Nebraska Huskers: Goodbye Pay-Per-View, Hello Big Ten

For the eighth year in a row, Nebraska is going to play at least two games on Fox Sports Net pay-per-view.

Kick-off time was set for Nebraska's home opener (the 305th consecutive sellout) against Western Kentucky for 6:00 pm CST.  The television coverage will be provided for by Fox, at a cost of $40 per purchase.

A slightly different kickoff time the following week against Idaho (11:30am) lends to the same pay out for Husker fans.  Thus, one of the reasons Nebraska bolted for the Big Ten.

Nebraska, more than likely a preseason top-15 team in both major polls and ranked as such by prestigious preview magazines like Athlon, Lindy's and Phil Steele's 2010 College Football Preview, has been relegated to pay-to-watch status, all because Texas won't let go of their media rights.

The Big 12's lucrative media contract can't even provide more than Oklahoma and Texas with a few out-of-conference game cable or satellite spots.

The Big Ten can and will.  

Don't believe me?  

This year Nebraska takes on a Western Kentucky team on its second year of complete FBS play.  Nebraska, being a top-15 team will be playing Western Kentucky on pay-per-view because the Big 12 has failed to start its own network.  As a result, instead of being able to watch the Big 12 Network on a normal satellite or cable provider, regardless of how good your package is with Direct TV, Dish Network, or your cable company, you still have to shell out an extra 40 bucks to watch the game.

Not only that, but if you've experienced a Fox Sports Net PPV game, you know that the broadcasting is poor and quality is in want (although they promise HD this season).

Compare that to Tennessee, a team with a new head coach and not in anybody's preseason top-anything list, who played this same Western Kentucky team a year ago in their first FBS game and had it televised on the SEC's network package, not on pay-per-view.

Need actual Big Ten proof?

Iowa took on an FCS school for their first game last season, Northern Iowa, and it was televised on The Big Ten Network.

There are countless other examples but I won't bore you with a list.  The good news is that Husker fans won't need to worry about the Big 12's lack of northern exposure (or care) because they're moving to the Big Ten.

This time next year you might see Nebraska's kickoffs a little earlier in the day, but instead of on PPV, their easier out of conference games will be available for everyone on ESPN, ABC, or the Big Ten Network instead.

So say goodbye to pay-per-view, Husker fans, because finally, after 2010, we will be able to see and afford to watch Nebraska vs. Fresno State at home instead of at a bar.