Deseret News | MWC TV situation frustrating

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Doug Robinson: MWC TV situation frustrating

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Riverfisher | 1:13 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

DO NOT CALL YOUR SATELLITE PROVIDER! Don't let the idiots at the conference offices trick you into doing thier work for them. CALL YOUR SCHOOL AND THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE. The conference made this deal, the school presidents (or ADs) approved the deal, so they are at fault. The cable companies and satellite providers are in business to make money and have NO responsibilities to make Mountain West fans happy by carrying what has turned out to be a CRAPPY station. The schools and the conference are the only ones that can fix the deal they signed in the first place. Don't let Craig Thompson get away with this, call for his job!

FB Fan | 1:34 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Wow I've never seen so many BYU and Utah fans in agreement on the same issue. Hopefully this whole mess will be cleaned up soon. Bigger than the problem that local fans have difficulty watching the games (as you can usually find a fellow fan who has cable willing to let you watch it with you) is the problem that out of state alumni (and impressionable potential recruits) usually have no way to watch these games by any means whatsoever,

Sick of doing other people's job | 1:46 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Why should I be doing the satellite providers job? I call and I am the one who looks like an idiot, because they have no idea what I am talking about. I am tired of trying to do their job.

I can't get Comcast where I live.

I'm not going to do their job and I don't care if they had more televised events than ever before. How many people were watching. I wasn't. COMPLETE GREEDY IDIOTS!!!!!

This is a complete slap in the face, the way they are treating us. If we could all not watch the games and drop the ratings through the floor, maybe then we could say something but that isn't going to happen

Comments continue below

FIRE CRAIG THOMPSON!! | 1:51 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

FIRE CRAIG THOMPSON AND ALL THE MWC COMISSIONERS WHO AGREED TO THIS!!

THE DUMBEST MOVE IN ALL OF SPORTS HISTORY!

Okie UTE | 2:04 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I have CSTV on my dish system but they rarely show MWC games, My guess is that Oklahoma is in a different region. Yes, I want to see more games, but my real fear is that this tv mess will have a very negative effect on recruiting. The better recruits want to go to a school that they can be seen on tv almost every week. This is where to real long term problem lies.

Angry Fan | 2:04 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I agree with Riverfisher. DO NOT CALL YOUR SATELLITE PROVIDER!! Its not their fault and nobody should expect them to accept a bad deal.

Call or email Craig Thompson and Javan Hedlund at the MWC offices 719-648-4027 (jhedlund@themwc.com). Tell them to fix the problem now or start looking for a new job.

The only thing worse than the television contract is the bowl alignments. Way to go MWC Commissioners.

CzechRacer | 2:22 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The worst move was leaving the WAC. The mtn. deal is a darn close second. Nice Hair Thompson.

richy rich | 2:31 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

To aggie fan,

dude, I didn't say any wac teams should be kicked out. I said two 6 team divisions one with UH, Fresno, SJSU, Nev, Idaho and Boise the other division Utah, USU, BYU TCU, nmsu and la tech.

I was being sarcastic anyway. THE MWC and WAC are basically the same conference. I've gone to usu games for more than 20 years and for 20 years the excuse aggie fans used was I'll go to football games when we get in a better confernce.

So last year when Fresno and Hawaii come to town, one a top 25 program that year and the other a perrenial top 25 contender, there aren't more than 15,000 for either game. I have watched the Ags for years and it kills me that the program hasn't ever taken off.

The bottom line is they are finally in the best possible scenario to finally succeed in football. In a very good conferene that is as good or maybe better than the MWC.But the wac isn't in a TV fiasco like the MWC is and will be for 13 years.

They need to follow the mold of Nevada and San Jose and make good hires and get the program going again.
But, until more aggie fans start supporting the football program by attendance and financially. It doesn't matter who is coaching.

It will be like Duke. Fans talking about hoops in mid september.

I wish USU the best and I think they are in a great situation now, in the Wac. They are going to have to make signifigant strides to compete in this conference in football.I hope they can figure it out.

utefan02 | 2:32 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

GET OFF YOUR BUTTS AND GO TO THE GAMES IN PERSON AT THE STADIUM!!!!

Besides BYU and Utah, the rest of the conference has horrible attendence. BYU's fans still don't fill the stadium completely unless it's against Utah. Utah's stadium attendence is inflated with many given away. TCU, as good as it's been, has had mediocre attendence, and the rest of the conference attendence is so bad it is laughable.

