June 12, 2002

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Mountain West Conference has entered into a five-year agreement to provide sports programming for the National College Sports Network (NCSN), the nation's first 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to the best in college sports.

Set to debut in the first quarter of 2003, NCSN will have the television rights to Mountain West Conference women's basketball (except for the conference tournament championship game which belongs to ESPN), volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball, swimming and diving, golf, tennis, and track and field, including regular season and championship competition.

"Through our broadcast partners the Mountain West Conference is now able to showcase all 19 of its championship sports to a national television audience," said Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson. "This region knows how competitive these teams are. This additional national exposure will further help in advancing these programs."

As the first home on television dedicated solely to college sports, NCSN will feature thousands of hours of original and exclusive programming - from live games and record-breaking performances to classic rivalries and championship moments.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring to a devoted and passionate audience of tens of millions of college alumni and sports fans the very best in college sports that this country has to offer," said NCSN co-founder Brian Bedol. "NCSN will be the first TV network to showcase marquee events, rivalries and tournaments across a broad spectrum of colleges and sports."

The eight-member Mountain West Conference joins an NCSN roster representing some 150 colleges and universities.