Reader comments
BYU finding ways to get games on TV

90 comments   |   Read story

THANKS, MR. CRABB!! | 1:11 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Although it is too late for us to enjoy BYU football, perhaps this little toe in the door, or through the cracks--whatever you want to call it--will open the way for at lease a few of next year's football games to be broadcast to those of us who don't have Comcast, Versus, or the Mtn. in rural areas. I have listened to some of the games on my computer, which is the only way I can get KSL Radio. Better than nothing, but watching would be wonderful!! Good luck!
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
metamoracoug | 3:49 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Living in central Illinois, I've gotten nada on the TV over the last two years. My only options are KSL over the internet or the cstv internet deal (I saw two games for $80 on a 2" X 3" screen).

I've now watched BYUTV's airing of ALL of the games mentioned in the article. The crew isn't perfect, but not bad either. I've encouraged continued airing with emails and $$$ to the station. Since BYUTV is essentially public television it pays for its air time to the satelite networks. Broadcasting these games has to cost a bundle.

I had not thought about contacting the BYU sport's department, but I will do that today too.

Now is the time for positive action! BYU fans, let your voice be heard!

Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Iraqi Coug | 4:31 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Ayway to get the CSU, USAFA games schecduled at Mile High (Invesco Field)? That is so long as they are not home games.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
UteinOhio | 4:40 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Lawyers aren't all bad. I'd like to see all MWC schools find cracks and prove that there is a markete and get a better deal with ESPN.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Kevin | 4:48 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
I have lived outside of Utah for the past 25 years and enjoyed seeing BYU football on ESPN at least once/twice a year. Now that the MWC has signed this deal I see less BYU sports than I did four years ago. A losing team like Notre Dame can get a deal with NBC to be on TV every week but the MWC signs a deal that restricts viewership. I just don't understand how this is progress. I hope that BYU can find a way to bust the contract wide open and allow for wider distribution of MWC sports events. I enjoyed watching the BYU/Michigan State game on my computer. However, I would like to view more MWC games on my HDTV like the rest of the country.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Illinois Cougar | 5:23 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
I can't understand why any deal was done to start with. BYU could had negociated a side agreement for the rights to any game ESPN didn't broadcast. KBYU is a great alternative. It is like a fancy sports car. Why have it, if you don't ever drive it?
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Cool | 5:29 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
So does this mean we can watch the upcoming bowl game on BYU-TV? It's on a neutral site.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Anonymous | 5:38 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Thanks Tom Holmoe, et al. I enjoyed watching the Michigan State game and hope to see football next season. I am a BYU fan in San Diego for 40+ years.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
BYU FAN | 5:48 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
In Arizona we listen to the BYU games on BYU Radio on Dish Network channel 980. It isn't as good as TV but at least we get to listen to the game.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Phillycougar | 6:32 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Cool - The upcomming bowl game will be seen on ESPN as they own the game so there will not be any problems watching BYU pound UCLA into the ground.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Dick | 6:34 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Harmon says, "If BYU could have defeated North Carolina in Vegas, the next BYU game could have been on BYU-TV."

WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT?

The game after UNC was Portland which was on BYU-TV even though BYU lost the UNC game.

Just another piece of bad reporting.

I think Harmon meant if BYU had lost to Louisville in Vegas, the next game would have been on BYU-TV instead of ESPN. There's a little difference in those two statements.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
This is great! | 6:34 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
For football, Lets make tentative plans to play Utah in Logan next year, Utah State at Weber State, UNLV at Dixie. Plan all of the Colorado games at Mile High Stadium and we could play Washington at Boise State.
Then announce renovations for the Marriot Center and plan a bunch of games at UVSC and Energy Solutions.

That should get their attention.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
To Cool | 6:36 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
The LV Bowl does not fall under the MWC/CSTV agreement. The Bowl is televised by ESPN and they have exclusive rights to it. Thus, you can watch it on ESPN and nowhere else.

But, the good news is, if you have BYU-TV, you have ESPN so if you could watch it on BYU-TV, you will be able to watch it on ESPN.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Virginia | 6:37 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
So it's come to this. We are excited about getting a regular season basketball game on TV. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the game, but I'm not ready to call Crabb a miracle worker, nor do I get the feeling that we really "pulled a fast one" on the MTN. Seems to me like the problem isn't fixed (unless we move our home and away football games to Provo High School) Somehow I doubt it'll be any different next year.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Mark | 6:54 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Dick, fascinating article and great reporting, to ferret out some actual use BYU/Utah have gotten from hiring the media attorney.

While I hate to bring out "Mr. English Person", I notice you wrote the Versus' pull out from broadcasting the Michigan State game was because of "fear of duplicity in the market for that particular game". "Duplicity" means lying, not duplication, so probably not quite what you meant.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
TexasPat | 6:55 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
Now we are starting to crack the TV deal, it is time to crack the bowl alignment. We should be playing the PAC-10 #2 or Big-10 #2. Not the 4 th or 5th PAC-10. THis is due to our gutless commissioner. Lets find another attorney!
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Dick was talking about.. | 7:28 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
For they person that asked about the next game after UNC. If you would pay attention, you would have noticed a win over UNC in a tournament would have meant one more tournament game BEFORE the Portland game.

It was not, as you put it "another piece of bad reporting", but rather a piece of bad reading.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Wow | 7:30 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
It takes a lawyer to figure-out this clause in the contract? How is it possible that a full team of MWC officials and media journalists never read the contract to find this loop-hole? I'm amazed at the incompetence of the MWC office and our news media, who both get paid to dive into details like this.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
MarylandUte | 7:35 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
With all due respect to Mr. Harmon and all these ecstatic Cougar fans, televising BYU sports on BYUTV is bad for BYU and bad for the MWC. KBYU will not grow the BYU or MWC brand nationally and I'm pretty sure that KBYU isn't paying BYU or the MWC alot of money for the right to cover these games.

Playing hardball like this is a two-edged sword. Maybe the TV people will cave, or maybe they'll tell BYU and the MWC to shove it, cancel the contract, and we'll have to crawl back to ESPN for half the money and Tuesday night football games.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
Peetie | 7:39 a.m. Dec. 11, 2007
It's not Commissioner Thompson that is to blame, it's the Presidents of the University, he is their puppet. The Pres. come in do what they want to destroy things they really don't understand then leave a mess. Thanks Bateman and the rest of you who have moved on. After not being able to watch the Y and U these last few years I have found I really don't miss them. There is plenty to do and I've moved on. Try it you'll like it.
Recommend
Recommendations: 0
In Sports Across Site

Check out Jazzland for the latest Utah Jazz insights from Jody Genessy.