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Big Ten Network (BTN)

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Fox Moves to Majority Position in Big Ten Network

Clearly, James Delany is one of the most powerful executives in college athletics. The Big Ten Conference commissioner repeatedly calls on ambition and leverage to drive TV dollars for his schools. This year, there's a prominent new Big Ten member in Nebraska that will allow for a lucrative football championship game in December.

Perhaps Delany's biggest coup, however, is engineering the launch of the Big Ten Network (BTN) four years ago as part of a joint venture with Fox. Protective of the Big Ten brand and a muscular negotiator, Delany secured an arrangement that had the conference holding a majority stake at about 51%.

The network, now in 45 million homes and profitable, will launch its fifth football season Sept. 2 with a Michigan State game.

Yet, surprisingly, there was a provision in the 20-year deal between the Big Ten and Fox that would allow a reversal in control. At some point since June 2010 that kicked in and Fox has moved to an approximate 51% ownership position.

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WTF?
 
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BUCKYLE;1978478; said:
I thought I read that FOX would own a majority until they recouped their start up costs.
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That certainly makes more sense.

I have a hard time believing that an incontrovertible genius like Jim "The Emperor" Delaney would allow the conference to make a mistake on that magnitude (forfeit majority ownership).
 
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Yes, this probably allows for some marginal increase in revenue to FOX, allowing them to recoup their investment quicker. Though a likely negligible short term "loss" to the B1G, this may be better in the long run, as they may take back a larger majority control sooner rather than later.
 
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Dear BP,

Ummmmm... not sure how to say this so I'll just say it. I've found someone else. I have a new favorite web-site. It's not you, it's me.

You see, there's this new site called BTN2GO.COM. As you know the game against Akron was on ESPiN. In spite of that, my new favorite web-site has it available to watch, any time I want; and the quality is very-good.

I'm sure we can still spend a lot of time together, but it's not like actually watching the Buckeyes.

Sincerely,

DBB
 
Upvote 0
DaddyBigBucks;1983482; said:
Dear BP,

Ummmmm... not sure how to say this so I'll just say it. I've found someone else. I have a new favorite web-site. It's not you, it's me.

You see, there's this new site called BTN2GO.COM. As you know the game against Akron was on ESPiN. In spite of that, my new favorite web-site has it available to watch, any time I want; and the quality is very-good.

I'm sure we can still spend a lot of time together, but it's not like actually watching the Buckeyes.

Sincerely,

DBB
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what DBB said
 
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