Completed Event: General versus Arizona on January 18, 2002

General
2/22/2008 12:00 AM | General
Feb. 22, 2008
DENVER, Colo. & EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -
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.
"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."
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.
Conference commissioner Craig Thompson said, "The Mountain West Conference applauds today's announcement stating that The. Mtn. will now be available to MWC fans and alumni across the country on DirecTV's national service. Having The Mtn. available to nearly 17 million subscribers will generate even greater exposure for the Conference and our nine premier member institutions.
"The Mtn. was the first network devoted exclusively to a single college athletic conference, and highlights MWC athletics programs with live game coverage, pre- and post-game shows, championship programming and unique features. The MWC remains steadfast in its commitment to this trailblazing television model, and will continue to aggressively increase distribution and maximize the elements that make up the Conference's vision for the future."
DIRECTV, Inc., the nation's leading satellite television service provider, presents the finest television experience available to 16.8 million customers in the United States and is leading the HD revolution with 92 national HD channels - more quality HD channels than any other television provider. Each day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy access to over 256 channels of 100% digital picture and sound, exclusive programming, industry-leading customer satisfaction (which has surpassed cable for seven years running) and superior technologies that include advanced DVR and HD-DVR services and the most state-of-the-art interactive sports packages available anywhere. For the most up-to-date information on DIRECTV, please visit directv.com.
The MountainWest Sports Network - The Mtn. - premiered on September 1, 2006 as the first network dedicated to a college athletic conference - the Division I Mountain West Conference (MWC). The Mtn. annually covers more than 200 collegiate sporting events, including football, basketball, Olympic sports, and conference championship coverage. The Mtn. also provides news programming, coaches' shows, pre and post game analysis and feature programming about MWC athletics. The Mtn. is jointly owned by Comcast and CBS College Sports Network. For more information, visit www.themtn.tv.
DIRECTV - Robert Mercer: rmercer@directv.com. 310-964-4683