As BYU breaks ties with the Mountain West Conference June 30 and "moves many of its sports to the West Coast Conference while attempting independence in football, a myriad of digital enterprises will spider web across the globe," according to Dick Harmon of the DESERT NEWS. University-owned BYUtv is "now producing and transmitting all content in full HD over the air as well as on Comcast in Utah." BYU Broadcasting Managing Dir Derek Marquis said, "I’m pretty sure there isn’t another university in the country that will have 140-live HD events online this year, let alone nationwide." Harmon noted BYUtv, in around 60 million U.S. HHs, will air "approximately 140 live BYU Athletics events/games in the coming year," a record number for the network. In addition, BYUtv will air roughly 80 "other sports related programs and specials." BYU Broadcasting also has “secured national carriage for BYU Radio on Sirius XM Satellite Radio," with coverage set to launch nationwide on July 1. In addition, BYU Broadcasting is "soon to launch iPhone and iPad apps prior to football season and will also be launching an entirely new website dedicated to BYUtv Sports.” It "remains to be seen how BYU can monetize sports on BYUtv and how many viewers will actually tune in." But Harmon added, "If you don’t build a bridge, you can’t expect traffic, and this is all about traffic and eyeballs, not money" (DESERET NEWS, 5/22).
