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Print This StoryEditorial: NFL, Big Ten Networks Are Lost On Proposed Bill
Neil Heinen Weighs In On Debate Over Cable TV Legislation
UPDATED: 2:25 pm CST December 20,
2007
By Neil Heinen
Editorial DirectorIf you see representatives of the Big Ten Network and the NFL Network walking around the Square Thursday looking a little confused, be nice to them. They're lost. Rather than getting down to business and negotiating acceptable terms of a deal with Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable to get Big Ten and NFL games into the homes of cable subscribers, network reps will be wandering around the state Capitol asking state lawmakers to do their work for them.Look, we -- or some of us anyway -- want to see NFL and Badger games on TV as much as many of you do. But until these businesses can hatch a deal -- a business deal -- it's not going to happen. That's the way business works. This running to the state Legislature, asking for a mandated arbitration system seems somewhat juvenile and beneath these companies. The networks say Charter won't talk to them. Give them a reason. They'll talk. And talking is what these businesses should be doing instead of hanging around the state Capitol wasting everybody's time.What do you think? Give your two cents in Channel 3000's TALKBACK section.
Editorial DirectorIf you see representatives of the Big Ten Network and the NFL Network walking around the Square Thursday looking a little confused, be nice to them. They're lost. Rather than getting down to business and negotiating acceptable terms of a deal with Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable to get Big Ten and NFL games into the homes of cable subscribers, network reps will be wandering around the state Capitol asking state lawmakers to do their work for them.Look, we -- or some of us anyway -- want to see NFL and Badger games on TV as much as many of you do. But until these businesses can hatch a deal -- a business deal -- it's not going to happen. That's the way business works. This running to the state Legislature, asking for a mandated arbitration system seems somewhat juvenile and beneath these companies. The networks say Charter won't talk to them. Give them a reason. They'll talk. And talking is what these businesses should be doing instead of hanging around the state Capitol wasting everybody's time.What do you think? Give your two cents in Channel 3000's TALKBACK section.
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