What a revealing comment, using "socialist" in expressing contempt for the basic tenet of democracy, that people everywhere are to be treated fairly and equitably.
Worse, the comment is way, way incorrect. There are more residents of Illinois than Ohio, more people in Pennsylvania than Michigan, as many in Minnesota & Wisconsin together as either Ohio or Michigan. NJ & Maryland are NOT small states, neither is Indiana. And the logic is grossly illogical & factually unsupported: it requires empirical evidence that sports ratings are higher in Ohio & Michigan than other states, specifically those of ESPN.
BT members like Iowa, Minnie, Wisky, PSU, IU, Purdue should demand balanced presentations on BTN or withdraw their participation. Push to have the BT allow members to make their own radio & telelvision contracts. Tell BTN that it should change its name, reorganize as a TV outlet for just Ohio State & Michigan with a new name appropriate to that status. Let the rest of the BT create a new network with each member having its own broadcasting IAT or as alternative to network progoramming.
Or simply reorganize BTN into a conglomerate of 14 members creating their own programming and adding BTN programs as desired on a selective basis, replacing BTN scheduled programs as they choose---so the members can all replace the constant glorifying of the two most frequent cheaters, most profit driven, most corrupt programs at Ohio State & Michigan. That would do wonders for BTN TV ratings---few people in Ohio or Michigan watch all the endless, repetitive drivel, while MOST BT fans never turn on BTN except for the rare occasions when BTN deigns to throw a programming morsel their way---a once a month middle-of-the-night rerun of a BT wome4n's minor sport broadcast.
The great majority of BT graduates move to other locales within a few years. BTN programming is of little value or even relevance to those who are not Mich grads or Ohio State dropouts---they don't get access to sports events at their own schools.
Barta needs to make forceful, loud, frequent complaints to the BT Commissioner---and get his counterparts at 11 other BT schools to do the same.