Comments:

 

Ryan- Your speech looks like its going to be good. Your a good speech writer!  You have good transitions as well.   Make sure not to be tense and get into it! Watch your swaying and be relaxed.  Can't wait to hear it.--Katie C.

 

Ryan! Wow what an improvement!!!! You were really into this speech. Used gestures and barely looked at your paper. Much better job.!! The only thing I could say is that your visual aid had a lot of text on it and I found my self reading it rather than listening to you.---Katie C.

 

Ryan, I thought that you presented a very strong speech to us today, and it was clear you were very passionate about your topic. During the speech, I got confused about what it was you were arguing about, so next time I think that you should make it much more clear, what your asking the audience to understand. Other than that, it was pretty good. I also found it distracting that you swayed a lot during the speech. - Sam

 

Ryan, I really liked the way that you made your speech conversational. you really know what your talking about and that really showed in your speech. great job!- Lauren

 

Ryan, you really improved from your last speech! You seemed much more open and confident while presenting today. It came off much more conversational. I noticed that your eye contact improved a lot and it didn't sound memorized. Watch out though, because you have a tendency to sway throughout your speech and you talked faster toward the end. huge improvement though and great content once again! -Tamar

 

Ryan, great job today man. You were very enthused and well educated on your topic and points, which made you a very credible speaker. Your enthusiasm and attention getter were your strongest points in my eyes, and I though you did a really good job. -Eric

 

 

 

I. Intro

A. Attention Getter   

        1.  It’s November 17.

        2. Our beloved Nittany Lion football team is at Michigan State with an undefeated season on the line.

        3. We win? We are in the National Championship Game!

        4. It’s too far too drive, too much money too fly, and it’s not on any of the regular cable channels! There’s no way you are going to miss this game, right?

        5.  Have no fear because the Big Ten Network is here

       6.  However, there has been much dispute between the new Big Ten Network and Comcast, our local cable provider, as to how this network will be paid for. 

       7.  The problem is that Comcast does not want to increase the price of the Cable service and feels that the Big Ten Network should be optional and require its viewers to pay an additional fee.

C. Credibility Statement

1. As probably all of you know by now I am a big college sports fan and have followed this situation closely throughout its duration.

 

D. Thesis :The debate surrounding this network is two-fold and a very complicated matter that needs to be resolved for this network to survive.

E. Preview:I will break down both sides of the problem and explain how a solution will be reached.

 

Transition:The two parts to the problem are how will this expensive network be paid for, and exactly what events it will offer.

II. Body-Problem

A.           First and foremost, is how will the station be funded.

1.   Exactly how much money are these two companies arguing over you may ask?

2. 68 million dollars, according to Sports Illustrated.com. 
3. This total breaks down into 18 million dollars necessary for the studio and 50 million for programming rights. 
4. Sixty Eight Million Dollars!
5. You can buy out the entire student section for the season with that amount of cash and still have enough money left over to pay for the four year college tuition of our whole class! 

6.      This network is clearly geared toward the student body of the universities as they will be more interested in their school’s programming.  However, as many students are paying an excess of 30,000 dollars per year to attend their respective school, should they have to pay an 13 dollars per year receive this program?

7. On the other hand, should the average citizen of one of these eight states who house a Big Ten School have to pay an additional fee for a program they have no interest in? This is the current argument being held between Comcast, and the Big Ten Network. 
8. In an article written by Jillian Raines, a reporter for the Daily Collegian, Comcast Vice President Jeff Alexander said, “"If Big Ten Network got their way, it would amount to a $13 Big Ten Network tax per household, per year."  
9. Comcast clearly does not want to make this network a part of basic cable.
10. "We'd like to make the network available to those who want to watch it and not force customers who have no interest in the content to have to pay for it," added Comcast executive vice president David Cohen. 
11. In short, the New York Times sums up the situation well, when they say, “The Big Ten wants Comcast to carry its network on expanded basic cable, but Comcast said it should be on a digital sports tier.” 
12. However this situation turns out, it must be resolved.  According to the Columbus Dispatch, 80% of the population in the Big Ten States have Comcast.  This overwhelming majority cannot left out if this Network plans on succeeding. 

