Comcast Forces Illini Fans To Suffer Through Northwestern Game

Except for those of you in the Chicagoland area, the entire state of Illinois should have been able to tune in to the Big Ten Network to see the Illini take on Louisiana-Lafayette. Unfortunately, Comcast didn’t get the memo.

From the Peoria Journal Star:

“The directions that we sent to Comcast were misunderstood,” Big Ten Network president Mark Silverman said. “Instead of putting the Illini game on the main channel . . . inadvertently the Northwestern game was put on the main network throughout the state.

“We’re going to have another level added to this process . . . to make sure it doesn’t happen again. What happened happened, and we know the fans were very upset.”

Most Comcast customers in the state subscribe to digital service and were able to see the Illinois game in its entirety, said Rich Ruggiero, Comcast spokesman in Chicago.

“Comcast regrets that standard cable customers were unable to watch the game, and we are working with the Big Ten Network to ensure Comcast will be able to offer Big Ten Network coverage of Illinois games on standard cable to central Illinois viewers throughout the rest of the season,” Ruggiero said.

TV snafu prompts apologies [PJS]
(AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.