It was business as usual Monday for Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson, except that for the first time in nearly two years he didn’t have to work on getting the league’s TV network, The Mtn., carried by DirecTV.
“There’s more work to do,” Thompson said.
Still remaining is getting The Mtn. on Dish satellite, in Comcast markets outside the league’s territory, as well as filling in Dallas-Fort Worth and San Diego markets not covered by cable agreements. The MWC announced Friday its network will be carried on DirecTV in time for football season. Currently it is available only to cable subscribers.
“It was a matter of coming to the right price, the right term of contract,” Thompson said without divulging the details. He credited pressure from U.S. congressmen representing MWC states and fans’ input for getting a deal. Every school in the MWC asked its fans to call and write the satellite companies.
• ESPN selected the Colorado-West Virginia football game in Boulder for a Thursday night, Sept. 18, telecast.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
