I guess it isn't enough that Ohio State football tickets now cost students over $60 a pop and the rest of the world well over $100. This season, we also have seen the start-up of the rip-off known as The Big Ten Network. This upstart cable network, sanctioned by the members of the Big Ten, is broadcasting some of the conference football games and quite a few of the basketball games. Not only will they make money off advertising sold on the new network, they are charging the cable systems a per viewer premium to carry the broadcasting.

In Central Ohio, where I live, this per viewer premium hasn't worked out too well. The Columbus metro area is serviced by two major cable providers, WOW, and Time Warner. Of course, satellite service is also available through Direct TV. The majority of people in the area are Time Warner subscribers and Time Warner has balked at paying the Big Ten Network a per diem premium to carry the network. Wow and DirectTV have caved in and paid up, hoping to entice more users to switch. The last numbers I saw indicated that, at most, 30% of the Central Ohio viewers are able to get the network.

Of course, I'm sure that most people have heard all about this by now. The interesting thing to me, however, is the Big Ten Network's insistence that not only do the providers have to pay them extra to carry their channel, they also insist that the providers NOT pass that cost on to their customers! It's pay us and then give it away because we say so! And, if you don't, we won't sell it to you.

So far, Time Warner is holding fast and saying - "No Dice" to this blatant form of extortion. As much as I'd like to be watching these games carried on the Big Ten Network, I completely agree with Time Warner's position. Time Warner does a lot of things that I'm not crazy about but this is one that I agree with wholeheartedly.

The Big Ten schools make millions off the backs of their student athletes. Coaches routinely make over a million dollars a year coaching. Taxpayers have always paid for these institutions and now the schools they want even more money. And, they insist that the private content providers give away what the Big Ten Network is charging them for!

Frankly, I really haven't missed the games I haven't been able to watch. Sure, I didn't get to see the Buckeye football team play Kent and Youngstown State. Whoopee! Didn't miss a whole there. The fact is, most of the meaningful football games are carried by the traditional networks so it doesn't matter to me. Basketball has been a little different. Many more games are Big Ten Network only this year so I've seen few Ohio State games. The net effect has been that I've developed little interest in Big Ten college basketball this season. Is this what the Big Ten Network wanted?  No, they wanted somebody to pay for the privilege of watching. Sorry, it isn't working out, you money hungry bastards.

On top of all this, what is the network going to show when football and basketball are over? Baseball, track, swimming, wrestling, and gymnastics? I wouldn't watch any of those anyway. Plus, I'm sure the off season will be filled with a bunch of rebroadcasts and crappy filler that I don't want to see either.

So, Big Ten Network - Go away. Hope you're losing your asses on this greedy venture. Time Warner, hold your ground.