Feb. 2, 2007
SAN DIEGO - I have received inquiries from many of you regarding the current television situation, particularly after an agreement was reached between Cox Cable and CSTV/The Mtn. to carry those networks on the Cox Cable systems in San Diego.
It's probably wise for me to start with a reminder of how all this works; how these new networks carry the Mountain West Conference programming. It starts with The Mtn., which is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week network devoted solely to the Mountain West Conference and its nine schools. Not only does it carry live and taped sporting events involving the Mountain West schools in a multitude of sports, but it also carries university promos, coaches' shows and other university programming. The university programming features news about things such as research, educational successes, and prominent faculty and staff. It is a wonderful showcase for San Diego State as an institution.
In addition to The Mtn., certain sporting events are selected for national telecast on both CSTV and Versus (formerly OLN). Both of these networks are currently on Cox, Time Warner, and both major satellite networks, guaranteeing nationwide exposure for our programs. Members of my family in the Midwest and Southeast have been able to watch Aztec games on their satellite and cable systems through these two networks.
I happen to be a Time Warner subscriber, and many of you who have contacted me are with Time Warner as well. We are all anxious for Time Warner to make its own deal with The Mtn., so that we can watch this wonderful programming. Time Warner is the primary cable system in Fort Worth, Texas (home of TCU), and there is great pressure from their subscribers to get that deal done. We are being told that once a Time Warner deal is done there in Fort Worth, it will also be available on Time Warner here in San Diego. We certainly hope so, and urge all of you Time Warner customers to contact them about getting The Mtn.
We are also being told that a satellite deal for The Mtn. is getting closer, with both Dish Network and DirecTV. Obviously that will be terrific, not only for satellite subscribers here in San Diego, but for the many, many Aztec fans across the country who can then watch all of our games from anywhere in the country on The Mtn. Again, I urge satellite subscribers to contact your providers and urge them to get The Mtn!
For those of you who now have The Mtn., I think you will agree with me that it is terrific programming. It is the only network of its kind in the country, but it certainly won't be the last. Already, the Big Ten Conference is preparing to launch its own network, and believe me, others will be following suit!
Thanks, all of you, for hanging in with us through these negotiations. The frustrating part for us here at SDSU and our sister institutions in the conference is that the negotiations are out of our hands. We can only push, prod, cajole, and sometimes yell at the parties to get them to reach agreement. We welcome you to help us do that!
Thanks again for your interest and support, and Go Aztecs!