In a letter to Badger fans"" Friday, Chancellor John Wiley, Athletic Director Barry Alvarez and UW Athletic Board Chair Walter Dickey addressed concerns expressed by Wisconsin fans unable to watch the Big Ten Network's broadcast of Saturday's football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The letter also addressed the upcoming men's basketball season, in which 20 games will be broadcast on BTN, as a reason to explain the university's position on the issue.
""We feel strongly that a successful Big Ten Network is good for Wisconsin Athletics,"" the letter said.
""It provides unprecedented marketing opportunities, a distinct recruiting advantage and a steady, guaranteed stream of incremental revenue over a 20-year period that will help Wisconsin remain a nationally competitive athletic department.""
In the letter, Wiley, Alvarez and Dickey mentioned the network is offered to all satellite and cable providers, with the condition that it is included for no additional charge.
This condition has stalled negotiations with Time Warner and Charter, which want customers to pay more for BTN.
According to the Associated Press, Wiley sent a separate letter to lawmakers, saying Charter and Time Warner have ""left Badger fans in the dark.""
""It is unacceptable that Badger fans in these two cable territories are being held hostage,"" he wrote.
""We believe strongly that we are doing all that we can to assist the Big Ten Network staff in their negotiations,"" the athletics department website letter said. ""But, simply put, until the major cable companies are willing to negotiate, our role in the process will remain extremely limited.""
University officials recommended contacting local cable providers to demand BTN or switching to satellite TV.
