The mtn.

The problems with the fledgling Mountain West Conference TV network, the mtn., only appear to be getting worse. League Commissioner Craig Thompson promised fans of the nine-team conference they would have access to their favorite team's games by Sept. 1. As of today, only Colorado, New Mexico and Utah receive the regional network. Considering who's left out -- San Diego, Las Vegas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area -- that's a pretty small region. (Wyoming has also been denied the ability to see the mtn.) True, five of the MWC's nine teams are in the three-state region, but those of us in the other markets have been given a rude slap in the face.

We have no reason to believe the concept of a network devoted to a league most people will never see has even a minute chance of succeeding. When the Mountain West left ESPN for CSTV, we were told it was a student-athlete-friendly decision. No more games on Monday and Tuesday, or Wednesday and Friday, for that matter. ESPN was demanding too much, we were told. And the conference had a great idea in a network deviated to college sports (CSTV). The problem with the notion that the move was good for the athletes is this: College football players want to be on TV.

And without access to CSTV or the mtn., football fans can't watch MWC games. The issue is more acute for fans of other teams who just want to see TCU or another top league team play. They won't be able to most of the time. And worse, they probably won't even know the network exists.

The MWC's defection from ESPN was hailed as a ground-breaking opportunity to build a network from the ground up. CSTV represented the future, we were told. One problem: ESPN has also tried the college-only concept. And noone can watch ESPN U, either. If any network is going to make this concept work, it will be the most popular sports network in the world. But even it is having trouble gaining traction. The mtn. Is not dead, but the MWC brain trust needs to reevaluate its priorities.