From the Fringe… ESPN deal finally brings Cats, Griz to the masses

In my time as both a fan of the Montana Grizzlies, and covering Cat-Griz football, watching either program on TV has never been, well easy.

You know how people have always kind of joked about how Montana is behind the times, and we still ride horse and buggy to work? Well, it’s always been a little funny, and I think most of us haven’t made the ribbing over the years. 

However, when it comes to broadcasting local sports in Montana, I hate to say it but, we’ve been way, way behind in that department.

As for our two biggest sports entities, Griz and Cat football, we’ve been able to watch them on TV for a long time now, but the TV rights have always been sort of a crap shoot. Year-after-year, fans wait almost until the start of the season before they know when and where they can watch the Griz and Cats play. To be honest, it’s silly that it is as difficult for those two universities to secure TV deals with our local stations. It should be a no-brainer, and it shouldn’t take until two weeks before kickoff to have the TV schedules sorted out with local stations.

But, that’s how it’s been for a long time, and for a long time, that’s what we were stuck with. 

Now though, the Big Sky Conference, and by in large the two Montana schools, are able finally able to get out to a wider audience thanks to Scripps and ESPN. Streaming may not be your favorite thing still, and it wasn’t mine for a long time, but now that I don’t live in Montana anymore, I’ll say I feel damn lucky to have every Griz or Bobcat game on ESPN+. Say what you will about that network and the companies that own it, but if you’re a diehard fan of either program, or the Big Sky in general, at least, we now have a national viewing option.

At least, from a viewing standpoint, the Cats, the Griz, and the Big Sky are out of the stone age, because we can watch all their games, no matter what local television deals have or haven’t been struck.

And another perk that has come with the ESPN deal the Big Sky Conference struck was nationally televised Big Sky regular season games. Griz and Bobcat fans sure have enjoyed those huge playoff games that have ended up on ESP, ESPN2 and ESPNU over the years. They have brought amazing exposure to both programs. Now though, both programs are getting that exposure during the regular season.

For the third straight year, a handful of Big Sky games are on ESPN during the season, and once again, the Cats and Griz are part of the action. This Saturday, the Griz visit Idaho in a Top 15 FCS showdown that will be broadcast on ESPN2. Next week, Montana State travels to Sacramento State for an ESPN2 night game that could ultimately have a huge hand in who wins the Big Sky title. 

Yes, there’s really nothing better than seeing the Cats and Griz on national TV. I wish they were both at home, but that will happen, too.

So, while I still lament how strongly difficult it is to get local TV broadcast deals for Montana and Montana State, and truly believe both universities could do better, at least we now have ESPN to make sure anyone who has internet or a mobile phone can see those games now.

To me, that’s awesome, and I truly am grateful to ESPN and the Big Sky Conference for finally making that happen, and I hope that’s a partnership that continues for years to come.

Editor’s Note: The No. 13 Grizzlies meet the No. 3 Vandals Saturday at 8:30 p.m. M.S.T. in Moscow, Idaho, on ESPN2. The No. 2 Bobcats return from their bye week to host Cal Poly Saturday night at 6 p.m. in Bozeman. That game will be on MTN and ESPN+.