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Pinedale Online > News > September 2007 > Enzi & Barrasso lobby for Wyoming Sports on TV
Senators lobby for Wyoming Sports on TV
Encourate TV Execus to resolve disputes to get Mountain West sports on TV
by Senator Enzi media release
September 26, 2007

Wyoming Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, along with Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and others, are encouraging TV executives to work out their differences so they can provide the programming Wyoming sports fans are hungry for.

Enzi and Barrasso have heard from constituents, especially those in rural areas, who complain that they are unable to follow UW sports and other teams in the Mountain West.

The senators signed the following letter in hopes it would help break the logjam over broadcast disputes.
_______________________________________________
To:

Mr. Brian Roberts
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Comcast Cable
1500 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

Mr. Chase Carey
President and Chief Executive Officer
Direct TV
230 E. Imperial Highway
El Segundo, California 90245

Mr. Charles W. Ergen
Chief Executive Officer
Echostar Communications Corporation
9601 S. Meridian Boulevard
Englewood, Colorado 80112

Mr. Les Moonves
President and Chief Executive Officer
CBS Corporation
7800 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, California 90036

Mr. Craig Thompson
Commissioner
Mountain West Conference
15455 Gleneagle Drive, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921


Dear Sirs:

We would like to take this opportunity to write today to express our concern regarding the ongoing impasse that has prevented access to the Mountain West Sports Network through the satellite services offered by DirecTV and DISH Network.

This issue has been a matter of substantial controversy among the fans of the teams in the Mountain West Conference as the failure to reach an agreement has left many viewers without access to this widely anticipated and popular sports programming. As you know, many of the universities in the Mountain West Conference are marquee schools located in the Intermountain West with student populations drawn from all over the United States. Also, these schools’ alumni live in all areas of the country, many of them far outside the regions where the network has been made available. Many of the potential viewers in the Intermountain West live in rural and mountainous areas where only satellite television is available.

As you might expect, our constituents have contacted us to express their concerns about their inability to access this programming. We anticipate that, with the progression of the college football season, which will be followed immediately by the basketball season, our constituents’ desire to view Mountain West Conference games will only intensify.

Despite some claims to the contrary, it is appears that the hurdles preventing an agreement are not technical in nature. Indeed, other conferences and providers have been able to make programming arrangements that have made games and other programming available through both cable and satellite outlets. We strongly believe that, when it comes to programming conflicts, the interests of consumers should be the foremost concern. Toward that end, we urge all of the parties involved in this dispute to work together to ensure that Mountain West Conference games and events are broadcast to the widest possible audience.

Clearly, both cable and satellite providers have to make programming decisions with their business interests in mind. However, if all interested parties would be willing to make appropriate concessions, we believe that there are a number of readily available solutions to this conflict. As Senators from the states represented in the Mountain West Conference, we continue to be supportive of public policies that allow both cable and satellite vendors to maximize program content for their customers. That being the case, we believe each of the entities involved in this dispute share the responsibility to provide access to program content to as many consumers as possible.

We look forward to assisting you in any appropriate manner to facilitate a swift conclusion to your negotiations. We look forward to seeing Mountain West Sports Network achieving the goal of nationwide access.

Sincerely,

Senators:
Robert F. Bennett, R-Utah
Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah
Michael B. Enzi, R-Wyo.
John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
John Ensign, R-Nev.
Pete V. Domenici, R-N.M.
Wayne Allard, R-Colo.


cc:
Mr. Cecil Samuelson
Mr. Michael K. Young
Mr. Tom Buchanan
Lieutenant General John F. Regni
Dr. David J. Schmidly
Dr. Victor Boschini
David B. Ashley
Mr. Stephen L. Weber
Dr. Larry Edward Penley


Pinedale Online > News > September 2007 > Enzi & Barrasso lobby for Wyoming Sports on TV

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