Bloomington – Homegrown Indiana football fans will reap the benefits of the Big Ten Network’s new agreement with Comcast.
The Big Ten announced the television schedule for the first month of the football season Wednesday, and each of IU’s first three non-conference games will be on the Big Ten Network. Indiana will open the season by hosting Western Kentucky Aug. 30 at Noon on the BTN, following by 7 p.m. match-up against Murray State Sept. 6 at Memorial Stadium. After a week off, the Hoosiers welcome Ball State to town for a 7 p.m. contest Sept. 20.
The Big Ten Network and Comcast struck a deal last month that will make the BTN available on Indiana’s largest cable provider, Comcast, beginning Aug. 15. Comcast has committed to making the BTN available on its expanded basic cable package for the 2008-09 season before having the option of moving it to a different tier in the fall of 2009.
“We are tremendously pleased with our early-season and primetime selections,” Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said. “Last year’s football season featured many great storylines and unexpected surprises. We can’t wait to see what’s in store during year two on the Big Ten Network.”
While this is the second year of the Big Ten Network, it’s the first year that most IU fans will be able to see the games at home. The BTN and Comcast were unable to reach an agreement last summer, leaving most IU fans in the dark when it came to seeing Hoosier football and men’s basketball games.
While the remainder of the BTN’s schedule is yet to be announced, Indiana’s Oct. 18 match-up with Illinois will air on the network at 8 p.m.
The complete list of television games announced today appears below.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Western Kentucky at Indiana, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Maine at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Syracuse at Northwestern, ESPN or ESPN2, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Youngstown State at Ohio State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Coastal Carolina at Penn State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Akron at Wisconsin, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Utah at Michigan, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Northern Illinois at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 6:00 p.m. CDT
Saturday, Sept. 6
Eastern Illinois at Illinois, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Florida International at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Miami (Ohio) at Michigan, ESPN or ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Eastern Michigan at Michigan State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Ohio at Ohio State, ESPN or ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Northern Colorado at Purdue, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Marshall at Wisconsin, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Oregon State at Penn State, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Murray State at Indiana, Big Ten Network, 7:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, Sept. 13
Louisiana-Lafayette at Illinois, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Iowa State at Iowa, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Florida Atlantic at Michigan State, ESPN or ESPN2, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Montana State at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Southern Illinois at Northwestern, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Oregon at Purdue, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Saturday, Sept. 20
Florida Atlantic at Minnesota, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Ohio at Northwestern, Big Ten Network, 11:00 a.m. CDT
Troy at Ohio State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Temple at Penn State, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Central Michigan at Purdue, Big Ten Network, 12:00 p.m. EDT
Notre Dame at Michigan State, ABC, 3:30 p.m. EDT
Ball State at Indiana, Big Ten Network, 7:00 p.m. EDT
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