MWC TV deal to find solution sooner rather than later?
The recent move by CBS to take over management of CSTV sports may be the key to getting this TV deal on dish companies, thus better distribution.
An article in the Albuquerque Journal that includes an interview with MWC commissioner Craig Thompson includes more positive vibes than we’ve seen in some time.
This coincides with what I have heard on the issue the past week. A key is that one of the founders of CSTV is out of the picture, gone down the road. Apparently he was part of the the stumbling block in negotiations.
Here are some quotes that stand out:
From CBS Sports senior vice president for programming Michael Aresco:
“We’re committed to figuring out how to increase the availability of The Mtn. and increase the visibility of the (Mountain West) conference itself and the conference sports,” says Michael Aresco, CBS Sports senior vice president for programming.
On CBS’s priority with CSTV:
“I think one of the most pressing concerns for everybody is to get satellite distribution for The Mtn.”
“Obviously, distribution is critical; it’s going to be a huge priority,” he says. “We hope to get things in place before the (2008) football season, but clearly by then- that’s definitely our goal.”
CBS’s involvement might allow games not on CSTV, Versus or The Mtn., to be picked up by local CBS affiliates — something they cannot do at the present time.
MWC commissioner Craig Thompson, quoted in the article, sounded as optimistic as he ever has in what is taking place in talks because CBS is directly in charge:
“I know for a fact in daily conversations I’ve had with people at CBS, they are in daily contact with DirecTV, so that’s been most positive,” he says. “Those negotiations seem to have really ramped up in the last 30 to 45 days.
“I think we’ve progressed a lot farther than we’ve ever been.”
On the sense of urgency to get something done faster than the start of the 2008 football season, the issue of football recruiting is tender right now for MWC schools trying to lure recruits into this TV situation, Thompson says:
“We’ve been pushing hard,” he says. “We do have basketball games going on right now, and we’re in the heart of football recruiting and when our coaches are in the homes telling kids what games will be on and where they can see it and can they get it on satellite, those are important questions for recruits.”