The seven other Mountain West Conference schools voted unanimously Tuesday to follow a BYU-Utah initiative in retaining legal counsel to clarify the league’s television contract and hasten distribution of The Mtn.
Nearly a year after its launch, negotiations remain stymied for satellite distribution of the dedicated-to-MWC network. It is available only on cable in league markets, except for Fort Worth.
Utah and BYU announced hiring Kelly Crabb, a partner in the Morrison & Foerster law firm, last week. The other MWC members followed during the league’s annual board of directors meeting in Santa Fe.
The MWC reaffirmed support of the three-tier TV model supplying MWC contests on The Mtn., Versus and CSTV. Fan frustration is high among satellite owners unable to get The Mtn.
Crabb, who has represented the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee with broadcast agreements, will work directly with MWC commissioner Craig Thompson and a committee of CSU president Larry Penley, BYU president Cecil Samuelson and TCU chancellor Victor Boschini.
“We look forward to have our representative work with CSTV and Comcast (The Mtn.’s co-owners) to acceleration distribution in the best interest of the conference,” Penley said.
In other matters:
* The presidents moved the men’s play-in game for the eighth and ninth seeds of the MWC basketball tournament from Tuesday to Wednesday prior to the women’s quarterfinals. The women’s play-in game remains on Tuesday.
* Coaches and athletes in all sports ejected for the second time in a season will serve a one-game suspension.
* The league opposed an early scholarship signing period in football, citing a lack of consensus among coaches.
* The league supported a fifth season of eligibility in football at the request of an NCAA committee.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
