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Denver, CO & El Segundo, CA (February 22, 2008) - The MountainWest Sports Network - The Mtn. - and DIRECTV, the nation's leading satellite television service provider, today announced that DIRECTV will launch The Mtn., the nation's first network dedicated to a college conference, the Division I Mountain West Conference. DIRECTV will launch The Mtn. on a nationwide basis in 2008, but no later than September 1. Channel position and programming package details will be available as they are finalized and the launch date nears. Consumers with questions about which DIRECTV package will carry The Mtn. in their area should visit www.directv.com for updates. Kim Carver, vice president and general manager of The Mtn., said: "We are excited to share the passions, rivalries and pioneering spirit of Mountain West athletics with DIRECTV customers and college sports fans across the country. The Mtn. continues to grow because of the energy and dedication of Mountain West fans and their desire for in-depth, comprehensive college sports coverage." "We're looking forward to adding the Mountain West Sports Network to our industry-leading lineup of sports programming and offer the Mountain West Conference's many passionate fans access to its wide variety of games and athletic events," said Dan Hartman, senior vice president, Programming, DIRECTV, Inc.
"The announcement today is a huge step in getting television exposure for our teams," said Utah Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill. "I know the lack of satellite coverage has been extremely difficult on our fans and I'm thrilled that they will now have another option available to see our games. CBS played a critical role in the negotiating process and getting this deal done, and we're appreciative of their effort."
"We are excited that an agreement has been reached with DIRECTV that will allow our fans to watch BYU sports nationwide," said BYU Director of Athletics, Tom Holmoe. "This satellite deal is an important first step toward fulfilling what BYU was originally promised in the conference television arrangement. We now look forward to working closely with our television partners to ensure that BYU fans have the opportunity to watch our athletic teams compete. We also anticipate increased collaboration between the conference's television partners and BYU Broadcasting."
