Tester asks ESPN to make Cat/Griz playoff games available to Montana fans

Senator urges sports network to make TV feed ‘reasonably available’ to Montanans

(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester is throwing a challenge flag at an ESPN decision that will prevent many Montanans from watching the Grizzlies and Bobcats advance in the playoffs in the coming weeks.

ESPN, which owns the rights to Football Championship Subdivision playoff games, has reportedly decided not to air the first and second-round playoff games on cable.  And the network has apparently not offered to make the telecasts available in Montana.

“In Montana, college football is a treasured tradition,” Tester wrote in a letter to George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN/ABC Sports.

Although ESPN plans to stream the second-round games online on ESPN3, Tester noted that the service “is not widely available for games that hundreds of thousands of Montanans are looking forward to.” 

In his letter, Tester said hundreds of Montanans have already written ESPN and are petitioning on a new Facebook page devoted to the cause.

“Within hours after hearing your decision, Montanans put their friendly rivalries aside to cheer for a common goal: to encourage ESPN to reconsider,” Tester wrote.  “I am proud to join these Montanans in their unified plea.  Please consider working with Montana broadcast stations or cable providers to make TV feeds of these FCS playoff games reasonably available to Montana fans.  Airing these games in Montana will allow ESPN to be part of a time-honored pastime in the Treasure State.”

The Montana State University Bobcats will host New Hampshire in a second-round playoff game December 3.  The University of Montana Grizzlies will host the winner of the Tennessee Tech and Central Arkansas game.

Tester’s letter to ESPN appears below.

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Dear Mr. Bodenheimer:

I write today as a proud college football fan, and on behalf of many Montanans who are frustrated by news that they won’t be able to watch the University of Montana Grizzlies or the Montana State University Bobcats play in their upcoming Football Championship Subdivision playoff games.

In Montana, college football is a treasured tradition.  And this year we are looking forward to seeing both powerhouse teams advance in the playoffs.

However, to this point, ESPN has apparently not offered to make the telecasts available in the state.  Even a live internet stream on ESPN3 is not widely available for games that hundreds of thousands of Montanans are looking forward to. 

Within hours after hearing your decision, Montanans put their friendly rivalries aside to cheer for a common goal: to encourage ESPN to reconsider.  Hundreds of fans have written your network, and they are petitioning on a new Facebook page devoted to this cause.  You can expect many more.

I am proud to join these Montanans in their unified plea.  Please consider working with Montana broadcast stations or cable providers to make TV feeds of these FCS playoff games reasonably available to Montana fans.  Airing these games in Montana will allow ESPN to be part of a time-honored pastime in the Treasure State.

Respectfully,
(s)
Jon Tester

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