The Big Ten Network now has a big presence in Chicago.
BTN officials announced late Friday that they had come to terms with RCN Cable, which serves areas such as the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Streeterville, Hyde Park and Rogers Park.
The deal should apply pressure to Midwest cable giant Comcast because Chicago-area customers no longer have to select a satellite provider — namely DirecTV or the DISH Network — to get the network.
“This is a testament to the fact that deals can get done,” BTN Vice President Elizabeth Conlisk said.
“If 140 companies can figure out ways to get a deal done, why can’t Comcast, Time Warner and Charter?”
The RCN deal — plus one announced earlier Friday with cable provider WideOpenWest, makes the BTN available in more than 30 million homes.
BTN officials say it’s the only new network in cable or satellite TV history to surpass 30 million homes in its first 30 days.
And BTN officials completed the two Friday deals in time for customers to watch a solid slate of Saturday games — Penn State-Illinois, Indiana-Iowa and Michigan-Northwestern.
WOW and RCN customers will get the BTN on expanded basic service.
WOW has a strong presence in Ohio, and RCN also serves metro Philadelphia.
Efforts to reach Comcast officials late Friday were not successful.
