Football to Have Six Games on Television

OGDEN, Utah – The Northern Arizona football team will have six of its 11 games on television this season as part of the largest television package for a Football Championship Subdivision conference, a lineup that includes 22 conference games and a total of 35 contests featuring league teams.

For the third straight year, Northern Arizona will gain national TV exposure through its own university television station, which is available to Dish Network subscribers on channel 9411. Four of NAU’s five home games will appear on NAU Television Service's Universityhouse station, including conference games against Northern Colorado, Idaho State and Eastern Washington. Northern Arizona’s non-conference game against Arizona will be televised live in Tucson, Phoenix and Flagstaff. The Ole Miss game will also be televised.

“This is an exciting announcement for Big Sky fans,’’ said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “More than half of the 36 conference games will be televised this year, including five regionally on Altitude. We have two teams in our league that will have all of their games televised. There are a lot of Bowl Subdivision teams who wished they received that type of television exposure.’’

Each Big Sky team will appear on television at least three times in 2009.

The package includes five conference clashes on regional sports network Altitude Sports & Entertainment. Altitude’s Big Sky coverage begins on Sept. 19 when Weber State opens its home schedule against arch-rival Idaho State. Weber State shared the conference championship with Montana last season, and earned its first playoff trip since 1991. Ron McBride’s Wildcats are expected to contend for the conference title once again with seven preseason All-Americans on the roster.

Weber State will appear on Altitude three times. The Wildcats take on Eastern Washington on Oct. 10 in Cheney, and battle up-and-coming Northern Colorado on Oct. 24 in Greeley.

Altitude will also televise two games featuring Montana State. The Bobcats take on Northern Colorado on Sept. 26 in Greeley, and battle Idaho State in Bozeman, Mont., on Halloween.

Altitude is available on many cable outlets throughout Montana, Utah, Colorado and Idaho. It is also available on Dish Network channel 410 and DirecTV channel 681.

National FCS power Montana will have all 11 of its games televised throughout the Treasure State. Seven of Montana’s games will appear on Montana’s News Stations, while the other four will appear on Montana’s CW Networks. KPAX of Missoula, Mont., is the flagship network for Grizzly football. The Grizzlies finished 14-2 in 2008, losing to Richmond in the Division I National Championship Game. Montana has won or shared a record 11 straight Big Sky Conference titles.

The marquee matchup on Montana’s schedule is its annual showdown against arch-rival Montana State. The 109th meeting between the teams will air live from Bozeman on Nov. 21. Montana’s non-conference matchup against UC Davis will air on the CW in Montana, but will also be shown by Comcast Sports Net California.

The Max Media networks of Montana will televise seven Montana State football games, including five conference contests. The Bobcats’ conference schedule on Max Media is highlighted by its Oct. 3 road game at Weber State and its Oct. 24 road game against Eastern Washington.

Like Montana, Montana State will have all 11 of its games televised in 2009. Montana State will appear on the Big Ten Network on Sept. 5 as it opens the season at Michigan State.

SWX out of Spokane, Wash., will air three Eastern Washington home games live, including its conference games against Northern Colorado and Montana State. The Eagles will also appear live on Comcast Sports Net Northwest on Sept. 12 against Cal of the Pac-10.

Northern Colorado’s opener against Kansas will appear on Fox College Sports Central.

Idaho State’s game against Oklahoma will also be televised, but details have yet to be released.

It’s expected at least two more games featuring Big Sky teams will be televised in 2009, including Portland State’s contest against Oregon State on Sept. 5, and one featuring Idaho State.

“We continue to maintain strong television partners like Montana’s News Stations, Max Media, Altitude, SWX and NAU TV’’ said Fullerton. “Without their interest and support, we couldn’t bring our fans this type of television exposure.”

The Big Sky Conference is also on the verge of announcing exciting news regarding Big Sky TV, the league’s video streaming Web site. The site will once again feature all football games held in Big Sky venues, and for the second consecutive year, it will be free of charge.

NAU Television Services/Universityhouse (Dish Network #9411)
Sept. 19, Southern Utah at Northern Arizona, 3 p.m.
Oct. 3, Northern Colorado at Northern Arizona, 3 p.m.
Oct. 24, Idaho State at Northern Arizona, 3 p.m.
Nov. 21, Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona, 3 p.m.

KGUN – Tucson/ AZ-TV - Phoenix/Flagstaff - Tape Delayed
Sept. 12, Northern Arizona at Arizona, TBA