RCN Corporation to Launch Big Ten Network in Chicago and Pennsylvania Markets

RCN
Corporation, a provider of video, data, and voice services to residential,
small business and commercial customers, and the Big Ten Network announced that
RCN will provide Big Ten Network to its expanded basic television customers in
metropolitan
Chicago and in its

Pennsylvania markets in
time for this weekend’s football action.

By adding
RCN, Big Ten Network has recently entered into carriage agreements with every
one of the major alternatives to the biggest cable system operators that currently
provide local service within the eight states where there are Big Ten
institutions. The agreement helps boost Big Ten Network’s reach beyond 30
million homes, making Big Ten Network the only new network in cable or
satellite television history to surpass 30 million homes in its first 30 days.
In fact, no other new cable or satellite network has surpassed 30 million homes
in its first year, and only five others have achieved that milestone within
their first two years.

“”RCN
prides itself on providing our customers with comprehensive choices in sports
programming. Therefore we are excited to bring the Big Ten Network to two of
the most important areas surrounding Big Ten institutions,”” said RCN
President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Aquino. “”We’re pleased
to have reached an agreement to bring the Big Ten Network to our customers
throughout
Chicago and our
Philadelphia
and

Lehigh Valley
Pennsylvania markets where these schools and
their activities are often seen as cornerstones to the local community.””

Big Ten
Network President Mark Silverman added: “”RCN is a very important
addition to our growing list of distributors, because they offer another
exciting alternative to the people in Chicago, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley
markets who consider themselves part of the Big Ten community. We’ve now
reached agreements with every one of the top alternative video, satellite and
even telephony-based video suppliers serving the eight states where there are
Big Ten institutions, plus another 140 or so smaller, community-based cable
systems. Though we have a ways to go, we’re very proud that Big Ten Network is
the first new network in the history of cable or satellite television to
surpass 30 million homes within its first 30 days on the air.””

The Big
Ten Network will be carried on RCN’s expanded basic service in
Chicago
communities including the Gold Coast lakefront,
Lincoln
Park, Lakeview, Streeterville, Hyde Park, Rogers Park and several
other regions that surround

Northwestern

University. RCN will
similarly provide Big Ten Network to its expanded basic customers in Eastern
Pennsylvania and
Lehigh
Valley, adjacent to Big Ten powerhouse

Penn
State

University.

With the
addition of RCN, the Big Ten Network counts half of the largest video service
providers in the eight states where there are Big Ten universities among its
early carriers. Big Ten Network offers fans 400 live events this year,
including 39 football games, 140 regular season men’s basketball games, Big Ten
Championships and other NCAA championship sports, with most carried in stunning
high-definition.