AT&T TV is also known as DirecTV Stream and is one of the most well-known live TV streaming services. It has many programs which may be in news, entertainment, or sports. The following is one of the many sports channels that the subscribers are likely to have several questions about, specifically the Big Ten Network (BTN). In this article, the reader will find out what the Big Ten Network is, whether it is available on DirecTV Stream, and what alternatives exist if the channel is not available in this streaming service.
Who or what is the Big Ten Network?
The Big Ten Network (BTN) is a cable and satellite television network that broadcasts college sporting events and other programming related to the Big Ten Conference. The Big Ten Conference is composed of 14 colleges and universities mainly situated in the Midwestern region of America.
The network broadcasts different games that involve Big Ten school teams with an emphasis on American football and basketball. Other sports featured include baseball, softball, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, and others. The Big Ten is among the BCS conferences in the NCAA.
Thus, the Big Ten university athletics followers want to have a chance to watch the Big Ten Network to track the teams and the games.
Is the Big Ten Network available on DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream offers multiple channel bundling options in the Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier plans. However, the Big Ten Network is not available on any of the DirecTV Stream packages.
Thus, unfortunately, DirecTV Stream watchers cannot enjoy live games and content from the Big Ten Network. This can be disappointing for fans who are supporters of the Big Ten schools and are interested in cord-cutting in favor of traditional cable.
Why isn’t BTN on DirecTV Stream?
There are a couple of reasons why the Big Ten Network isn’t available on DirecTV Stream:
Big Ten Network not Carried – DirecTV Stream has not entered a contract with the Big Ten Network that would enable the provision of the channel. This type of distribution negotiations may sometimes take time.
Exclusivity – Some of the traditional pay television providers enter into exclusivity agreements with regional sports stations such as the BTN. This keeps streaming services such as DirecTV Stream from making that channel available to viewers.
Thus, if DirecTV Stream wants to have the Big Ten Network on its platform, it needs to negotiate a carriage deal with the channel.
Ways to Watch BTN Without DirecTV Stream?
If you want to stream live Big Ten games and access BTN's original programming, here are a few alternatives:
Traditional Cable/Satellite: The BTN is available in the cable channel packages that are offered by providers such as Dish Network, Spectrum, Xfinity, and others. However, this loses streaming flexibility.
Hulu + Live TV – For $70/month, Hulu’s live TV offers BTN with other sports and entertainment programs.
Sling TV – An add-on Sports Extra package for $11/month contains BTN on Sling.
FuboTV – The streaming service that focuses on sports has the BTN package for $70/month.
YouTube TV – YouTube TV’s package offers BTN for $65 per month.
As a result, cord-cutters still have great options to access this important regional sports channel even if DirecTV Stream lacks the Big Ten Network.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Big Ten Network is not available on DirecTV Stream because the two entities have no deal. Exclusive deals signed with conventional over-the-top operators also hamper the ability of streaming platforms to offer BTN.
As for the Big Ten Network, alternatives like Hulu Live, FuboTV, and YouTube TV are all available to stream the channel. Therefore, if you are interested in watching live Big Ten sports without DirecTV, consider the alternatives highlighted in this guide. Also, try out the free trials in trying out the services and the channel lineups as well.
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