Is Comcast dropping Big Ten Network? Yes and no
Reports of Comcast dropping the Big Ten Network sent college sports fans into a frenzy Thursday afternoon while simultaneously blowing up the mentions of the @comcastcares Twitter account.
Most of the confusion and outrage stemmed from the fact that no one seemed to know what exactly was going on, leaving a lot of unanswered questions out there.
Is Comcast really dropping BTN? When could it take effect? Is it only in some areas? Does that mean Maryland fans ironically won't be able to watch games at the XFINITY Center?
The customer support Twitter account repeatedly tweeted versions of the same statement, which was also sent to FTW via email by Comcast spokesperson Jenni Moyer:
"We are not dropping Big Ten Network in states where there are Big Ten schools. We are only dropping it in out-of-market states where there are no Big Ten schools."
While that answers some questions, it raises others. Mainly, what constitutes being an out-of-network market?
How does New York's proximity to Rutgers and Washington, D.C.'s to Maryland factor in? They're technically not in the states of these schools, but it's hard to argue they're out-of-market.
Moyer also wrote to FTW in an email that "In-market core Big Ten states" include Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
However, in responses on Twitter from @comcastcares, Big Ten fans in D.C. are safe but New Yorkers are not.
Additionally, depending on where you live outside of the designated markets, you might have another month or so of service or you've already lost BTN.
Regardless of which category you fall into, Big Ten sports fans around the country are not happy with Comcast's move and, of course, vented about it on social media.
MORE:
'The Sandlot' cast reunited 25 years later and played baseball
11 photos and videos from the Yankees and Red Sox brawl
Why do so many golf fans hate Patrick Reed?
Lakers rookie Andre Ingram is now the world's coolest math tutor
Daniel Bryan on what Vince McMahon said after his first WWE match