The Big Ten Network may be one step closer to being more widely available in Madison, according to a report released Monday.

According to an article in Street and Smith�s SportsBusiness Journal, Comcast and Fox executives have agreed to provide BTN with their expanded basic package to the eight Big Ten Conference states they cover.

If BTN seals a deal with Comcast, Time Warner and Charter Communications would most likely be next to bring the network to its customers, according to University of Wisconsin telecommunications professor Barry Orton.

�I can�t say it is coming close to the end � I can�t even say we know where the end is � but apparently there is some move on the part of the BTN on the Comcast side,� Orton said.

Comcast had originally said it would not offer the channel on the basic package for such a large area but now seems to be considering the idea, according to the report. The report also says BTN has �relaxed its demand� to launch the channel on expanded basic in the eight-state market.

�If they move from their original position, then we have a possibility for some deals being made,� Orton said.

Comcast spokesperson John Demming said the company has never stopped negotiations with BTN, though the alleged new agreements are �all speculation� so far.

Charter spokesperson John Miller said there have been no talks about a possible agreement within the company, though they continue to negotiate with BTN.

�Our customers want the option of whether or not to take the Big Ten Network, and we continue to keep an open mind to discussing the issue with [the network],� Miller said. �Something between the negotiating parties has changed, but nothing to the level of substance that would motivate us to talk to the media in terms of change.�

In an e-mail to The Badger Herald, BTN spokesperson Elizabeth Conlisk declined to say whether a deal with Comcast has been reached.

�We cannot speak specifically to the Sports Business Journal story, other than to say we are continuing our negotiations with Comcast and we continue to make progress,� Conlisk said. �Beyond that, we cannot comment further.