 

B.           The controversy surrounding this network is not just how this network will be funded, but what it will be presenting.

 

1.      The second issue these two powers are in contention over is the content of the network.

2.       While the  Big Ten Network will feature a large quantity of events spanning over football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball, and Olympic sports, Comcast argues the quality of these contests is “second and third tier” reports an article on the Philadelphia Inquirer’s website.

3.      In an article later published on ESPN.com, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany refutes this argument as he states "They're not second tier. Certainly, games at Michigan and Penn State and Ohio State -- I don't care who the opponent is, those are not second-tier games?”

4.      Well, since the high profile games will be broadcasted on ESPN and ABC, the Big Ten Network will be featuring games of lesser stature or “second tier.”

5.      This lack of content is a main reason why Comcast does not want to include it in its basic cable package.

6.      After thoroughly breaking down both sides of the argument, I have reached a solution.

 

Transition- In my resolution to this matter, both sides clearly have to give in to some of their demand in order for this solution to work.

 

III. Body-Solution

     A.            This solution has a few main points.

1.      One, the Big Ten Network will be split up in half, live sporting events and other coverage.

a.        The campus-coverage and other feature programs on the Big Ten Network will be distributed on basic digital cable for 3 dollars per year, a quarter of the price the Big Ten Network wishes to charge for its channel.

2.      Where will the rest of the revenue be derived from you may ask? Well according to my plan, the remaining three fourths of the budget will come from the games the station broadcasts live. 

a.       Similar to a pay per view method, the games will be on Big Ten Network sub channels in which viewers will have to pay a minimal fee to receive the programming.

b.       Since this is the content the overwhelming majority of the viewers wish to receive anyway, the public will be eager to pay a nominal fee to receive this games.

3.      The third part of my solution addresses the problem revolving around the quality of the games. 

a.       As some of these games feature lower end competition such as Northeastern versus Northwestern, many argue that these games are not worth paying for.

b.      Therefore, I propose a ranking system established by Comcast, in which each game the Big Ten features will be given a rating of 1, 2, or 3, depending upon the quality of the game. 

c.       In this system, the ranking will correspond to the dollar amount the viewing public will pay.

d.       Through this plan, the audience, Big Ten Network, and Comcast all benefit as they all receive portions of what they desire and provides a solution to satisfy all parties involved.

IV. Conclusion

1.      This dispute between the Big Ten Network and Comcast is clearly a problem that could have epic consequences if it is not settled.

2.      I know that I am not going to want to miss out on a single second Of Penn State’s run to the National Championship game this year, and I don’t think anyone else sitting in this room today wants to either. 

3.      The problem is focused around money and content, and a solution similar to the one that I proposed earlier can fix it. 

4.      So I am down on my knees begging you all to PLEASE write a letter to these two arrogant companies and petition them to work this thing out, because I refuse to miss a game.

 

If nothing else i said has gotten your interest in this network, perhaps viewing this commercial presented by the Big Ten Network on youtube.cm will stir your interest.

Thank You For Your Time.

 

 

Works Cited

Associate Press. “Big Ten, Comcast battle over new network's costs,” ESPN.com. Retrieved August 5, 2007

 

Baptist, Bob. “As kickoff nears, Big Ten TV deal incomplete” Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 5, 2007

Daily News Wire Services. “Big Ten takes exception to Comcast remark” Philly.com Retrieved August 5, 2007

Mandel, Stuart. “Mass Appeal? Big Ten Network Fighting Hard for Cable Viewership.” SportsIllustrated.com Retrieved August 5, 2007

Raines, Jillian. “Comcast, Big Ten Network feud remains”, collegian.psu.edu Retrieved August 5, 2007

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Sandomir, Richard. "Tempers Flare Over Network For Big Ten.(Sports Desk)", The New York Times Retrieved August 5, 2007

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“This is Big Ten Country.” Youtube.com Retrieved August 6, 2007