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Print This StoryBig Ten Network Deal To Generate $6.1M For UW-Madison
University Has 20-Year Contract With Network
UPDATED: 12:15 pm CST November 17,
2007
MADISON, Wis. -- University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said his school will earn more than $6 million this year under its agreement with the Big Ten Network.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportWiley says 70 percent of the revenue will go to the athletics department to support its strategic plan. The rest will be used for financial aid for low-income students and to support the school's library system.The university is releasing the details shortly after state lawmakers have started to question the deal. State Reps. Dave Travis, Frank Boyle and Mary Hubler are asking for a legislative audit of the UW-Madison Athletics Department."How does the sovereign state of Wisconsin give away the rights, to a public university's athletic events, to some TV Networks and some other big corporations? That's just not right," Travis said.Many fans are angry they can't get some Wisconsin games on cable TV since the state's two biggest cable companies and the network have failed to reach an agreement. Currently, the Big Ten Network is only available on DirecTV and satellite dish.The Big Ten Network and local cable provider Charter are still locked in a negotiations stalemate over packaging.WISC-TV asked Wiley if he anticipated the negotiation problems going into the university's 20-year contract with the Big Ten Network."Well, let me put it this way. We knew that one of the challenges of the Big Ten Network would be to negotiate carriage with various carriers around the country, both satellite and cable," Wiley said.But Wiley said those anticipated challenges didn't effect UW-Madison's decision to deal with the Big Ten Network because UW officials "were pretty confident we would be able to get carriage."Athletic Director Barry Alvarez said that the $4.12 million going to the Athletics Department will primarily pay for improving academics for athletes and for facilities for non-revenue sports.Wiley said this is the first time that Athletics Department dollars have gone to non-Athletics Department programs.Wiley said UW-Madison receives quarterly payments on the contract and that it has received one quarterly payment so far. Wiley said the payments are not effected by the continued negotiation stalemate between the Big Ten Network and Charter.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportWiley says 70 percent of the revenue will go to the athletics department to support its strategic plan. The rest will be used for financial aid for low-income students and to support the school's library system.The university is releasing the details shortly after state lawmakers have started to question the deal. State Reps. Dave Travis, Frank Boyle and Mary Hubler are asking for a legislative audit of the UW-Madison Athletics Department."How does the sovereign state of Wisconsin give away the rights, to a public university's athletic events, to some TV Networks and some other big corporations? That's just not right," Travis said.Many fans are angry they can't get some Wisconsin games on cable TV since the state's two biggest cable companies and the network have failed to reach an agreement. Currently, the Big Ten Network is only available on DirecTV and satellite dish.The Big Ten Network and local cable provider Charter are still locked in a negotiations stalemate over packaging.WISC-TV asked Wiley if he anticipated the negotiation problems going into the university's 20-year contract with the Big Ten Network."Well, let me put it this way. We knew that one of the challenges of the Big Ten Network would be to negotiate carriage with various carriers around the country, both satellite and cable," Wiley said.But Wiley said those anticipated challenges didn't effect UW-Madison's decision to deal with the Big Ten Network because UW officials "were pretty confident we would be able to get carriage."Athletic Director Barry Alvarez said that the $4.12 million going to the Athletics Department will primarily pay for improving academics for athletes and for facilities for non-revenue sports.Wiley said this is the first time that Athletics Department dollars have gone to non-Athletics Department programs.Wiley said UW-Madison receives quarterly payments on the contract and that it has received one quarterly payment so far. Wiley said the payments are not effected by the continued negotiation stalemate between the Big Ten Network and Charter.
Previous Stories:
- November 2, 2007: Despite Cable Dispute, UW Athletics Will Keep Charter Ads
- October 30, 2007: Badger, Buckeyes Game Only On Big Ten Network
- August 31, 2007: Big Ten Network Launches Without Cable Deal
Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
