Not sure if you all read, but to sum it up, OSU AD sent a letter out to OSU fans urging them to switch to another cable provider from time warner in order to make sure they don't miss a game. (not really worthy of reporting here but this next part just may be)
Well Time Warner responded and sent a letter to Smith.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Time Warner Cable extended an offer Friday to show Ohio State football games scheduled forbroadcast on the Big Ten Network.The offer was extended in a letter from Time Warner to Ohio State Athletic Director GeneSmith.
The letter came a day after Smith sent a letter to Buckeye fans urging them to dump Time Warnerfor another cable or satellite provider. The university is unhappy with Time Warner'sinability to strike a deal with the Big Ten Network to show Buckeye football games.
DISCUSS:Who's At Fault For The Cable Dispute?| ONLINE EXTRA:Read Gene Smith's Letter |Ohio State FootballSchedule "Time Warner's decision not to carry the network is a huge disappointment," Smith wrote.
The Big Ten Network will carry at least two of the Buckeyes' first five games, including theseason opener against Youngstown State on Aug. 30 and the Sept. 20 game against Troy. In addition,the network will broadcast one of Ohio State's Big Ten Conference games. That game has yet to beannounced.
In a letter to Smith on Friday, Time Warner Cable Executive Vice President Terry O' Connellwrote that Time Warner would like nothing more than to ensure that all customers have access toeach of Ohio State's football games.
"(I was) shocked to see your letter in which you falsely state that Time Warner cable made a'decision not to carry the network' while we were actually hard at work trying to reach a dealbefore the Buckeyes' first game," O'Connell wrote.
O'Connell extended an offer that would show Ohio State football games carried on the Big TenNetwork. As part of the deal, c
ustomers would be charged on a per-game basis, but Time Warnerwould not keep any revenue made from the games. "Time Warner Cable is committed to reaching a reasonable and fair deal," O'Connell wrote. "Inaddition, in the interest of all our customers, Buckeye fans and others alike, while we continueour negotiations, we are willing to offer the Ohio State football games carried on the Big TenNetwork to our customers on a per-game basis, at a retail price set by you, with 100 percent of therevenue going to you. To ensure that our customers can see these games for the lowest possibleprice, we will not keep one penny of the revenue generated from the sale of these games." O'Connell also wrote that Time Warner would supply a converter box with pay-per-view capability,free of charge, to any interested customer who does not have the necessary equipment.
"Now the decision is in Ohio State's hands," O'Connell wrote. "We look forward to your immediateresponse."
Smith responded to the letter on Friday afternoon, saying that he had forwarded the offer to BigTen Network executives in Chicago.
"You can expect a response from the network in the near future," Smith wrote.
What do you all think? Is this a temporary solution? Why wouldn't OSU or any school jump on this offer? "at a retail price set by you" I bet any real fan of the game of football would pay 3.99 to view a game (the price of a pay per view movie) I bet the real fans would pay 5 to 10 (At least I would) But the schools don't need the money so why not stick it to TWC and charge $1 for the games just to prove a point that they should be shown.
I know it's their way of saying "we are trying our hardest to bring you the network and it's the big 10's fault it's not happening, here's an alternative offer we are willing to give but will cause your fans to pay more which is not our agenda" but you know what they say "something is better than nothing" If OSU accepts, TWC would have to offer it to all the other B10 schools and in all of their cable areas you'd think.
I'll keep my eyes out for a Big 10 response.