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(AP) - Finally, the Big Ten Network and Comcast
Corp. reached a deal.

      The BTN and the Philadelphia-based cable carrier announced a
multiyear agreement Thursday for programming that starts on
expanded basic Aug. 15 in states with Big Ten schools:
Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Ohio.

      Comcast doesn't have any subscribers in Iowa, the eighth Big Ten
state.


      Outside these states, Comcast has the option to move the channel
on its Sports Entertainment Package and other tiers. 

After the
2008-09 basketball season ends, Comcast has the option to shift the
network to its digital service.

      Comcast has agreed to pay about 70 cents per subscriber to the
Big Ten, which had sought $1.10.

      It's the first major cable operator to agree to carry the
network.

      The parties negotiated for more than a year. The Big Ten wanted
to put the new network on Comcast's basic level of service at a
price the company wasn't willing to pay.

      Comcast has about 5 million customers with basic cable and 4
million with digital in Big Ten states. The sports network is owned
by the Big Ten Conference and Fox Cable Networks.
      

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The Big Ten Network and Comcast have reached a deal after more than a year of negotiations.   The multiyear agreement  puts Big Ten sports programming on expanded basic cable on August 15 in states with Big Ten schools.

Big Ten Network, Comcast reach a deal

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