raidingtombs wrote:

Island Pipeline wrote:

So does this mean that the only way to watch the Mountian West Conference is to order direct tv? Will they show any games on ESPN, CBS, ABC or any other network?

Bascially this will likely have a domino effect. If the rest of the rumors are true, the mtn will be on the basic package in all MWC states and on sports tier everywhere else.

Next to come will be dish who is a very strong possibility since they currently have 400+ thousand subscribers that reside in the MWC footprint and a handful that could likely drop them like a rock if they don't get a deal in place and soon. comcast may change the mtn to a basic package or else they'll lose thousands of current subscribers.

Another change that will eventually have a huge impact was CSTV being taken over by CBS. they are going to make the channel into CBS sports and base it after ESPN with their own sports center and everyhting. They will likely push to have it added to more subscrfibers and on better packages as well. Heck they already added a ton of subscribers in southern cali just recently.

Further more it has been reported that CBS wants to play MWC games on their mani national network. in fact from what the "hair" reported they wanted to start this year with some 10AM games but he said no. He further went on to say we will likely have some of those games on next season on their major network which is huge.

I don't think CBS's takeover of CSTV is going to make as much change as you think, mostly because the new channel is not CBS Sports, but rather CBS College Sports. While it will do far better than the crap-fest that is CSTV, I don't think it will become anything near ESPN. A better comparison would be ESPNU. So while it is still an upgrade from CSTV, it isn't the magic wand that some people are making it out to be.

Having said that, I was happy watching the SDSU game Saturday when I noticed that they had reduced (DRASTICALLY) the size of the ticker on the bottom of the screen and that they no longer grey out the top 1/5 of the screen above the score bar. I think CBS is already having a positive effect on the programming, and conveniently, just in time for March Madness, which is broadcast by CBS and affiliates!

One thing that CBS better do is start putting better games on the network. I know that Sienna wants to be on national TV as much as the next team, but CBS is not paying Sienna's conference 88 million over 8 years. Look for CSTV to pick up some SEC games and actually show more MWC games.

Another thing. Don't count on VS. picking up as many MWC games. They are moving more towards the PAC-10. That really sucks.

stuckinbig10country wrote:

Another thing. Don't count on VS. picking up as many MWC games. They are moving more towards the PAC-10. That really sucks.

You don't seem to understand the contract. Versus will pick up a minimum of 8 football games a year, same as always, and the PAC-10 has no say in the matter.

Mars wrote:

stuckinbig10country wrote:

Another thing. Don't count on VS. picking up as many MWC games. They are moving more towards the PAC-10. That really sucks.

You don't seem to understand the contract. Versus will pick up a minimum of 8 football games a year, same as always, and the PAC-10 has no say in the matter.

Versus will likely continue to broadcast MWC home games because it is owned by Comcast, who already owns the rights as a co-owner of the mtn.

Any Big 12 and Pac 10 games Versus broadcasts are games that the network has sublicensed from FSN. Versus did 5 games each from the Big 12 and the Pac 10 last season. Bottom line--Versus has to pay to broadcast other conferences, but gets its choice of 8 MWC games. From the looks of it, Versus is #1 on the pecking order as far as broadcasting the best MWC matchups.

Mingjai wrote:

From the looks of it, Versus is #1 on the pecking order as far as broadcasting the best MWC matchups.

I'd be happy with Versus broadcasting as many games as they want. They broadcast in HD! Woot! I love HD football.

Mars wrote:

stuckinbig10country wrote:

Another thing. Don't count on VS. picking up as many MWC games. They are moving more towards the PAC-10. That really sucks.

You don't seem to understand the contract. Versus will pick up a minimum of 8 football games a year, same as always, and the PAC-10 has no say in the matter.

It really didn't seem like they picked up that many last year, especially at the end of the year. Most of the ones that they did were non-conference games (ie, UCLA vs BYU) early in the year.