Here's a link to a NY Times article that lays out the battlefield for the Big 10 and big cable. This entire concept is something to watch carefully.
"Comcast’s position on the Big Ten Network is also partly a warning to other conferences not to expect broad distribution if they create similar channels. The Big 12 had been analyzing one until it made its new eight-year, $480-million deal with ESPN, but the Southeastern, Pacific-10 and Atlantic Coast Conferences have voiced various levels of interest in such ventures."