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No-TV outrage for WSU gains steam
Posted by Eric | October 11, 2006 at 12:29 pm | In Games | 7 CommentsThe outrage over missing television coverage for the Cal-WSU game this Saturday is beginning to go national. SI’s Stewart Mandel talks about it in his column, blasting the Pac-10’s leadership for its poor administration.
Why is Cal the only top 10 team that won’t be on TV this weekend when it plays Washington State? — Chris, Lincoln, Calif.
When I first saw this, I assumed Chris was complaining that Cal wasn’t on national TV. But no. Believe it or not, in an age of 700 cable channels, many of which are foaming at the mouth to show even the most obscure live sporting event, a college football game between two Pac-10 schools, one of them 5-1 and the other 4-2, will have not a single television camera present. And for that, Bears and Cougars fans can thank their fine conference leaders.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: As a sports entity, the Pac-10 is right up there with the Big Ten, SEC and everyone else. As businesses, however, the Big Ten and SEC are Wal-Mart and Target; the Pac-10 is the mom-and-pop shop down the street. The Pac-10’s bizarre loyalty to Fox Sports Net over ESPN (supposedly because of the better time slots) kills the conference’s exposure. This coming weekend, you’ll be able to watch as many as five Big Ten games from anywhere in the country. You’ll be able to watch three SEC games. You’ll even be able to watch Louisiana Monroe at Troy. Depending on your satellite package, you could theoretically watch 28 college football games. But you will not be able to watch the No. 10 team in the country play an important conference contest.
Props to Chris in Lincoln and Mandel for shining some light on the issue. Hopefully this kind of negative press will apply the pressure to the Pac-10 leadership to do a better job with these matters. Thanks to Ken over at Bear Territory for this tidbit.
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1. Comment by Felizpicano — October 11, 2006 @ 2:12 pm #
Hey Eric,
I love the blog… is there any way I can subscribe?
-mattware
2. Comment by mattware — October 11, 2006 @ 8:02 pm #
You can listen to the game online through KGO radio:
http://www.kgoam810.com/home.asp
Better than nothing, esp for those of you not in the Bay Area.
3. Comment by William — October 12, 2006 @ 1:29 pm #
Matt,
We have RSS feeds you can subscribe to via the links on the right. Let me know if you have trouble with them.
4. Comment by Eric — October 12, 2006 @ 1:35 pm #
Eric,
Not being televised isn’t the worst thing in the world–I can can listen to the glorious sounds of Starkey while I get work done in the backyard. It’s the best of both worlds, and my wife won’t complain about me sitting on the couch all afternoon ranting at the television.
That being said, I agree… the PAC 10 needs to get its act together. This game should be televisied. And it should be a good game. The Bears always have problems up there.
Go Bears!
5. Comment by Josh — October 12, 2006 @ 2:23 pm #
check out this blog entry to see why… it’s really not the Pac-10’s (or Cal’s or WSU’s “fault” per se)
http://mercextra.com/blogs/collegesports/2006/10/10/the-story-behind-the-cal-tv-blackout/
6. Comment by Ed — October 13, 2006 @ 3:10 pm #
With all due respect to our friend from the Merc, it _is_ the Pac-10’s fault, because their TV contracts stink.
As do their bowl deals.
The fact that three Big Ten teams play on New Year’s Day, while only one Pac-10 team does? Disgraceful.
Good on Mandel for exposing the Pac 10’s complete incompetence when it comes to promoting its teams.
7. Comment by Jason — October 13, 2006 @ 8:47 pm #