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Doug Robinson: MWC TV situation frustrating

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Larry D. Hill | 2:10 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

What is happening with the Mountain West Conference Law suite that was supposed to be filed against the mtn?

Adam | 4:37 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

'Nuf said.

Texas Cougar | 5:35 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

There is an easy answer and that is to stream the games over the internet. I'm happy to pay for it, I just want access. By-pass the satellite and cable companies.

Comments continue below

Leon Mason | 6:02 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Utah and BYU should bolt the Mountain West Conferece, get with Idaho State in Bosie, and start a new conference. I was sucked into calling last year and now they want me to do their job again. Now way. If you are going to make a phone call, call the school Presidents and demand they fire the conference comissioner. The rural legeslators in Utah should pass a bill cutting the U's funding by 10 percent until all of the citizens in Utah can see the games free. We are paying enough already.

Blue Never Dodubts | 6:44 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

There IS a Solution! I know exactly what will work. I'm proposing that all Moutain West Confenece fans call this Thursday, Aug 30th, and Cancel ALL Cable, Satelite, Dish, whatever. Are we true fans? I will sacrifice TV Completely, and I we see several hundred thousand cancellations of service to ALL the providers, you bet in two days, they will have BYU/Mountain West sports on all the venues! CANCELL THIS WEEK!!!!!!

Don't care anymore | 6:51 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Let's just do what ever it takes to help the MTN fold. When it does a good TV deal can be made. I 2 wonder what ever happened with the hot shot Attorney.

Urban's Boy | 7:39 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

It is too bad Urban Meyer isn't still here since he could easily solve a problem like this.

In fact, I am unsure what Urban cannot do--which reminds me, why did we have a sports column written that did not reference the best coach ever to step foot in the state?

Dump Mountain | 7:46 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Dump Mountain... Dont blane cable dish...blame the MTN. Just drop your contract MTN and I have called them to do so and please do the same.

Matt | 7:59 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Seems like I'll just listen to games on KSL Radio now!

Keeping It Real | 8:07 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I really like the mtn. network. You should just do what I do and buy comcast for 3 months then cancel it. I did that last year and it was great. Stop complaining the conference coverage is awesome!

Robert | 8:15 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

If the recent commercials for Comcast advertising the Mountain are any indication, I doubt that satellite companies will have this channel anytime soon. I too would like to know what is happening with the potentail lawsuit against The Mtn.

Larry P | 8:18 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

All the Mtn West teams need to band together and get their attorney's or whatever it takes to "get er done". This is rediculous not being able to watch my favortie team, BYU, or any other Mtn West team. Come one guys, remember, your fans are who got you this far. ...Comcast is not avaiable in So Utah..Give us a break, Mtn.

Wear purple | 8:24 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I like Brad's conspiracy theory likening the .mtn to Amway. Where are Woodward and Bernstein when you REALLY need them to uncover a CRIME? Maybe Larry Miller could be this story's Deepthroat.

One solution is that BYU and Utah fans reach a compromise: no more blue and red. Let's just all wear purple and show up en masse to Weber State games.

The .mtn would lose its advertising base, and in no time we'd be watching REALish football again for free on the local networks. Our old purple t-shirts will come in handy for waxing our cars or polishing our big screens.

Dee | 8:26 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Let's see, more revenue and better game times. That's what the mtn. was supposed to be. Maybe it worked. The only problems are no national coverage and limited fan viewership. Is that the best we can do for our players and fans? How much impact does the lack of exposure have on the polls? Used to be you could see about any game you wanted either nationally or locally, sometimes for a fee. How long will advertisers keep paying the bills for this lower tier programming? It will probably collapse around itself soon. We are urged to call for satellite coverage which I have done. But I am thinking, why go through the hassle and expect to pay more to push a dying program? Put an end to this misery and spend some time on putting together another program that works.

