Impasse likely to sideline Iowa-ISU for Dish viewers

Iowa and Iowa State fans who have Dish Network could miss Saturday's game on television after discussions between the national satellite provider and BTN reached an impasse on Wednesday.

BTN will air the 60th edition of the Cy-Hawk showdown between Iowa and Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Dish Network will drop BTN from its service after Friday unless a new deal is reached, according to Elizabeth Conlisk, BTN's vice president of communications.

"Fans should start making other plans," Conlisk said. "There will be no short-term arrangement this week.

"We're disappointed. We really thought we were close to a deal. It's clear that Dish isn't interested in a fair deal. They continue to insist on preferential treatment."

Dish Network initially agreed to carry BTN within a week of the network's launch in 2007. Their agreement ended last Friday, but the companies reached a temporary deal early Saturday morning to keep the network on Dish Network for one more week.

At least two of Iowa's next three games will air on BTN - Sept. 15 against Northern Iowa and Sept. 29 against Minnesota. The network for Iowa's Sept. 22 game against Central Michigan has not been determined.

Conlisk said the company quietly has renegotiated with other cable and satellite providers but Dish Network is the only company with which it has reached a stalemate in negotiations.

BTN airs two other games on Saturday: New Hampshire at Minnesota and Vanderbilt at Northwestern.