OK, Buckeyes it's really time to call Direct TV

On a follow up from Friday's post on the negotiations between the Big Ten Network and Time Warner we learn what Time Warner had offered the Big Ten Network:

O'Connell (TWC VP) extended an offer that would show Ohio State football games carried on the Big Ten Network. As part of the deal, customers would be charged on a per-game basis, with all revenue from the games going to Ohio State.

"Time Warner Cable is committed to reaching a reasonable and fair deal," O'Connell wrote. "In addition, in the interest of all our customers, Buckeye fans and others alike, while we continue our negotiations, we are willing to offer the Ohio State football games carried on the Big Ten Network to our customers on a per-game basis, at a retail price set by you, with 100 percent of the revenue going to you. To ensure that our customers can see these games for the lowest possible price, we will not keep one penny of the revenue generated from the sale of these games."

You have to be kidding me. Having these games pay-per-view when they should be free or like a $1 a month is crazy. The Big Ten Network agrees:

A few hours later, the Big Ten Network released a statement in which it called Time Warner's offer a "publicity stunt.""Time Warner is well aware that it cannot selectively choose to air a network's programming in lieu of full carriage," the statement read.

"What proposals have recently been exchanged, there is a wide gap between what Time Warner and its competitors would seem to agree is reasonable and fair," the statement read.

I have zero confidence that a deal will be reached and it's time for Big Ten fans in TWC's cable territory to find a new TV programming provider.

It has to be Time Warner Cable because the BTN is about to announce another agreement has been reached with Mediacom (for Iowa fans).