Big Ten Network, Comcast reach a deal

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Finally, the Big Ten Network and Comcast Corp. reached a deal.

The BTN and the Philadelphia-based cable carrier announced a multiyear agreement Thursday for programming that starts on expanded basic Aug. 15 in states with Big Ten schools: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Comcast doesn't have any subscribers in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten state.

Outside these states, Comcast has the option to move the channel on its Sports Entertainment Package and other tiers. After the 2008-09 basketball season ends, Comcast has the option to shift the network to its digital service or not to carry it at all.

Comcast has agreed to pay about 70 cents per subscriber to the Big Ten, which had sought $1.10.

It's the first major cable operator to agree to carry the network.

The parties negotiated for more than a year. The Big Ten wanted to put the new network on Comcast's basic level of service at a price the company wasn't willing to pay.

Comcast has about 5 million customers with basic cable and 4 million with digital in Big Ten states. The sports network is owned by the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.