Not my Job | 8:28 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I find it hilarious (no wait, not hilarious) that the commissioner is asking us for a bailout by calling. His complete failure here should lead to his sacking. As for the rest of the college Presidents in the conference they need to figure out the solution. I guess I will be watching a lot of Notre Dame this year (Do they still have a contract with ABC?)

Jason | 8:27 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I'm a fan in Michigan and I know I will never watch a BYU game here with 'the mountain', but I was recently introduced to TVU were you can watch live TV on the internet for free (if you have high speed). Versus is one of the station on it so I can at least see 3 BYU games this year. I think all fans should call THE MOUNTAIN and demand to have free access on TVU.

Aggie Fan | 8:42 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

It brings me great joy to see that the Aggies are on TV while the greedy ewts and bougars are complaining about a TV contract. Back in the day the U and the Y screwed the Aggies and left them out to dry by blocking their entrance into the WAC. Now the both the U and the Y have changed conferences a number of times searching for the all mighty dollar (remember the 16 team WAC, that was a great idea.... brilliant). As the two conferences stand now (MWC and the WAC), the WAC is the better of the two in the sports that matter most, football and basketball.
You guys sold out for money, nobody made you sign the contract with the mtn. So if you are looking for a game to watch this fall, go to KJZZ, you will find the Aggies. "UTAH STATE, HEY AGGIES ALL THE WAY, GO AGGIES, GO AGGIES, HEY HEY HEY"

I HATE THE MTN | 8:50 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Everyone should email the VP and General Manager of The MTN Kim Carver and tell 'em exactly what you think.

Kim Carver's email: kcarver@themtn.tv

Mark | 8:57 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

One word. Slingbox. $150. www.slingbox.com. All you need to do is have a Slingbox hooked up to the cable and Internet connection of someone with The mtn. and you can stream the station over the Internet to your own TV, where ever you are. I watched every BYU game that was broadcast on The mtn. last year. If you don't have a friend in Utah, just get a BYU student to host your Slingbox for you. Most of them have the Internet connection and access to The mtn. as well.

John | 9:00 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

We should go to the source. Everyone should email Kim Carver to express how unhappy we are with the current situation.

Kim Carver's email address: kcarver@themtn.tv

Ridiculous | 9:11 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The MTN ought to atleast grant the rights to KSL or KJZZ or other local stations until they can get some distribution. I live in UTAH, in a city serviced by Comcast (Logan), but it is impossible for me to get the MTN because there is no Comcast on my street. So why would a network want to exclude games from so many people? Even ESPN, a network people actually watch allowed SportsWest and the Church Satellite Network to air games...

I've called Dish and Direct hundreds of times. The call center people in India have no concept of what the MTN is. They don't know what college football is, and have know idea how to leave a request to add it to a line up. All they want to do is get you to subscribe to their sports packages which includes other sports channels that don't air Mountain West Conference.

I'm not going to give up yet, but in all reality I don't think the satellite companies will ever reach an agreement with the MTN. The .mtn will go out of business before we can see ALL our teams games again. The satellite companies must use their precious satellite bandwidth to air a mostly regional channel with a relatively small viewership. The amount they want to pay for this programming will never match what the .mtn needs to net to make a profit.

Despite what Comcast says, I still think there really is a conflict of interests between comcast and satellite. The satellite companies have been taking millions of Comcasts subscribers each year. In areas like Utah, having a monopoly on these games is helping them win many subscribers back. I've been a faithful disher for years, but if I could get Comcast I'd switch to see my games.

Keep Calling | 9:20 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I know its a pain and a huge waste of our time to call the Satellite companies, but I don't think they'll do anything unitl they're "bugged" enough, and know that there is enough viewership that it may be worth their while to air this "regional" network.

Most of the calls we make probably don't do any thing because they are answered by incompetent receptionists who know nothing about the .mtn or Mountain West Conference.

