Topic: CSTV is a bad deal...

[HerdChemist89]

...and has ruined the ability of everybody to access our Football games.

I can get more MAC games with DirecTV on GamePlan, Fox Regionals, etc than I could ever get for CUSA games with this current arrangement. If it ain't on their crummy channel then I can't get it.

Also, I keep noticing that during Saturday afternoons they are showing Ivy League Woman's Lacrosse, etc type games. They are not doing CUSA any favors. This deal we have with CSTV is just plain WRONG. They are doing nothing to promote out league. I thought the whole deal was based upon CUSA and Mountain West being centerpieces of their College Football programming....instead I see High School, and Div III football games 70% of the time.

It sucks.

How long are we gonna be stuck in this arrangement ? What are the options and possibilities to get something else done by next season or in 2008 ?

I know this has been somewhat covered before, but I would appreciate some of our media experts viewpoints on this important issue.

 :(

[Chevy1]

Gotta agree Chmist.  I hoped, after CSTV was purchased by CBS, that it would be better.... but it's worse.

Yesterday, I surfed through NIU vs. Temple, EMU vs. Toledo and there was another MAC game in there too.  I have no idea what's available via streaming video on ESPNU.  The MAC is well represented on TV.  Can't say the same for CUSA.

I couldn't even get the audio from CSTV and ended up listening to the first half from an online Birmingham station.... and then was able to get onto the DAWG for the 2nd half.  

The product is simply bush.  CSTV may hand the conference more $$, but ESPN delivers eyeballs to see a team play.  Looks like conference officials would realize that plain, simple fact, admit they made a mistake and arrange something else.

[HerdZone]

I have to disagree with you 2 here. While CSTV is like ESPN 15-20 YRS ago, on very little cable stations, and their big event was sendng Chris Berman to cover Cliff Diving in Brazil somewhere. Its just on the ground floor.

Now move ahead 5 yrs from now where CBS has basicly mandatorily put it on almost every cable station in the US. And on Sat. night at 8 est. you have on ESPN Ohio State and Michigan (Theres many that refuse to watch that game because they hate both schools). Then on CSTV theres S. Miss and Marshall fighting it out for CUSA East title.

Like the Snyder hire and his new recruiting, this team is being built for today, but for 3 yrs from now. The same with the CSTV deal, it wasn't signed for today, but what the exposer and money it will generate 5 yrs down the road.

[Photo by]

... this team is being built for today, but for 3 yrs from now. The same with the CSTV deal, it wasn't signed for today, but what the exposer and money it will generate 5 yrs down the road.

If it lasts that long. With CBS's money you would think so. My fear when it comes to CSTV is that CBS bought it strictly for the web outlet and doesn't necessarily care if the TeeVee side has any success at all.

[HerdZone]

... this team is being built for today, but for 3 yrs from now. The same with the CSTV deal, it wasn't signed for today, but what the exposer and money it will generate 5 yrs down the road.

If it lasts that long. With CBS's money you would think so. My fear when it comes to CSTV is that CBS bought it strictly for the web outlet and doesn't necessarily care if the TeeVee side has any success at all.

Since buying the product its alredy been put on over 45 cable markets, 10 of which are bigger markets. If Im CBS and the CEOs I look at the bigger picture here. Lets say in 5 yrs from now like next week Florida plays Georiga in Athens. Seems like a big game, I may watch it, but if I can find a Non-BCS game on I'll check the score of the Florida GA game.

Florida-GA play on CBS, and Utah-UCF play on CSTV. CBS wins both ways. They may get a 12.6 rating for the Florida-GA game, but the Utah-UCF game may get a 5.9 rating. Thats a combined rating of 18.5.

Now lets say Notre Dame is playing BC on NBC and draws a 15.7 rating. In all reality CBS has just won the rating wars on NBC by combing the 2 games. If CBS can't see how theres money in this then they need new CEOs.

[Photo by]

...Since buying the product its alredy been put on over 45 cable markets, 10 of which are bigger markets. If Im CBS and the CEOs I look at the bigger picture here....

I basically agree with you but CBS may have something completely different in mind. My concerns come from a few things.

The product has not improved since last year that I can see.
They have apparently lost their broadcast connection with UPN since it combined with CW.
I don't believe that has been significant growth in cable outlets, if any since last year. Comcast in my market doesn't carry CSTV right in the middle of a really heavy sports area. Heck one of their announces lives here.
CBS hasn't seemed to have made a mark on the CSTV system.
Their distribution system for the Internet is full of technical glitches. Ask the IE 7 users, Mac users, Firefox users, etc.

I think there is a problem that may not be obvious to us average viewers. I don't know how much it takes put on a first class production. What I've seen from CSTV is primarily Jumbotron images with the radio from the home team. I'm not sure that the CSTV b'casts that I've seen with the CSTV announcers even had CSTV produced video. Then throw in the switch to HDTV just muddies up the water.

[muherd34]

Agreed CSTV is awful.  I thought I was watching tape of my old high school team, but I think we had more people in the stands.  Wow, CSTV needs to do something about that,  it is just embarrasing to be on that channel.

[Krash]

CSTV is a flipping joke. Sorry, still pissed about our TV deal.

[tradebait]

CSTV is a flipping joke. Sorry, still pissed about our TV deal.

Agree 100% with you Krash.