FILL YOUR STADIUM FIRST BEFORE YOU CRY!!!

Ute Fan | 2:34 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The Mountain really ought to listen to all the ongoing complaints and make some changes. It is as simple as that. When you have consistently have a large amount of complaints over a long period of time, it becomes obvious that there are some real problems.

East Idaho Fan | 3:30 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

It is really disappointing that I can watch more Weber State games on TV this season than all MWC games combined. No option for me in rural idaho to see one MWC game on TV and no radio option unless streamed over the internet.

As a BYU grad I am loyal to the Coug's but not being able to see the games on TV and a great Boise State program is really influencing the 'Mormon' fan allegiance of East Idaho. This will hurt MWC recruiting.

Frustrated Y fan | 3:32 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I grew up watching BYU football as a family. Every week there was a game we would watch it as a family. I frustreated that now that I have children of my own I can't sit down with them and watch a ball game. We are raising a bunch a kids to grow up and become fans of other college football teams because they can't watch BYU or Utah on TV!
Help us PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fire Thompson | 3:48 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Fire Thompson and Kim Carver. they are lining their pockets with dough. They should be put in Jail for life.

Aggie Fan | 4:01 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Richy Rich
Sorry, I missed the sarcasm from your post. I understand the desire to create a 12 team conference but as a true Aggie fan I have a hard time letting the likes of BYU and Utah into that conference. I really don't feel sorry for them, they made their bed, now they have to lay in it. Allowing them to create yet another conference or skip out of the MWC and join an existing conference is a crock.
The USU program has suffered for years because of the actions of the U and the Y back in the 60's. The Aggies were the dominant football program until the formation of the WAC and the cold shoulder given by schools to the south. If you have indeed watched Aggie games for the past 20 years you know that the program has shown signs of life with coaches like Charlie Wetherby and John L Smith. The hiring of Dave Arslanian set the program back 15 years and they are still recovering. Being on KJZZ give the Aggies more exposure in the state while the U and the Y try and figure out this TV thing. I hope that it takes the full 13 years maybe by then the Aggies will be competitive.

Zorki1c | 4:05 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Two years ago Boise State fans were itching for a MWC invite. Now probably 90 percent of the Bronco faithful would be ticked if the administration accepted an invite. I think the Broncos are on ESPN five times this season and every other game is available on local channels in Boise and, I believe, eastern Idaho. Yes, they play on some odd nights--Thursday, Sunday, etc. The upside of that is if you are a college football fan anywhere in the nation, you will be watching BSU because there are no competing games.

Last year BSU played at Wyoming and the Mtn contract wouldn't allow our local on-air station to broadcast the game. If you wanted to see it locally you had to find someone who was paying the cable co. extra to get Versus--mtn or whatever it is. There aren't many such viewers.

Not only did the Mtn. deal reduce the number of people seeing MWC games--it also happenedd in a year when the WAC-- lead by BSU was rising in power. The MWC couldn't have come up with a worse plan if they had tried.

Thompson | 4:06 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Thompson has committed a crime (grand theft) here and should be put in jail. He should get a life sentence out in the Utah State Prison

j. c. fackrell | 4:17 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

After all else is said and done it was a decision of the Mountain West Conference that is keeping games off satellite, and if you want exposure and the other benefitss MTN was supposed to create you MUST be on satellite. I don't know if it was just poor judgment or egos or something more sinister that convinced the Mountaian West Conference to make the deal they did, but it is truly worth a full scale investigation by someone. Where are all the "Investigative Reporters"? Is the truth too deeply buried to be dug out?

Ute_fan in slc | 4:26 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I'm watching all the Ute games, either in person or on TV. No big deal here.

Jim | 4:26 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Just don't show up to the games. That will get their attention in a hurry.
It's what I'll be doing.

wil | 4:51 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Give me some Dixie State Football!!

Indifferent | 5:04 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Money is the problem. All the conferences are greedy. They make deals with greedy TV carriers. Dump your TV and listen to the Radio for the games. This would make the carriers look at why their profits are sinking, and they would come up with their own solutions.
Problem is that many of you lack the desire to hit them where it hurts - the pocket book.
Many don't have a life outside of the IDIOT BOX (at least that's what my parents called it).
For those of you who "telemarketed" the satelite companies, how much did you get for it?
Dump your subscriptions, save your money, and enjoy your families more.
Oh by the way, the Y and the U got tired of carrying the baggage for the conference when they were in the WAC, why would they ever want to go back and pick up that sack of spuds again for???

