DirecTV and mtn. OK deal

SAN DIEGO — Mountain West Conference fans from coast to coast will finally be able to see their teams on television this fall. The league and DirecTV confirmed Friday they have an agreement that will add The mtn. to the satellite TV provider's lineup by Sept. 1.

The multiyear contract raises hopes that a similar deal can be worked out with Dish Network, but no agreement has been reached with the No. 2 satellite company. MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said the league "will continue to aggressively increase distribution."

"It certainly will put pressure on other carriers," said Kim Carver, vice president and general manager of The mtn.

Carver, who begged fans to barrage cable and satellite companies with requests for the channel, was jubilant over the breakthrough. She said negotiations between CBS and Comcast (which co-own The mtn.) and DirecTV "heated up" in October.

"It's really a complicated deal and a long, long process, more than anyone wanted," she said. "I say thanks to the fans for making the calls they did. I'm so glad to be here finally. We were consumed by getting the deal points done, working weekends and late nights."

The deal, signed Friday, will make MWC programming available to DirecTV's 16.8 million subscribers. While the pact calls for adding The mtn. by Sept. 1, it could come earlier, according to Carver.

The mtn. is currently seen in only 1.2 million cable households; a limited number of MWC games are also seen on CSTV (24 million) and Versus (74 million).

Channel position and programming-package details for The mtn. on DirecTV were not announced and will be finalized as the launch date nears. Fans should visit directv.com for updates.

Carver said the deal enables the league's TV partners to immediately work on extended marketing plans and campaigns that will increase both revenue for the channel and exposure for the league. And make it easier for conference members to recruit athletes — or so they hope.

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said the deal is an important "first step" toward achieving what was promised when the MWC left ESPN for CSTV — national exposure. He didn't see Friday's announcement as an end game because work is still needed to get programming, particularly BYU sports, to as many homes as possible.