Daily Iowan

Issue date: 6/12/07 Section: Sports

How TV has changed the way we watch sports.

Look, I'm like everyone else and believe that every Iowa football game ought to be televised, but last week's announcement made me laugh - this year's game at Iowa State will be televised on Versus.

Some of you had to be thinking "'What the hell is Versus?"

For those of you curious, Versus use to be the Outdoor Life Network. It's best known for covering such things as the Tour de France, professional bull riding, and everyone's favorite, the National Hockey League.

Some of you maybe just realized that the majority of the NHL's coverage had been on Versus, and if that's the case, then I'm sorry you missed most of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, because it really was entertaining.

Apparently, the Big 12 claims to have struck a five-game TV deal with Versus, but if you look on the Big 12's website, you'll see the only game involving a Big 12 team currently slated on Versus is Iowa at Iowa State.

Now, given what has taken place with other TV networks, don't you think the Big 12 would have more games already scheduled on Versus? I'm aware that the conference could be communicating with the network, but if you look at the Pac-10 and Mountain West conferences, which also have deals with the network, both have numerous games involving their respective schools scheduled.

Until the Big 12 actually acts like a real deal has been agreed upon, I can see why fans are baffled by this.

It also seems strange that the game has a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. But then again, Iowa fans are probably more used to watching either ESPN or ABC, where games are typically on at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with the Versus network. I'm sure the people at the network are ecstatic about getting this year's Iowa-Iowa State game.

And Versus carrying the intrastate contest is not as big a problem as it might seem.

For one thing, Versus is on Mediacom's basic cable lineup, so using the excuse "I don't get that channel" is kind of lame. Here in Iowa City, it's channel 69.

Second, Versus actually had coverage of Mountain West football games last season, so while it's new to more big-time games, it does have some experience of covering football.

Third, you know ahead of time in the summer as opposed to 12 days before, as the Big Ten normally operates when announcing what stations games are on. In fact, fans already know the times for the first five contests and TV stations for the first four - the Indiana game will be on one of three possible networks.

Keep this in mind: The last 64 Iowa games have been televised, roughly 27 percent of all the Hawkeye games to ever be televised. In the 1970s, three football games were on ABC, and that's it. We already know TV stations for more games in the first month of this season than the number of games actually televised throughout an entire decade.

Bottom line - if this still bothers you, take your blame out on the Big 12, because Versus is like any other TV network carrying college football. It's simply a business trying to make money. Who knows, the coverage may be better than we expect.

And if you refuse to watch the game simply because it's on Versus, then there's always Gary Dolphin and Ed Podolak on the radio.

E-mail DI reporter Brendan Stiles at:
brendan-stiles@uiowa.edu

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