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Charter, Big Ten Network strike a deal

Local cable customers will be able to see the Badgers on the Big Ten Network this fall, but will they be able to see the Badgers on Saturday?

Charter Communications has agreed “in principle” to a multi-year commitment to carry the Big Ten Network on its expanded basic cable lineup in Big Ten states, according to a joint statement released this morning.

But it remains unclear if Charter will carry the channel in time for Saturday’s 11 a.m. game between UW-Madison and the University of Akron.

“Big Ten Network and Charter are currently working together in an attempt to ensure that the majority of these same systems (in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and northern Illinois) can launch the network on its expanded basic level of service in time for Saturday’s Big Ten college football openers,” the statement said.

Officials at Charter and the Big Ten Network could not be reached for comment this morning.

The Badgers’ second game against Marshall University on Saturday, Sept. 6, also will air on the Big Ten Network, and the network will air at least one conference game for each Big Ten school this season.

The Big Ten Network and Time Warner Cable announced Monday night that the network would be included in Time Warner’s expanded basic cable service starting this weekend.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the Big Ten Network—and the Badgers’ Saturday opener against Akron—would be available in southeastern Wisconsin on Channel 63 and in northern Wisconsin on Channel 72.

The Big Ten Network launched last year and is now available to an estimated 55 million households on cable and satellite television services.