The Big Ten Network has a goal of being available in every cable- or satellite-wired home that exists in the eight states the schools represent.
Mark Silverman, the new sports network's president, said "Everyone we've talked to admits and values the Big Ten as a brand, as a network. These discussions are just very involved. They're very complex."
The premise of the new network will be to offer a minimum of 105 regular-season men's basketball games, along with 55 of women's regular-season basketball as 
well. They will also offer 35 or more Big Ten football games that won't be broadcast anywhere else. There will also be another 170 events from the plethora of sports offered throught the conference.
Another nice feature the new network owns are the rights to the past Big Ten basketball and football games to 1960. That will empower it to create the type of programming viewers watching ESPN Classic (DIS) enjoy.
Silverman is pushing hard for packaged deals where the majority of viewers aren't required to pay more to view the network. He is also trying to make deals outside the conference states to offer the programming at levels just above basic cable rates. He may have an uphill battle there as even professional sports have problems making those types of deals.
At this time a few small local cable companies and satellite provider DirecTV (DTV) are the only businesses to sign on. The conference represents Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
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