DIRECTV Sports Networks and Announce Inaugural 2012 Football Schedule on ROOT SPORTS

SEATTLE, WA (April 10, 2012) – DIRECTV Sports Networks and the Big Sky Conference have announced the telecast schedule for the upcoming 2012 football season with a total of 12 games to be televised on the ROOT SPORTS branded regional sports networks. The three ROOT SPORTS networks reach more than 8.7 million viewers across 18 states, including , , , , and that are home to most Big Sky institutions. DIRECTV Sports Networks will produce and televise all 12 Big Sky Conference football games in high-definition, starting on September 22 when Northern visits the . DIRECTV Sports Networks will also introduce new on-air graphics customized for the Big Sky Conference and each of its individual teams. ROOT SPORTS will televise 12 of the 13 Big Sky Conference football teams at least once, and air contests from nine Big Sky stadiums. “We are very excited to showcase high-definition telecasts of the Big Sky Conference football games to fans and alumni across the Big Sky communities, and also nationally,” said Patrick Crumb, President of DIRECTV Sports Networks. “Big Sky football continues to grow in strength and popularity, and this schedule will enable Big Sky fans to enjoy great competition among these universities.” Starting on September 22, ROOT SPORTS will feature a Big Sky “Game of the Week” showcasing a key conference matchup. During three Saturdays this season, fans will be treated to a back-to-back double header of Big Sky football games. Major rivalry games carried on ROOT SPORTS will include the Montana Grizzlies traveling to take on the Eastern Washington Eagles on the red turf of and the 112th “Brawl of the Wild” between the Montana Grizzlies and the . “We’re looking forward to another highly-successful season of football in the Big Sky Conference, the first with 13 members,’’ said Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton. “We are very excited to showcase our product on ROOT SPORTS. We believe fans and alumni of our institutions will be very pleased with the production quality and overall commitment to covering Big Sky Conference football games by ROOT SPORTS.”

Here is the inaugural 2012 Big Sky football schedule on ROOT SPORTS:

 Sept. 22 – Northern Arizona @ Montana 1:30pm MT  Sept. 29 – Montana State @ Southern Utah 1:30pm MT  Sept. 29 – Montana @ Eastern Washington 5:00pm MT  Oct. 6 – Montana @ Northern Colorado 1:30pm MT  Oct. 6 – Montana State @ Cal Davis 5:00pm MT  Oct. 13 – Eastern Washington @ Montana State 1:30pm MT  Oct. 20 – Montana @ North Dakota 1:30pm MT  Oct. 27 – Idaho State @ Montana 1:30pm MT  Nov. 3 – Montana @ Weber State 1:30pm MT  Nov. 3 – Montana State @ Sacramento State 5:00pm MT  Nov. 10 – Portland State @ Montana State 1:30pm MT  Nov. 17 – Montana State @ Montana 1:30pm MT

Big Sky Conference games will be distributed primarily on the Northwest and Rocky Mountain ROOT SPORTS networks, which are carried by all major distributors in those territories, including Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Cablevision (Optimum), Mid-Rivers Communications and several others. As the national television rights holder for Big Sky athletics, DIRECTV Sports Networks will have the ability to distribute Big Sky games to other regions to satisfy the growing interest in the conference’s athletics and academics throughout the U.S.

About the Big Sky Conference The Big Sky Conference will celebrate its 50th season in 2013-14, and currently consists of nine schools in eight states (Eastern Washington University, , The University of Montana, , Northern Arizona University, the University of Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Portland State University and ). On July 1, 2012, and the University of North Dakota are scheduled to join as full members, and Cal Poly and UC Davis will join as football affiliate members.

The Big Sky Conference is one of the premier leagues at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision Level. It advanced teams to the Division I National Championship three straight seasons from 2008- 2010. Eastern Washington won the national championship in 2010. This season, Montana advanced to the semifinals and finished third in the final poll. Montana State advanced to the quarterfinals and finished seventh in the final poll.

Multiple Big Sky Conference teams have qualified for the FCS postseason thirteen consecutive seasons. In recent seasons, league teams have upset squads from the Big 12 and Pac-12 Conferences, including Sacramento State’s stunning overtime win over Oregon State earlier this season. The Big Sky is also home to the nation’s top scorer in Division I , Weber State’s .

About DIRECTV Sports Networks: Seattle-based DIRECTV Sports Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of DIRECTV and operates three regional sports networks branded as ROOT SPORTS™. The three networks (based in Bellevue WA, Denver CO, and Pittsburgh, PA) are distributed in 18 states and hold exclusive regional telecast rights to over two dozen professional and collegiate teams, including the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins, Utah Jazz, Seattle Sounders FC, and . The ROOT SPORTS networks also distribute Big 12, Pac-12, Conference USA and other collegiate football and basketball games.