To make a little more effect, and to bug them all the more keep calling... When you finally get to the real person, immediately ask if you can "speak with their supervisor." They hate it when you do this, but after a couple of insistant requests they will usually get the supervisor, who might actually be a little more competent.

utahkeith | 9:25 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Sadly "Aggie Fan" is all to right, immagine where the WAC would be now if BYU and Utah would have stuck it out there, and Boise State now as powerful as they are was where they are? What a conference! However now the Mountain West Conference has TCU and that will help alot, but this "MTN" station idea has about run it's course! I got dish on the hopes they would have the mountain, and now I am stuck in this contract with them! Good thing I have "Y" season tickets, and a few frieds with Comcast.

RE: Blue Never Dodubts | 9:29 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

That's a great plan Blue Never Dodubts, I'm IN on dumping TV altogether. Make the companies suffer until they can work something out. I just request that we change the date until September 15th after the TULSA game. I actually have CSTV on my Dish Network Family pack, and would like to see atleast one game this year.....

richy rich | 9:30 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I suggest Tcu, Byu and Utah to join the wac. It will be a great football conference with Boise State, Hawaii and Fresno in one division and BYU, TCU and Utah anchoring the other division.

Then Utah, BYU and TCU cold get out of the 13 years of obscurity they face in their current tv deal. These teams would share in the ESPN exposure.Boise State is on ESPN 5 times this season.

Lets face it there is not much difference between New Mexico State, Utah State and La Tech compared to SDSU UNLV and Air Force.

I love to listen to the local media polish the turd(UNLV or SDSU) every week Utah or BYU play SDSU or UNLV, who are you kidding.

The two confernces both have 3 good programs and 3 struggling programs. If anything I think the WAC's middle 3 Nevada, San Jose and New Mexico State are improving more the the MWC's middle 3 UNM, CSU and Wyoming.

Most people on the west coast and east of the mississippi still don't know what the MWC is anyway. They still think BYU and Utah are in the wac.

So I say to these progarms come join the wac and make it a football conference that would instantly have more crediblilty than the Big East with the addition of BYU, TCU and Utah.

Or stay in the MWC and continue to be the big fish in the little pond. The only problem with the little pond is you have to take a 7 mile dirt road and then take a 50 mile hike to get to the pond. So nobody ever sees the pond. And if nobody sees the pond does it really exist.

Brent | 9:40 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I just moved to Utah (Utah valley no less) from Florida and can not get a single game on TV. Last year in Florida I could get most of the BYU games. This is very frustrating!!!

Larry | 9:42 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

What about those of us who are fans in rural areas. I moved to Green River, UT 2 years ago and there is no cable of any kind here. Our only choice is satellite. So in the time I have been here I've seen 6 games involving the Utes or Cougars. Get me Bill Gates...or Comm. Thompson...or somebody.

Dale Newton | 9:51 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I currently live in St. Paul, Minnesota, and I remain a big Utah fan. I still have Utah football season tickets and plan to attend 3 or 4 home games this year. Nevertheless, I will be moving home in 6 years or so and I am DEMANDING that this television issue be resolved before I return to Salt Lake City in 2013!!

jcwinkel | 9:52 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I currently subscribe to Comcast. I have the cheapest possible TV package. I am a season ticket holder for BYU football and would love to be able to see more games on television. I'm frustrated that Comcast owns the rights yet doesn''t give The Mountain to all its customers.

Here is a possible business solution to the broader dilemma. Comcast should consider providing The Mountain channel to their basic plan customers. This would provide a low cost alternative to dish fans who don't get the games. For most people spending $50-$70 per month on television is the norm. Many people will consider an additional $13.50 a reasonable price to get these games. It's cheaper than buying a single a ticket to the game. They would need to work something out on the
installation. Perhaps wave the installation or significantly lower it during the month of August.

This plan would allow everyone in the West to get the Mountain West conference games at a reasonable price. It's a great way for Comcast to get their foot in the door in more homes. They can get an upsell to high speed Internet or phone. This type of promotion may cause Dish to finally settle with Comcast to get the games. After all, they don't want tons of customers purchasing Comcast for fear they will completely switch over their services.

