Even as a not-so-huge fan of college football [which is the equivalent of being an alien if you stay here in Columbus, OH A.K.A. Buckeye-ville] I found the constant bickering and then the ultimate denial of the Big Ten channel to the major cable companies as a form of getting more money, but moreso a huge punishment to consumers.

Up until a couple years ago, I'd never seen or heard of such a powermove by an organization [in the Big Ten Network].  Its allowed my all out displeasure of the cable networks namely Time Warner Cable to turn into hate.  Not only hate for TWC, but for the Big Ten Network as well.  Guys, you're not paying these athletes to play one of the most popular sports in America, yet they generate so much revenue and advertising dollars to complain about not being paid enough? Hilarious!

Article after the jump...

From Rob Marich of Broadcast & Cable:

Big Ten Network pacted for carriage on Cox Cable Systems in the Cleveland, Ohio area late Thursday, in the latest example that must-have programming overcomes negotiation deadlocks. Cox has almost 150,000 subscribers in 10 suburbs on Cleveland’s west side and Big Ten gets on the basic tier.

 The Cox deal is the fourth in a week for Big Ten Network, which earlier nailed down agreements with Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications and Mediacom Communications.

  Most carriage deals are for the cable operators’ systems in Big Ten country, which is the Midwest and Pennsylvania.

 A catalyst is the launch of the college football season, where the 11 teams in the Big Ten athletic conference are a major force with University of Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and University of Illinois. Big Ten Network will telecast three of the first five Ohio State University games this season including this Saturday’s opener against Youngstown State University, which is another Ohio team.

 Regarding Thursday’s deal, the Big Ten Network got placed on Cox Channel 62 and on Channel 724 in high definition, though channel positions may change later to cluster with other sports channels. Big Ten on a basic tier to all Cox cable subscribers in the Cleveland area.

 Fox Cable Networks, which negotiates carriage agreements, is in a 20-year partnership with Big Ten conference.