Media Inquiries: BIG SKY CONFERENCE DIRECTV SPORTS NETWORKS Jon Kasper Leslie Cox 801-392-1978 x-16 425-649-6960 [email protected] [email protected] Big Sky FAQ

What Big Sky football programming will ROOT SPORTS™ networks carry?

DIRECTV Sports Networks has announced a total of 12 Big Sky Conference games to be televised on the ROOT SPORTS branded regional sports networks for the upcoming 2012 football season. Below is the 2012 football schedule, which remains subject to change and open to potential additional games.

Where do the ROOT SPORTS networks operate?

The three ROOT SPORTS networks reach more than 8.7 million viewers across 18 states, including Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado that are home to Big Sky institutions. Big Sky Conference games will be distributed primarily to the Northwest and Rocky Mountain ROOT SPORTS networks, which are carried by all major distributors in those territories including Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Cablevision (Optimum), Mid-Rivers Communications and several others.

As the national television rights holder for Big Sky athletics, DIRECTV Sports Networks will have the ability to distribute Big Sky games to other regions.

Where were Big Sky football games televised games previously?

Big Sky Conference football games haven’t been televised on a single network the way they will be with ROOT SPORTS. The quality and availability of game coverage was extremely varied across a mix of regional and national cable channels, local broadcast stations and other outlets. The Big Sky “Game of the Week” on ROOT SPORTS will be telecast in high definition, deliver a consistently high level of in- game production and provide a collective reach to better promote each individual game and the entire conference.

Will all ROOT SPORTS Big Sky Conference football games be available in HD?

ROOT SPORTS will produce all Big Sky Conference football games in high-definition.

If I don’t have cable or satellite, does that mean I won’t be able to watch Big Sky games?

ROOT SPORTS networks are typically available on an expanded basic level of service from most cable and satellite providers serving the states where there are Big Sky institutions. Games not selected by ROOT SPORTS may be telecast on local broadcast stations or other networks.

My television provider doesn’t offer ROOT SPORTS. What can I do about that to ensure I can watch the games?

Call, email or utilize your provider’s FaceBook and other online communities to let them know you want Big Sky football and ROOT SPORTS added to your channel line-up. People in Montana used to be able to watch most Montana and Montana State games free over-the- air. Do they now have to pay for a cable or satellite package that includes ROOT SPORTS?

According to Nielsen Media Research, well over 80% of the television households in the state of Montana subscribe to cable or satellite television. Fans that don’t already have pay television will need to subscribe to a cable or satellite provider with ROOT SPORTS. ROOT SPORTS is available on an expanded basic level of service through most cable and satellite providers in the state of Montana. Please call your service provider for more information.

I don’t live in the ROOT SPORTS network footprint. How can I watch the Big Sky games televised by ROOT SPORTS?

The goal of the new partnership between DIRECTV Sports Networks and Big Sky Conference is to satisfy the strong interests of longtime Big Sky football fans surrounding each university, while increasing the opportunities for alumni and others around the nation to enjoy access to Big Sky football as never before.

Some cable and satellite companies offer out-of-market sports packages that will allow fans to receive the games outside the ROOT SPORTS service area. Contact your provider for more information.

ROOT SPORTS will pursue syndication agreements with other television outlets to make games available to interested fans outside the ROOT SPORTS service area. ROOT SPORTS is also actively exploring live streaming options for fans and alumni living outside the network territory who want to remain connected to their favorite schools. More information on streaming and syndication will be available closer to the start of the 2012 season.

How did ROOT SPORTS select its 2012 Big Sky Conference telecast schedule?

Many factors go into determining the schedule, including game times and locations, as well as, stadium lighting for late-afternoon or night games. ROOT SPORTS also makes an effort to select the games that will be of the most interest to the largest number of viewers.

ROOT SPORTS will feature almost every school in the conference at least once and will air contests from nine Big Sky stadiums. By providing more overall coverage of Big Sky football in one place, ROOT SPORTS will help the Big Sky Conference broaden its reach outside the conference territory and increase their exposure within it.

Games not selected by ROOT SPORTS may be telecast on local broadcast stations or other networks.

Why are there so many Montana and Montana State games on the schedule?

Montana and Montana State have traditionally been two of the strongest football programs in the conference, spurring greater demand for more of their games to be televised to a far broader audience. That tradition will help to increase interest in their opponents, as well as, the conference as a whole. The three ROOT SPORTS networks reach more than 8.7 million viewers across 18 states and they’re excited to bring these games to many of these homes for the very first time.