MWC Defends Decision Not To Simulcast Mtn. Coverage Of BYU-Utah
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MWC Hopes Restricting BYU-Utah Game To
The Mtn. Will Help Increase Value Of Net |
The Mountain West Conference (MWC) yesterday defended its decision not to simulcast the mtn.'s coverage of Saturday's BYU-Utah football game, which could determine a spot in a BCS game, as Commissioner Craig Thompson said the decision "forces people's hands" in regards to the net's carriage, according to Michael Lewis of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. The MWC in each of the last two seasons had simulcast BYU-Utah on wider-reaching partner nets Versus or CBS College Sports, but the conference said that the decision "helps increase the value of its flagship network by creating an exclusive product that potentially will help land deals with cable and satellite distributors." Thompson: "Those that aren't picking it up are getting unbelievable pressure this week from their subscribers and those who pay the bills. ... 'How come I don't have this game? I want this game, I want the mtn.'" Thompson added, "I'm not saying we're getting any deals done by Friday, but it was a calculated step to push the distribution." Lewis notes that is a "different approach than the league has taken the past two years, when it 'simulcast' the big game on its entire family of networks" in part due to The mtn. reaching fewer than 2 million HHs at the time. However, the net is currently available in nearly 18 million HHs due to deals with DirecTV and Comcast. MWC Associate Commissioner Javan Hedlund: "The goal is to continue to grow distribution. And if you don't have anything that's exclusive, then it's hard to do that." Thompson said that "after a certain point -- passed now by the mtn., he believes -- it's unwise for a growing business to give away its best product" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 11/20).
HOW ABOUT THEM APPLES? SI.com's Stewart Mandel noted Saturday's Washington-Washington State game, featuring teams who combined only have one win this season, is being televised nationally by FSN, "which means it will be available to a wider audience than the BYU-Utah, among others" (SI.com, 11/19).
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