As expected, the Big Ten Network will broadcast the first two University of Wisconsin football games this season -- 11 a.m. games at Camp Randall Stadium against Akron on Aug. 30 and Marshall on Sept. 6.

The Big Ten on Wednesday released the game times and TV plans for every home nonconference game during the first four weekends of the season. The nonconference schedule will feature 30 home games televised by ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or BTN, beginning with eight games on Aug. 30.

BTN is carried by satellite providers DirecTV and DISH Network, as well as cable company MHTC (formerly Mount Horeb Telephone Co.), which serves the areas of Mount Horeb, Blue Mounds and Dodgeville.

BTN recently signed a deal with Comcast, the nation's largest cable company, and BTN President Mark Silverman told The Capital Times he is hopeful of reaching deals before football season with Charter Communications and Time Warner, the dominant cable providers for the Madison and Milwaukee areas, respectively.

BTN also is guaranteed to carry at least one conference game for each Big Ten team, but except for two games already set for BTN that don't include the Badgers, coverage during the conference season won't be released until six to 12 days in advance of games.

Once the conference season starts, ABC will get the first pick of a game each week, ESPN will get the second and third picks 75 percent of the time, BTN the second and third picks 25 percent of the time, and BTN the remaining games each week. That is the same system that was used last year when five UW football games were telecast by BTN: nonconference games against Citadel and Northern Illinois and conference games against Ohio State, Indiana and Minnesota.

Wednesday's announcement means that times are set for six of the Badgers' 12 games this season.

UW's nonconference game at Fresno State on Sept. 13 will be at 9:30 p.m. and telecast by ESPN2.

UW home games against Ohio State on Oct. 4 and Penn State on Oct. 11 will start at 7 p.m., and the Badgers' Homecoming game against Illinois Oct. 25 will kick off at 11 a.m. The broadcast network for those games has not been set.

BTN said the "vast majority" of its games will be in high definition.

When BTN is producing simultaneous games, the network will split the feeds regionally to allow Big Ten fans to watch the game with the most regional interest. In addition, cable and satellite providers will be able to carry the additional games via "overflow channels." Fans can check local listings, their on-screen channel guide or www.BigTenNetwork.com to find overflow channel assignments for specific games.

Big Ten Network's early-season and prime-time schedule

Saturday, Aug. 30

Indiana vs. Western Kentucky, 11 a.m.

Iowa vs. Maine, 11 a.m.

Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, 11 a.m.

Penn State vs. Coastal Carolina, 11 a.m.

Wisconsin vs. Akron, 11 a.m.

Minnesota vs. Northern Illinois, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6

Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois, 11 a.m.

Iowa vs. Florida International, 11 a.m.

Michigan State vs. Eastern Michigan, 11 a.m.

Purdue vs. Northern Colorado, 11 a.m.

Wisconsin vs. Marshall, 11 a.m.

Indiana vs. Murray State, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13