fans the additional football coverage they have clamoring for," said Dave Dane, Atlantic Broadband Senior Vice President and Regional General Manager. "Our goal in these negotiations with the Big Ten Network, as always, was to do our best to satisfy customers' specific programming requests, while also working to ensure that the cost of our video service packages remain as reasonable as possible. Atlantic Broadband is delighted to have brought this to a successful conclusion in time for the highly anticipated fall football season," Dane said.
Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman agreed. "Penn State fans are among the most passionate in the Big Ten. With the football team playing in the Rose Bowl last season and current Top 10 ranking, along with the men's basketball team's run to the 2009 NIT title, interest will be greater than ever," he said. "We couldn't be happier to have Atlantic Broadband join our growing list of affiliates."
Penn State Athletics Director Tim Curley added, "We are thrilled that more Penn Staters in Pennsylvania will have access to the Big Ten Network as the new school year approaches.. There are more than 10,000 Penn State alumni in the Altoona-Johnstown area and they are passionate about watching the Nittany Lions, both in person and on television."
About Atlantic Broadband Atlantic Broadband serves more than 150,000 customers in central and northern Pennsylvania. Its regional headquarters are in Johnstown, with additional customer service and technical support facilities in Altoona. It has local offices in Uniontown and Bradford.
Atlantic Broadband is the 15th largest cable operator in the United States. The privately held company is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts, with over 700 employees and 286,000 customers located in four operating regions: central Pennsylvania, Miami Beach, Maryland/Delaware, and Aiken, SC. Additional information is available at www.atlanticbb.com.
About Big Ten Network The Big Ten Network is the first nationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With approximately 350 live events, and nearly all of them in HD, the network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The network operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, showcasing a wide array of classic-to-current sports and televising 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 between 35 and 40 football games, 105 regular season men's basketball games; 55 women's basketball games; dozens of Big Ten Championship events; Big Ten Tonight, a nightly studio show; coaches' shows; and classic games. For updated information on the Big Ten Network, go to www.BigTenNetwork.com.