Have Comcast and the Big Ten Network Finally Reached an Agreement?

I've always been a huge college basketball fan, but this year has felt a lot different. I haven't really been into the college hardwood this season, but not because I've grown tired of the sport, but because I haven't been able to watch the games that interest me most.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the ACC, the Big East, and the Pac-10 as much as anybody, but my true love is and always has been the Big Ten. Well, while not having the Big Ten Network didn't really affect my Big Ten football season since ABC and ESPN generally aired all the major games, it killed my basketball season.

All year I've had access to about three Big Ten games a week on my television. Now for those of you who have been able to watch the Big Ten all season, you may say that the network was doing me a favor, but still, I'd have rather found that out for myself.

So why am I rambling on about this right now? Well, because it looks like maybe, just maybe, the Big Ten Network and Comcast cable have finally come to terms and I may have the Big Ten Network by this fall.

After a flurry of backroom deals, the Big Ten Network appears poised to land its most significant carriage deal to date, as top executives from Comcast and Fox have agreed on the framework of an agreement, according to sources from both sides.

A signed deal could still be weeks, or even months, away, as lawyers from both sides hammer out the specifics. Snags still could develop, but sources are optimistic that a deal will get done.

Given the history of interaction between these two sides over the last year, I suggest you pay special attention to the "snags could still develop" part of that quote. No matter what these two say, I prefer to believe it when I see it.

As for what kind of compromise was reached to finally settle the impasse between the network and cable giant, here's the plan.

Comcast agreed to launch the conference network on expanded basic through most of the Big Ten Conference’s eight-state region, as much as 94 percent of it, according to one source. Previously, Comcast was adamant against launching on expanded basic to a such a wide area.

Meanwhile, Big Ten Network relaxed its demand to launch the channel on expanded basic everywhere in the eight-state market. The channel will allow Comcast the flexibility to place it on digital basic in various markets within the footprint, including Philadelphia.

Which makes so much sense it's no wonder why it took them a year and a half to figure it out.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed.

Bill Murray In Cubs Broadcast Booth?

You know, I generally don't read Bill Zwecker's column in the Chicago Sun-Times because I really don't care where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are going to be adopting their next child, so you'll have to excuse me if I missed this little tidbit from a few days ago.

According to Bill Murray's brother, Joel, Bill has been kicking around the idea of joining the Cubs television broadcasts after he retires from making movies.

Joel's big brother, frequent Wrigley visitor Bill Murray, was not available to comment on the subject. ''He's in Spain working on a film,'' said the sibling. But Joel did remember a recent chat they had about the team.

''We were in the car and Bill suddenly said, 'I think being an announcer for the Cubs would be a cool retirement job -- after acting.' ''

Let me just say, that would be awesome.

Of course, it wouldn't be Bill's first stop in the broadcast booth.



(Via SPORTSbyBROOKS)

So Much For That Royals/Rays Game

Last year I bought the MLB Extra Innings package, and to say that I loved it would be an understatement.

I worshipped it.

I went to bed at night and dreamt of spending the rest of my life with it.

Do you know how awesome it is to have a baseball game at your disposal basically anytime you turn on the television? Nothing but soap operas, crappy judge shows, and Family Ties re-runs on? Ooooh....Padres and Giants. Niiiiiiiiiice.

Well, not anymore.

Satan Bud Selig and MLB have agreed to license the Extra Innings package exclusively through DirectTV. If you're like me, you can't get DirectTV. In fact, my cable, internet, and phone line is all through my cable company, so even if I wanted to it wouldn't make sense to switch over to the dish.

And don't be fooled by all the talk that cable companies have until the end of March to work out a deal with DirectTV. According to the cable companies, the demands they would have to meet are damn near impossible.

This makes no sense to me. Baseball says that of the 500,000 people who bought the package last season, 270,000 of them already have DirectTV, so it's not a big deal.

230,000 people isn't a big deal?

What in the hell goes through the mind of Bud Selig?

"I know how we can make more money!! Let's alienate half of our most passionate fans!! Then we'll take those who are alienated, and tell them if they build a new stadium we will give them a free subscription and then they can watch all the games inside it!!"

He's a god damn idiot.

I hate you, Bud Selig.