I thought this article gave some interesting insight why the MWC went to CSTV. If its successful, I think the WAC should dump ESPN too and go with them. I'd rather have access to Aggie and other WAC games on my computer at regular times than stay up until 1:00 am (like I did to watch them beat Pacific!)
<a href='http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600118326,00.html' target='_blank'>CSTV and MWC</a>
MWC takes cutting edge over ESPN
By Dick Harmon
Deseret Morning News
DENVER — The mountain West Conference moguls believe it will be on the cutting edge of technology with its TV partner CSTV in a year.
Is it reasonable to think that college sports in this area could maintain exposure and semblance of respect without the bully pulpit of ESPN spraying out its games?
In a nutshell, folks in Denver this week, those with stripes on their shirts and titles in front of their names, say "yes." The ESPN divorce is almost here — just a year to go. They believe they won't need any alimony. They'll do just fine with the initial settlement.
According to Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder and executive vice president of CSTV, his nationwide network is growing by the week and will be impressive once the MWC contract kicks in for coverage in 2006 for football and 2006-07 for basketball.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson says the CSTV deal will give the league significant coverage and the right times, right places and right price to ensure league coffers and exposure.
MWC president council chairman Dr. Cecil O. Samuelson says presidents of the league schools who OK'd the departure from ESPN to CSTV may not have fully understood the scope of future technology offered by new communication media, but expert consultants that briefed them did, and so far it's been amazing.
We're talking about the ability to get MWC conference games on Internet streaming video to cell phones and laptops, going beyond the comfort of flipping on a recorder or TiVo.
CSTV already launched "March Madness on Demand," for fans nationwide to tune into NCAA tournament coverage.
"It's a taste of what is to come," Bevilacqua said. "Five years ago, you would have to wait and see when your team would be on TV and schedule your time around that. Now, with CSTV, you can stay with the team you want, the sport you want and when you want to see it. You may only want scores and highlights on the phone. New technology allows you to be connected all the time."
Still, MWC fans across the country worry that CSTV is a step down in prestige and exposure and there will be pockets around the country that simply won't be able to tune in to see post-Urban Utah, post-Crowton BYU or what Air Force is up to.
Bevilacqua believes the perception will be proven wrong because he's signing up a number of TV markets.
Right now the base for CSTV is Comcast and Direct-TV satellite. He believes an agreement with Dish Network is around the corner and he says he is "very encouraged" about negotiations with Cox Cable, the main TV cable provider to the MWC's largest markets of San Diego and Las Vegas.
Thompson said the MWC agreement with CSTV opened the door to other conferences and sports that were hesitant and afraid to be the first. Now they are lining up to sign on, evidenced by Conference USA and others.
"A half dozen other conferences, some you've even heard of, love where we're going, like the partnership approach and like the model we have with the MWC," Bevilacqua said.
"We're happy to lead their parade," Thompson said.
Samuelson, a conservative decision-maker who likes to bide his time with other people's money, is even swayed.
"This is on the cusp of new technology," Samuelson said. "We're in partnership with people who are on the cutting edge. You can either be on the cutting edge or behind it. We are a conference with relatively scattered fans, dispersed in areas with small populations."
They like the idea that a fan in New York City or Gillette, Wyo., can sit in a restaurant and watch an MWC football or basketball game on their laptop, PDA or cellphone, if not a dish, cable station or TV affiliate.
Are these guys scared of losing the ESPN safety blanket, the ESPN sound bites, known talking heads and ESPN-directed strange kickoff and tipoff times?
Ahhh, umm . . . No.
