FYI, I emailed the WAC office to inquire about the WAC TV coverage now that Sports West is gone.

The answer I received said the WAC is in discussions with ESPN relative to the future course, but it is too early to be definitive at this point.

I have no idea what that means. Maybe the WAC regional coverage of games will be on ESPNU and/or ESPN Gameplan, a partnership with Altiitude was not mentioned. I get the feeling we are all going to miss the Sports West game broadcasts.

nwp Wrote:FYI, I emailed the WAC office to inquire about the WAC TV coverage now that Sports West is gone.

The answer I received said the WAC is in discussions with ESPN relative to the future course, but it is too early to be definitive at this point.

I have no idea what that means. Maybe the WAC regional coverage of games will be on ESPNU and/or ESPN Gameplan, a partnership with Altiitude was not mentioned. I get the feeling we are all going to miss the Sports West game broadcasts.

I agree with jediwarrior in the fact that it is in ESPN's best interest that the WAC be televised and succeed. However, ESPN has a greater interest in the BCS' conferences success and the WAC plays a back-up role, thus, this is why we have to be scheduled on every day of the week to fill ESPN's scheduling.

With that said, ESPN is interested in broadcasting our highest profile games. Those are the games that will get them the largest ratings. The lower profile games, IE Utah St vs SJSU, aren't going to get those kind of ratings. Therefore, the WAC needs another solution. The best option, IMO, is to have local stations carry the games, IE KJZZ in Utah. The second best option is to have the games be streamed over the internet. ESPNU is not an option for me (nor is CSTV or Mtn). And I'm sure that I'm not the only one that doesn't consider it an option. If I were to follow a game on ESPNU, it would be at the local sports bar.

We need to get the local stations on the same page with the WAC!

Quote:I have no idea what that means. Maybe the WAC regional coverage of games will be on ESPNU and/or ESPN Gameplan, a partnership with Altiitude was not mentioned. I get the feeling we are all going to miss the Sports West game broadcasts.

Probably a deal with ESPN Regional. They used to do all of the MWC games back in the day.

nwp - Thanks for following up with the WAC office. Anytime the WAC is in talks with ESPN for TV coverage...that's a good thing. They have a lot of networks...but they don't have a whole lot of "western" conferences.

WAC_FAN - Let's hope you're right. ;-)

ejm - I think a lot of WAC schools have contracts with "local" networks to cover their games. Hawaii had three "local" networks bidding for the rights to air Hawaii games. You can't go wrong when local schools are in partnership with local networks.

There is nothing wrong with local coverage, but a deal with ESPN+ to carry a single WAC game as a "Game of the Week" in all WAC markets would be a boost to the conference. The MWC had this when they were on ESPN.

As for Altitude, they wouldn't partner directly with the WAC. The channel does have a sales agreeement with ESPN Regional TV and ESPN+ will provide games to the channel. Maybe if the WAC falls under that banner, WAC games will appear since Altitude's coverage area is a fair portion of the WAC.

And I'd like to see the Hawai'i games back on FSN Prime Ticket (formerly FSN West 2). Nothing like late night football on the east coast.

Quote:ejm - I think a lot of WAC schools have contracts with "local" networks to cover their games. Hawaii had three "local" networks bidding for the rights to air Hawaii games. You can't go wrong when local schools are in partnership with local networks.

If Hawaii weren't in Hawaii, then what would probably see happen is that KFVE could grow and become a regional provider for the rest of the WAC as well. That's how the Blue and White Sports Network grew and many other regional networks as well.....

Quote:And I'd like to see the Hawai'i games back on FSN Prime Ticket (formerly FSN West 2). Nothing like late night football on the east coast.

Yeah that deal ended when Hawaii started to have local PPV--KFVE used to have the feed available for free for anyone who wanted it. FSW2 used to pick it up and so did random places across the country. (Las Vegas, small towns in Alabama and Idaho) It was great for exposure for us.