Starting Sept. 1, The Big Ten Network will be added to the UW-Madison Residential Network system along with several other campus buildings, following an agreement between the university and the network.
The Big Ten Network will be available as a normal cable channel wherever ResNet is available on campus, including the Memorial Union, Union South, the J.F. Friedrick Center, the Fluno Center and Lowell Hall. Direct T.V. users can also access the network.
The Big Ten Network, which debuts Thursday, Aug. 30, is expected to offer about 380 sports events in its first year. Additionally, each of the 11 conference universities will be able to offer up to 60 hours of original campus programming—ranging from reality shows to musical events to public affairs programming. It will be offered on channel 116 of the university’s ResNet cable system.
“It’s not all that easy for students to get tickets to football or basketball. Having the Big Ten Network will be a way for them to watch the games,” said Paul Evans, director of University Housing. “It’s part of going to our school, cheering our teams on.”
The university has the ability to add the channel to its residential cable system, even though the Big Ten Network is not among the channels offered by the university’s cable provider Charter Communications.
Peter Kleppin, Big Ten Network project manager for University Communications, said the network offers an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the university and the work of its students.
“We’re excited because it’s a chance to reach out to people across the country and give them an idea of what’s going on on campus,” Kleppin said.
A couple of the programs Kleppin is working on will showcase things happening off the athletic fields.
For instance, “Wisconsin Reflections” is a program featuring prominent alumni from UW-Madison. Another yet-to-be-named program will be a magazine style show that will highlight other aspects of student life and faculty on campus.
According to Kleppin, The Big Ten Network is still in negotiation with Charter and Time Warner Cable.
“We’re still hopeful it will be on Charter, but the students are lucky that they will get it in the dorms,” he said.
For more information about the Big Ten Network, visit http://www.bigtennetwork.com.
