From the GF Trib

[Eastcoastgriz]

New contract could expand Big Sky television coverage

By Scott Mansch


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The Big Sky Conference has signed a contract with fledgling TV network Altitude Sports & Entertainment to show live events, including football, starting this fall.

Whether those games will be available for Montana viewers, however, isn't altogether clear.

"Most of our TV will remain the same," said Dusty Clements, media relations director for the Big Sky. "This will just expand our coverage."

Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said many details remain to be ironed out, but that "I think it's going to be great for the consumer."

Altitude spokesman Vince Wladika said the new network, a regional affiliate for Denver-based Kroenke Sports Enterprises, is currently in negotiations for carriage rights with cable systems in the Rocky Mountain region and satellite TV providers.

"I would hope that having the Big Sky would help them get carriage," said Fullerton. "Obviously if they don't it would affect this agreement."

Fullerton said KPAX-TV of Missoula and the Helena-based Omega network, companies that have televised many league football contests in recent years, remain interested in carrying games this fall. Fullerton said those stations have priority in negotiations, in spite of the new deal with Altitude.

"I've got face-to-face meetings coming up very shortly with some of the carriers in the Montana areas, to make sure we've all got exactly what we want," Fullerton said.

The Big Sky's television committee ultimately decides issues dealing with TV contracts.

"Because Montana and Montana State generate so much television and so much interest," Fullerton said, "we'll have both athletic directors involved. (UM's) Don Read is on our TV committee, and (MSU's) Peter Fields is the chair."

Under the new agreement, Altitude will televise up to 12 Big Sky events annually beginning in the 2004-05 year, including football and men's basketball games, other men's and women's contests and the women's basketball tournament championship game.

Financial terms of the agreement were not announced.

"These guys have a real interest in our conference," said Fullerton.

He said that's not unusual for Big Sky football these days.

"I think we'll have a lot of alternatives this year, because the Big Sky is gaining in popularity," Fullerton said. "(TV networks) like our starting times, because we're later in the day, and we play good football."

Other networks expected to negotiate for the right to negotiate Big Sky games include Fox Sports Rocky Mountain, The Football Network and College Sports Television. Fox Sports Rocky Mountain has been available on local cable for years, while the relatively new TFN and CSTV have required satellite subscriptions.

Said Fullerton: "We've got another network, that I'm not at liberty to identify, that's very interested in picking up the western half of our conference -- from Spokane to Sacramento to Portland and down to Northern Arizona. So there are some exciting things happening for us, and in the long run I think it will absolutely great for the consumer."

Fullerton said he anticipated having the Big Sky TV scheduled finalized by the league's annual summer football kickoff function, slated for July 18-20 in Park City, Utah.