UteFaninSC | 5:26 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

The Slingbox is the answer, as was mentioned earlier. I bought one and shipped it to a buddy in Utah and I watch every Mountain West game that I want to while here in South Carolina.

Jonathan | 5:27 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Love the comments,especially Ryan's suggestion of forming a new conference. The many suggestions of firing Craig Thompson is agreed upon by everyone I know and the sooner the better. Could there be some self-serving motives here? No one can be this stupid and keep his job in normal day-to-day business unless he had something on the School Presidents.
I really hope the School Presidents can get together and find a solution to this problem. Due to health issues I'm unable to make it to the Utah games but did see one of the best games ever between Utah and BYU.
The conference has great potential but this T.V. package really hurts. Some one please find the right buttons to push.
P.S. Love your coverage

Ticked Off | 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I can't wait until one of the newspapers or television stations does a real investigation and exposes the situation for what it is - a serious lack of judgement on the part of Craig Thompson and our university officials. These people should be held responsible for making it even more difficult for the MWC to even be considered in the same league as BCS conferences. We have effectively disappeared from the BCS radar.

It is totally amazing that we are now on our second football season with no satellite coverage and the best we can do is watch commercials to call Directv. If the situation remains unchanged I will forget about the MWC and start to support Florida football. At least there is a Utah connection.

dan | 6:25 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

14 years?!!!! Who the heck signs a contract in this day and age for 14 years?!!!! Maybe a 3 year contract and options for more, but 14 years?!!!! No guarantees or outs?!!!! Let's face it, this deal will not get any better until the 11th or 12th year of the contract. Then, I'll wager that the mtn will be seen most anywhere a TV can be plugged in. In the meantime, BYU has it's own TV station beamed throughout I don't know how far and going Independent has some real merit. It certainly hasn't hurt Notre Dame.

UteBoy | 9:27 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Doug,
The News actually pays you to write this stuff? In the past year the media (you included) have said nothing except to mimic the fans.
What do you propose? Why don't you earn your money and really suggest something radical. Like let's all stop supporting advertisers. Doug, you're missing the point. It's all about money. The schools think they're so hot that people will just give them money. Hate to tell you, MWC, you're average. Doug, let's be honest here. Why don't you get an audit of the finances. Dig deep. Follow the money. Fans pay. Cable/Dish systems pay. Advertisers pay. Vendors pay. Who collects? How much? Let's get the facts here.

What really happens is, Doug, you'll get your press pass and your bosses will get free tickets and free trips with the team. It will be wink, wink, nudge, nudge -- business as normal. I don't see the News slacking off in spending money to advertise the paper at U of U or BYU. I'm sure the boss-type folk get a lot of nice treatment (food, tickets, wine and dine in the press/VIP box). Why don't you folk really suggest something -- cut the money flow. Support the fans and step up. It's the money, Doug. When fans stop paying and money stops flowing, something will happen.
So, Doug, when you and your bosses are munching on food upstairs in the VIP den, maybe you can think of a way to write another column and tell us all again what we're saying. It's an old story. Tell us something new. Oh, wait. Tell us after the season, you need to get your freebies. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

enough | 9:29 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Go Weber State!

WAC fan | 10:29 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I'm glad to be a WAC fan nowadays. Not only is our conference beating the MW conference in head to head play, but we're seeing an explosion in recruiting since we're playing on ESPN.

Methinks that the MWC is going to lose a generation in recruiting because their families back home can't watch them play.

If this continues, the funds from alumni will dry up, and since BYU is 100% dependent upon private donations to fund their program, if that starts to dry up you can say "Goodbye" to BYU athletics.

cougarfan82 | 10:37 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

Going Independant makes alot of "cents". More money, more exposure, a better Schedule would help our BCS computer rankings when the Y has great year. Ya I know the Y would take it on the chin for a few years, but as the Y gets better with a tougher schedule, who knows, maybe the PAC 10 might come calling in the future.(which would mean even more $ and exposure) I heard PK last friday morning on 1320 kfan mention there was some talk of this happening. Stay tuned!!!

enjoying the ride | 11:26 p.m. Aug. 27, 2007

I'm not sure if fans of any of the defector schools realize to this day just how shocking, devastating, cruel and lonely it was for the ones left behind when the mountain west conference was formed. but i truly believe things happen for a reason. back then, noone could have predicted what good came out of it. the good is nevada, boise state, la tech, new mexico state, utah state and idaho. so mwc fans, while your tv contract is in a state of disrepair, just remember that things happen for a reason and that some good will come out of it. meanwhile, join us in rooting on our wac teams as we start another exciting and successful bcs-bowl bound season!

