By Staff
Athletic Management, 18.5, August/September 2006, http://www.momentummedia.com/articles/am/am1805/wumwcontv.htm
THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE is partnering with CSTV to create the country’s first regional sports network dedicated to one college athletic conference. Branded as “The mtn.,” it will carry 36 MWC football games, 150 men’s and women’s basketball games, and another 100 contests in 2006-07, as well as coaches’ shows, previews, and wrapup shows. CSTV will air selected MWC games as part of its national package, including 18 football games.
The network will also go beyond the regional sports channel by including broadband video, pay-per-view, video on demand, and support for wireless devices. “I think fans now expect to get their sports when and how they want it, and not just through television any more,” says Craig Thompson, MWC Commissioner.
Previously, a package of Mountain West games appeared on the ESPN networks as well as regional sports networks. “Last year, fans may have seen their team three times on ESPN and once on FoxSports,” Thompson says. “This year, they’ll be able to see all 12 football games. Six or seven might be on TV, and the others will be available on broadband.”
The move will also benefit fans in the stands. “We were getting the fringes for both kickoff and tip off times. Plus we had to give up a lot of Saturday games for non-traditional days,” Thompson says. “This year, 49 of 56 games are scheduled for Saturday afternoon, which is when we want to play football.”