DP5555
Well-Known Member
So I was talking with my Dad (a computer engineer) about the direction expansion could be taking college football and he made some interesting points regarding the future of the Big Ten Network. Currently (as Pollard pointed out) almost anyone who has cable/Sat. television right now within the Big Ten footprint probably pays around a $1 for it per month whether they realize it or not. This is a large part of the reason the Big Ten Network has such a profound impact on the finances of the teams within it's conference. As more conferences expand, the chances more conferences decide to create a Network similar to the way the Big Ten does increase. If these conferences create networks then more and more people will see their television bills raised. The more networks created the higher the cable bill... the higher the cable bill the more people begin to realize what they are paying for (and likely some will choose not to pay for it because of it). Some of this was part of Mediacom's issue with the Big Ten Network initially.
My dad works for IBM and he was explaining to me what will eventually be possible as we approach 4g network capabilities. Most advancements will just be expanding on things that are already possible. Wireless streaming is already huge... Netflix has exploded because of it. As we approach 4g networks, soon there will be little to no delay time in connection and speed. Right now my dad can control his television from his phone, and soon we will be able to stream movies onto our televisions from our cell phones networks.
What was his main point in all of this? Well he's not sure whether or not the Big Ten Network format will exist in 5-10 years (the Big Ten Network relies on Cable/Sat. programming to make it's millions). Will people continue to pay high cable/sat. bills if they can turn their TV into a wireless network and have the ability to customize their television experience? Currently people pay for 100 channels that are playing all the time but they can only watch one of them. Why pay for 100 channels if you can only watch one? Sooner or later we will be able to choose what channels we want access to and what channels we have no interest in. Iowa State fans for instance who have no interest in Iowa football or the Big Ten Network will not be forced to pay for it like they are now if they want expanded cable. Thus the number of television sets the Big Ten has access to will drop significantly.
Or, if people can access their favorite television shows and movies by wireless streaming on the internet (which can be streamed on a television) then why pay for cable in the first place?
Another good point... what's stopping ND from remaining independent and choosing to make their games a Pay Per View experience? How many hundreds of thousands of ND fans in the country would be willing to pay $5 for a ND football game? It's very likely most of them would and ND wouldn't be forced to split that income with any other teams or conferences.
Anyways, I'm sorry this is so long but it's just meant to be some food for thought. Technology is taking us in crazy directions and it will continue to amaze us. The Big Ten Network will have to figure out a way to adapt sooner or later if it wants to continue to see the type of revenue or success it's looking for.
My dad works for IBM and he was explaining to me what will eventually be possible as we approach 4g network capabilities. Most advancements will just be expanding on things that are already possible. Wireless streaming is already huge... Netflix has exploded because of it. As we approach 4g networks, soon there will be little to no delay time in connection and speed. Right now my dad can control his television from his phone, and soon we will be able to stream movies onto our televisions from our cell phones networks.
What was his main point in all of this? Well he's not sure whether or not the Big Ten Network format will exist in 5-10 years (the Big Ten Network relies on Cable/Sat. programming to make it's millions). Will people continue to pay high cable/sat. bills if they can turn their TV into a wireless network and have the ability to customize their television experience? Currently people pay for 100 channels that are playing all the time but they can only watch one of them. Why pay for 100 channels if you can only watch one? Sooner or later we will be able to choose what channels we want access to and what channels we have no interest in. Iowa State fans for instance who have no interest in Iowa football or the Big Ten Network will not be forced to pay for it like they are now if they want expanded cable. Thus the number of television sets the Big Ten has access to will drop significantly.
Or, if people can access their favorite television shows and movies by wireless streaming on the internet (which can be streamed on a television) then why pay for cable in the first place?
Another good point... what's stopping ND from remaining independent and choosing to make their games a Pay Per View experience? How many hundreds of thousands of ND fans in the country would be willing to pay $5 for a ND football game? It's very likely most of them would and ND wouldn't be forced to split that income with any other teams or conferences.
Anyways, I'm sorry this is so long but it's just meant to be some food for thought. Technology is taking us in crazy directions and it will continue to amaze us. The Big Ten Network will have to figure out a way to adapt sooner or later if it wants to continue to see the type of revenue or success it's looking for.
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