MWC takes cutting edge over ESPN

DENVER — The mountain West Conference moguls believe it will be on the cutting edge of technology with its TV partner CSTV in a year.

Is it reasonable to think that college sports in this area could maintain exposure and semblance of respect without the bully pulpit of ESPN spraying out its games?

In a nutshell, folks in Denver this week, those with stripes on their shirts and titles in front of their names, say "yes." The ESPN divorce is almost here — just a year to go. They believe they won't need any alimony. They'll do just fine with the initial settlement.

According to Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder and executive vice president of CSTV, his nationwide network is growing by the week and will be impressive once the MWC contract kicks in for coverage in 2006 for football and 2006-07 for basketball.

MWC commissioner Craig Thompson says the CSTV deal will give the league significant coverage and the right times, right places and right price to ensure league coffers and exposure.

MWC president council chairman Dr. Cecil O. Samuelson says presidents of the league schools who OK'd the departure from ESPN to CSTV may not have fully understood the scope of future technology offered by new communication media, but expert consultants that briefed them did, and so far it's been amazing.

We're talking about the ability to get MWC conference games on Internet streaming video to cell phones and laptops, going beyond the comfort of flipping on a recorder or TiVo.

CSTV already launched "March Madness on Demand," for fans nationwide to tune into NCAA tournament coverage.

"It's a taste of what is to come," Bevilacqua said. "Five years ago, you would have to wait and see when your team would be on TV and schedule your time around that. Now, with CSTV, you can stay with the team you want, the sport you want and when you want to see it. You may only want scores and highlights on the phone. New technology allows you to be connected all the time."

Still, MWC fans across the country worry that CSTV is a step down in prestige and exposure and there will be pockets around the country that simply won't be able to tune in to see post-Urban Utah, post-Crowton BYU or what Air Force is up to.

Bevilacqua believes the perception will be proven wrong because he's signing up a number of TV markets.