A New Way to Choose Your Hotel

After a rocky start (where Wisconsin Badgers fans booed their production and satellite trucks before and after the '08 football season opener because the game couldn't be seen in Madison), the Big Ten Network has been a scrapper. One by one, the network has managed to land visibility in most of the nation's biggest markets as well as in all 11 Big Ten towns (I know...it doesn't make sense).

Its programming continues to improve...as does its promotional smarts. As an example, this page on the network's website (and the corresponding ads within its programming announcing the tool) that lists the hotels that carry the Big Ten Network.

At first, I laughed. And, then, realized how freaking smart this is. Let's be honest...the Big Ten Network is an acquired taste for big fans. It's not like I'm going to skip a hotel if it doesn't have HBO. But, if I'm a fanatic? Hell, yeah...I'm checking the list.

And probably changing my reservation. That is, if I've got nothing better to do than sit in my room when there's all kinds of cool stuff going on outside my door. But, if I'm a sports junkie...that's exactly where I'm gonna be.

Comments

[Harvey Briggs]

The other thing this does is puts pressure on other hotels to carry the network, thus expanding their subscriber base and revenue.

But as big a sports junkie as I am, I'd rather be out watching live music!