I realize some local areas have additional complications but I think this concept has possibilities.

The World is Coming to an END! | 10:06 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

This is ridiculous!

I've Emailed!
I've Called!
I've Threatened!

Over and over and over again. Nothing has come of it. I'm sick of it. It's not working. We Need the PRESS to help us Demand all involved be FIRED!!!

If we demand the cushy rich presidents of the Universities and Mainly the MWC president be fired and that they all must go. Take it to the hill do a protest to politicians who want to be our heroes as the elections approach. Maybe that avenue will work.

But, the calls and emails are as big of a joke as the Mtn.

We need to organize a Capitol Hill protest. Let's do it. Set a date. People in the PRESS, HELP US!

Aggie Fan | 10:12 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

To Richy rich,
What makes you think the WAC wants you guys back? The idea of a 16 team WAC has already been tried and it failed because the U and the Y didn't get enough of the money to stay and as a result they created their own conference (MWC). In addition to that, lets say the WAC lowers its standards and let the defectors back in, what teams should that are currently in the WAC should be kicked out? Are the defectors willing to pay a buy out to those schools?
The only good thing that would come from the Y and U joining the WAC would be the fact that the Y would have to come to Logan to play basketball; something that they are very afraid to do now.
Meanwhile you have some time (13 years) to get on the phone to the cable company or satellite provider and organize that boycott. If you are at the Y, make sure you are in the "free speach" zone.

RML | 10:19 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I live in Minnesota and called Comcast on Saturday. The lady asked all the college sports fans in her office about the mtn. and none of them have ever heard of it. I don't have time for TV, and I'm not paying $45 to just see BYU play a few times. She said she did find MW games being played through FSN, streaming via the mtn. Who knows what that really means. I'm content just listening on the radio and going to friends homes to watch the national games. You get to a point where you quit complaining and just make the best of it. The slingbox truly is the answer, that I can attest to, but I gotta wait until college is totally finished to get that.

Some Dude | 10:31 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Here's an idea, why don't they broadcast the games over the air? Remember the old bunny ears we used to attach to our televisions back in the day? Why doesn't The mtn broadcast the games on channel 15, 16, or 17 using digital broadcasting (as opposed to analog)? I've never heard anyone mention this idea before but it's how I watch games on ABC, NBC, CBS in HD. It is like night and day to watch a game in HD with an HDTV. The video and quality of HD channels is much better over the air than via cable or satellite. It also costs an arm and a leg to subscribe to HD with cable or satellite.

Any reason why this wouldn't work?

Go Independant | 10:42 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

BYU can solve all of its major issues by going Independant. The major issues that are hurting BYU Athletics are Money, the T.V.deal, BCS and Scheduling. Think about how great it would be to go it alone. BYU could have their own TV deal and they already has the business model and distribution set up with KBYU. Second, The Y could go out and Schedule any body they want, which in turn would create more interest from a local and national point of view. by scheduling better teams and having your own TV deal this would result in better recruiting which in the end could solve the BCS issues when the Y has a year like they did in 96, 01 and 06. We could be the "Notre Dame" of the west. All this would bring in alot more money for the University and much more excitement for the community and fans. How great would it be to have a home schedule with Notre Dame, Oregon, ASU, Utah, Boise St, TCU and Oklahoma. What recruit wouldnt want that kind of exposure. Lets do it Cougs!!

idaho falls | 10:42 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I had to buy cable in order to get the Mountain and Dish Network in order to get CSTV and Versus. The extra cost is a big pain, especially because you can't get both of those programs without buying Dish's most expensive package. This really sucks. To Leon....no way we should join a conference with Idaho State! Ridiculous.
Kevin

Beef Zerkie | 10:59 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Looks like you took the heart of the WAC when it comes to teams, but we ended up with the better Commish.

