Big Ten Network subject to game blackouts on West Coast

This year, the Big Ten begins a new era with four additions. Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are now on board after a groundbreaking round of conference realignment, and they’ll all play their first games in their new league this week.

However, some fans might not be able to watch those matchups. Big Ten Network and Comcast Xfinity appear to be in a carriage dispute, meaning those games would be subject to blackouts.

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According to Awful Announcing, the blackouts would be because Comcast declined to pay higher in-market rate for the four new Big Ten programs after they left the Pac-12. Other conference games, though, would be available to customers in the area.

When fans in those markets go to Big Ten Network, they see an error message, as one fan posted on X during Washington men’s soccer’s matchup against Oregon State on Monday. They are directed toward AllBTNGames.com, which tells them to “take action now” by calling Comcast or signing up to get updates by email, per Awful Announcing.

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Big Ten Network sent a statement to the San Jose Mercury News’ Jon Wilner about the situation. A spokesperson said Comcast is the lone partner to stay out of the expansion and provided a phone number to call, along with the website.

“The Big Ten Network is proud to present an expanded slate of live sporting events featuring the newest members of the B1G conference, however most Comcast subscribers will not see these games,” the statement read. “As the one distribution partner that declined to expand along with us, Comcast Xfinity viewers in many areas will not have access to live broadcasts of the highly anticipated inaugural B1G season games for Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington.

“If you are an Xfinity subscriber and cannot find the Ducks, Huskies, Bruins or Trojans on the Big Ten Network in your area, please contact 1-800-Comcast or go to ALLBTNGAMES.com.”

Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington will all get their 2024 seasons underway this week. Saturday’s slate will see the Ducks take on Idaho and the Huskies take on Weber State – both of which are on Big Ten Network. CBS will carry the UCLA vs. Hawaii game, and Sunday’s USC vs. LSU game will be on ABC from Las Vegas.