Both of Wisconsin's major cable TV systems have now agreed to show the Big Ten Network. Charter Communications said Wednesday morning that it reached an agreement in principle to add the one-year-old channel, and it will try to put it on all its cable systems in time for Saturday's Badger football opener against Akron. This follows Monday's announcement by Time Warner to carry the network.
Details were not released, but Charter says it believes it's in the best interest of all its customers.
Numerous Badger football and men's basketball games were virtually blacked out statewide last year because of a dispute between the network and the state's two largest systems. Charter and Time Warner both wanted the channel on their sports tiers, so only fans would pay but the network wanted it as part of their expanded basic line ups. Time Warner eventually agreed to do so, as part of a new multi year agreement.
However, Time Warner it would cost its cable customers more. They didn't say how much, but the company will pay 70 cents a month to the Big Ten Network for each of its subscribers.
