Hold off on the call to Comcast to upgrade to the digital package. Ditto for those sports bar reservations Saturday.
The Rocky Mountain Showdown between Colorado and Colorado State will be telecast on OLN, making it available to most local extended basic cable subscribers. It will be produced by and simulcast, as originally planned, on CSTV as part of the Mountain West Conference’s game of the week package.
“We had multi-party discussions which determined that this game could fit into the schedule on OLN,” CSTV president Brian Bedol said Thursday. He added, “It is such an important game to the local market and the revenue implications for the universities.”
CSTV has a 15 million subscriber base with ongoing negotiations for more. OLN (which renames itself Versus later this month) claims 70 million subscribers.
That number was a key for CU to receive a $400,000 incentive payment from the Big 12 Conference for scheduling a nonconference game on national TV, as defined by at least 42 million homes. CU will give CSU $50,000.
Bedol said negotiations came together quickly in the past week or so and there was no pressure by either school or conference to make the switch, adding this is a one-time deal. CSTV also holds the rights to the Notre Dame-Air Force game later this season.
CSU is the home team in the series this year, so the Mountain West Conference holds the TV rights. When Comcast acquired half the equity in the MWC’s network, The mtn., it was announced that some of the games originally scheduled for CSTV would move to Comcast-owned OLN.
“We want to continue to build the CSTV brand and brand identification and thought this game is a great, great showcase,” Bedol said.
Trev talk
Trev Alberts, who didn’t make any Mountain West or CU fans during his ESPN stint, will be the analyst for Saturday’s game.
Alberts questioned Utah’s BCS credentials during the Utes’ undefeated run in 2004. The same season when CU started 1-4 in the Big 12, he said, “CU lacked heart.” The Buffs won their next three games and the Big 12 North title.
Ohaeri’s role to increase
Running back Nnamdi Ohaeri, who had barely two practices on offense to prepare for last week’s game, will at least split time with starter Gartrell Johnson and Michael Myers.
Ohaeri had only three carries in the final quarter but led the balanced rushing attack with 39 yards. Ohaeri started the CU game last year, when he suffered a heel injury, which plagued him all season.
CSU golfers win
It wouldn’t be rivalry week without the golf tournament between fans. CSU boosters won the 12th annual event Wednesday at Vista Ridge.