Thanks bonehead and MWC leaders! Now it is easier for a Utah resident to watch Boise State on TV than to watch Utah and BYU! Should help us work in some good recruiting!!

The irony was this deal was supposed to help MWC schools recruiting by showing more games across the country. The end result it not only fails there, but it hurts in their own imprint areas! LOL!

And I think this deal could have been a good one. IF done right. Too bad you have an egghead for a Commish. If he would have put a clause in the contract: "Any area that is not available by the network can use local or other networks." Man that would have done wonders for you guys.

Bob in Dallas | 11:12 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Not sure I can recall any significant business decision being made because they were "bugged" too much. Any going concern that is trying to ink a deal must, in fact, have some benefit/incentive to follow through and sign off....with that said, until the terms are modified then there will be no deal and the station is well on its way to the BIG DUMPSTER!

Chandler, AZ | 11:20 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Itï¿½s amazing to think that with so many people involved in this fiasco that nobody, i.e., The Mtn. Execs, University Admin., MWC Officials, Comcast Execs., etc. will stand up, take responsibility and say it like it is  The Mtn. is a failure! It may have sounded good on paper a few years ago, but the way it has been executed has made it a failure. You cannot argue that because it has so many hours of MWC sports coverage available that it is working. Who cares if broadcasts around the clock if nobody can see it? We cannot purchase this service, it is not available, and by calling the satellite and cable companies (which has been going on for two seasons now) it is apparently not working.

Can you imagine what would happen if a big company like Microsoft had a new release of their operating system but then had no means of distributing it to their customer? Do you think they would hold pointless meetings for two years and then after 18-months or so form some symbolic legal team to ï¿½try to negotiate a new deal?ï¿½

The Mtn. will go down as a great business case study of how NOT to introduce a new product and take it to market.

It would be nice if some of those involved, which are many, would step up and begin to offer solutions rather than some stupid message of, ï¿½keep calling the satellite companies and then weï¿½re sure they will come and beg us for our channel.ï¿½ This whole thing is so unbelievable.

Hutch | 11:20 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I find it funny that comcast broadcasts the mtn. on their cheapest tv package, but you have to pay extra for the package with CSTV. The only possible way to see all the games on comcast you have to subscribe to the more expensive package because some games are only on CSTV. Just another way that comcast is sticking it to us.

The Truth | 11:32 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The truth is the MWC Commissioners and the university ADs and Presidents sold out the fans for television money to run their programs and pay their salaries. They aren't real businessmen so they were caught off guard by Comcast who is definately taking advantage of their monopoly - especially football and basketball.

The ADs should end the charade and tell the fans the truth about the negotiations.

Bart | 11:36 a.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Those of us in the Denver area can get the mtn west games on comcast cable at channel 411.

BluBubba | 12:09 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Fire Craig Thompson! This whole arrangement makes no sense. Ususally when an entity exerts this type of control, you can find a money trail pointing to some kind of logic. In this situation, there is no real money since viewership is so limited. Thompson made took a gamble that he could sell this to the satellite companies and he lost big time.

This field of dreams has turned into a field of insomnia with a 12 foot high wall. It makes no sense. The MWC university presidents should demand Thompson's resignation as a token apolgy for thier buying into this mess.

Ryan | 12:23 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The solution is simple:

BYU, Utah, TCU and CSU leave the MWC, while Boise St., Hawaii, Fresno State and Nevada leave the WAC. That leaves Nevada as the worst team in the conference for football (which isn't bad at all), and makes it also a very good basketball conference. You could also swap Nevada for New Mexico, as they are about equal in TV market size.

Then, with only 8 teams in conference, you could have 5 non-conference games against better competition.

Let Wyoming, UNLV, SDSU, UNM join the WAC, and Air Force can become independent, which makes more sense anyway.

Then you've got a nice solid conference to compete for a BCS slot.

Call it the Mountain 8 Conference, and get a new TV deal.

