BTN.com staff, February 6, 2013

January 2013 marked the Big Ten Network?s highest-rated month ever in primetime, according to Nielsen metered market data, fueled by high-quality men?s basketball matchups and strong performance of The Journey, which also set new ratings records.  BTN?s average primetime men?s conference basketball rating was 0.87 in the network?s eight metered markets*.  Among all national sports networks for the month, BTN trailed only ESPN in its eight metered markets.

?Our ratings growth is a testament to the high level of competition in the Big Ten, improved quality of our content, and continued increased distribution of the network,? BTN President Mark Silverman. 

Through the first 14 weeks of the season, BTN has aired 55 games featuring ranked teams, including 32 games with teams ranked in the top 10, and 20 games with teams ranked in the top 5.   In all, BTN will air more than 115 men?s basketball games this season.

Men?s basketball games contributing to the ratings growth include Minnesota at Indiana (1/12), the highest-rated regular season basketball game in BTN history, along with Ohio State at Illinois (1/5), Minnesota at Wisconsin (1/26), Michigan at Illinois (1/27), and Indiana at Purdue (1/30).