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November 11, 2007

HUTSELL: IU fans better get used to Big Ten Network

By MIKE HUTSELL

Hey Indiana fan, sick of seeing too much Blue in your Hoosier Heaven? Would you like to tell your favorite Louisville backer that there’s a big body of water that they should have jumped in rather than invading your home soil?

All I can say is this — get used to it.

Welcome to the world of the Big Ten Network.

We’ve reached the time when finding your favorite IU game requires a satellite, some tin foil, a cloudless evening and lots and lots of prayer.

Not lucky enough to own a DirecTv satellite? Haven’t figured out exactly what Dish Network is? Does the sight of your Insight Digital remote control confuse you and make you want to consult your local NASA agent?

Too bad — you won’t be enjoying your Hoosiers too much over the next couple of months.

Starting with Monday’s regular-season opener against Chattanooga at Assembly Hall, Indiana will have 15 games televised by the conference’s flagship network. Another four at the end of the season have a chance to be picked up by network channels. But if they are not, they will be jettisoned back to the Big Ten lineup.

Why is it an issue? Because it handcuffs all local Hoosier fans looking to catch a game.

The options are limited. To get BTN for free, you have to switch to DirecTv or Dish Network satellite systems. But that’s not always an option for everyone, so then fans with cable have to pony up first for a digital package provided by Insight and then pay extra for the package that includes BTN. So much for beer money.

Unwilling to pay extra, you are then limited either a night out at the sports bar, crashing a friend’s house or listening on radio. (Oh wait, you can’t listen to Indiana games on the radio anymore in Clark or Floyd counties, can you?)

Who cares? Why is it a big deal?

Glad you asked.

Since Americans are no longer capable of following something that they don’t see every day, Indiana will likely become the ugly step sibling for all local fans.

While the hardcore Hoosierhead will eat Ramen noodles and drink Royal Crown cola just to save up the dough to watch the next game, there’s still that percentage of fans on the fence who could go either way. And when they’re at home watching Kentucky or Louisville every night, they soon won’t know D.J. White from D.J. Jazzy Jeff.

In the end, out of sight IU will become an afterthought.

No one will see and likely no one will care.

Fewer folks watch IU throttle Iowa this year than people who will watch whatever weekly Kevin Sorbo show is in syndication these days.

And no, Indiana’s not alone. There’s 10 other teams in the conference that just won’t get as much face time as they used to.

Illinois may lose out to Missouri. Wisconsinites might lean now more toward Marquette and those 14 rabid Northwestern hoops fans out there might buy tickets on the DePaul bandwagon by season’s end.

Way to underexpose yourself there, Big Ten.

Contact Mike Hutsell at mike.hutsell@newsandtribune.com.

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