We should not fix a problem we didn't start.

Rage against the mtn.

By Erik89

Saturday afternoon. For years the tradition has been to gather together as a family and watch some historic and exciting BYU football. We would watch every game. We would even purchase a subscription that would allow us to do so. We would watch every second, not even turning it off if we were beating or getting beat by a team. Then after the game ends, i make sure to stay up late so I can yet again, take part in the whole ensemble of lights, sounds, and historic Cougar Football.

But this tradition of mine has been halted, not because of a change in tradition or team loyalty, but because of......broadcast rights.

After I was first told about this new "mtn. network", I was kind of excited. Just think an entire network dedicated to the Mountain West Conference and my beloved BYU Cougars. I was on cloud 9, until I discovered that the "mtn. network" would not be carried by all cable and satellite providers. I hoped and prayed that my satellite company, DISH Network, would offer this channel. But no, DISH network nor DirecTV have yet struck a deal with "mtn." So I would be listening to BYU vs. Tulsa on internet radio. What could have been the best game played by BYU this season was only seen by those who were actually there, and the VERY few who have the luck of getting the "mtn. network". Not me.

When I asked, "How can I get this channel?" I was told to call/e-mail/write a letter to my satellite provider and "whine".

Since when is it my duty and responsibility to get major satellite networks to carry new channels? The Mountain West conference has not done their job in this matter. They signed away broadcast rights to a network that only a few people can see. While the rest of us "go back to the stone-age" (no offense to older viewers) and turn on the radio to listen to what I had been watching on ESPN for the past few years.

Luckily, I will be able to see BYU vs. Boston College on ESPN 2, Saturday. But that is the last one I will be able to watch on TV until the play Wyoming on CSTV, November 9th.

So it is my wish and plea that whoever has the power or ability to change this does. Do not be a part of this proposed "Whine Campaign". It is not our fault, so we should not be the ones who have to fix it.