Pessimistic | 12:12 a.m. Aug. 28, 2007

I'm a long time BYU fan and I doubt that BYU could go it alone, face it they are no Noter Dame. I don't see why the WAC would want the defectors back. I like the combination of the best of the WAC and the MWC, mentioned by richy rich of taking the best 3 or 4 teams, but I don't think the WAC teams involved would have enough to gain by doing that. I think the only hope for the MWC fans is to wait for the mtn to collapse or start cheering for other teams. It's always fun to watch the Broncos play on the Smurf turf.

Whops Sorry about the typo in the first line, it's getting late.

Oh bruther! | 12:30 a.m. Aug. 28, 2007

Yeah, this sux. Oh, wait...I got to see every game that BYU played last year. That was a first in 25 years of being a fan. I got the internet pay per view for 3 games, saw some on Dish which has CSTV and Vs, and went to 4 games. I live in Vegas where Cox Cable has CSTV, Vs, and Mtn. with their Digital Sports tier for $60/mo. I consider myself very fortunate that I dropped Dish and get Cox cable now.

Whoever lives in the USA (even Green River, Utah or East Idaho) and thinks they can't see any BYU games are wrong. Dish subscribers will see 6 plus a bowl game. That's about the same or better as every year in the past EVER.

The only way anyone (BYU fans) used to see Every game was thru the KBYU tape-delayed broadcasts.

Help strengthen CSTV. If you have the ability to get the Mtn, with CSTV and VS...pony up and subscribe. Anyone else...get Dish and you can see half of the games. I agree with others...attend more games as well.

Other MWC fans can't get the Mtn at all, as well. Oh, yeah, and the Networks show all of BYU's games and nearly all of Utah's games, but not so for other teams (who would watch Wyo vs. SDSU?).

Do we really want to kill CSTV? Let's remember also that CSTV, who has the $100m contract with MWC can get out of the contract by going out of biz; leaving us with no $$$ and no network. Do we all really want that? Do you think the conference and schools can pay for the athletic programs with local splintered deals and ticket sales? Does anyone think ESPN or Fox would give MWC any help?

Darryl | 4:13 a.m. Aug. 28, 2007

I agree we should all flood the Commissioner'f office emails and telephone calls so much it will tie up their computers and phone lines. He is the one who made this mess and he should be expected to correct it. Hold him responsible. Make his life as miserable as ours.
BYU left the WAC because they were tired of sharing the bowl revenues with all 16 teams, equally. That was a disastrous league with 16 teams.
The Mtn has horrible broadcasting quality, the few times I have been able to watch it on a friends TV. Comcast is not in my neighborhood and it not doing anything to come here.
Remember, when ESPN started, everyone thought it would be a big bust. It took a number of years for it to get off the ground. I can only hope that this eventually takes place with the MTN, but I am certainly not holding my breath.
By the way, there is only one president of a university who does not get the big buck, and that is BYU, it is a calling, not a paid calling, but he still should be held liable for allowing this arrangement.
I still beleive the MWC should have demanded a seat in negotiations. Who ever heard of an organization not being part of the negotiations when wht is being negoiation involves you.

John | 6:19 a.m. Aug. 28, 2007

Not my job -
Notre Dame is on NBC, not ABC.

Scott | 4:25 p.m. Aug. 29, 2007

In Idaho we have a no win situation, we get the MTN on cable but no verses and CSTV. So what to do, the only way is to subscribe to both digital cable for one channel (MTN) and Dish for the rest. Thanks for a $120 TV bill.

GoLobos | 5:52 p.m. Aug. 29, 2007

Oh please. You people who think that BYU and Utah are too good for the Mountain West and should go back to the WAC need a reality check. Utah is far from being the program it was a few years ago and BYU, well, you're one season removed from being mediocre. As for the WAC, sure they've had a good run the last few years and have some quality programs, but you guys are making them sound like a BCS conference.

Not Ridiculous | 9:02 p.m. Aug. 29, 2007

Blame the MWC Presidents who voted for this, I personally am happy about it because the WAC is given more exposure. By the way Ridiculous you are way off on your assertions.

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