Dave | 12:31 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The culprit in this situation is Comcast. They want a price for The mtn what would require Dish and Direct TV to raise their rates. I don't believe for a minute that Comcast is inocent in this deal.

Tired of Waiting | 12:32 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I join the ranks of those demanding Utah and BYU leave the Mtn West Conference. However, before they do fire Commissioner Thompson. If nothing else fails keep this geek off of TV. Everytime he appears I get sick.

What a Joke | 12:33 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

BYU and Utah are the one losing on this. They should be the ones steping up to the plate and butting heads with KIM not us. We all have solutions that would work if KIM would read this article and take some action.
One solution that won't work is supporting the Aggies. Maybe you Aggie fans need your memory jogged. Remember how bad UTAH and BYU killed them last year. I also bet Bingham High could whoop the Aggies too. I would be embarassed to admit I was an AGGIe fan on this board quite frankly. I will listen on the radio. Half the mtn games I watched last year looked like they were shot with a hand held video camera. That staion hopefully will fold. It was a good Idea, but as Jerry Sloan would say Poor execution.

MG | 12:40 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Should we really be calling the dish providers? NO!!! There is a deal on the table that puts the MTN. on directv in their sports pack, but the MTN. wants to be put with the basic package. Yes this would be nice to have, but come on, FSN doesn't even get this privilege, what makes the MTN. think they are so gifted. I believe we need to start a campaign to call the MTN. tv station, the conference office, and the presidents of each university.

These are the links that I could find.

http://themwc.cstv.com/staff/mwc-staff.html

CSTV Networks, Inc. Chris Bevilacqua
85 10th Avenue, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212ï¿½342ï¿½8700
Fax: 212ï¿½342ï¿½8899

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tim Fitzpatrick, Comcast, 215-981-8515
tim_fitzpatrick@comcast.com

Javan Hedlund, Mountain West Conference, 719-648-4027
jhedlund@themwc.com

Lets take a stand as fans and let the right people know we are no going to take this!!!!!!!!!

Call them daily or hourly, lets flood them with the calls.

Illinois Cougar | 12:42 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I've lived outside Utah for 6 years, and this is the BEST year of BYU coverage I can remember! Thanks to Versus and CSTV, I can watch 6 games on TV this year.

You may not realize it, but most of the "Nationally Televised" games on ESPN or ABC in the past were actually "regionally" televised. At BEST, the games were televised to 50% of the nation, and those of us in the East or Midwest were stuck watching 2 mid-level Big 10 teams play a boring low scoring game.

1. We should all be glad the MWC is snubbing the BCS/ABC/ESPN/Disney monopoly. They HATE the MWC for doing this, but it would just be playing into their monopoly/power scheme to stay with ESPN and keep MWC games to Thursday nights and advertise us as "mid majors".

2. The Mtn is theoretically a good idea, but someone SCREWED IT UP! If we can get the MTN on satellite, it would be the best thing the MWC has EVER done--TRUE NATIONAL COVERAGE! (ABC/ESPN/Disney is probably trying to keep us off satellite TV. They also hate CSTV--a subsidiary of CBS).

3. If we cant get satellite coverage by the end of the season, the MWC needs to DUMP THE MTN and WORK OUT A DEAL WITH VERSUS/CSTV to air MOST/ALL of the games.

Ryan | 12:43 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The Mountain West's decision to dump ESPN was like some new producer of widgets who declines a new distribution contract with Wal-Mart. Mark my words, in another year or two, the Mountain West will come crawling back to ESPN and the "Wal-Mart" of the sports world will probably get us back for half the money as before and we'll get to watch Mountain West games with weekday kick-off times of 1:00 AM (EST).

DishDude | 12:47 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

If I were DishNetwork or another cable provider I wouldn't add the MTN either. I do have the MTN and they constantly talk and advertise comcast. Why would another cable provider PAY to have their worst competitors advertisments?

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