UH, Spectrum agree to drop PPV, air football games statewide

HONOLULU – Breaking down old barriers.

The University of Hawai’i announced a one-year extension with Spectrum on Monday, continuing a partnership with the broadcast service as the official television home of Rainbow Warrior and Wahine athletics. Additionally, Spectrum will drop the pay-per-view fees and broadcast delays for their seven UH football games for the first time as part of the agreement.

“We’re thrilled to make Rainbow Warrior football more accessible than it has been in decades,” said UH Mānoa Athletics Director Matt Elliott in a press release. “No tape delays. No pay-per-view. No added fees for anyone already watching UH sports at home.”

Hawaii football enters the year with five nationally televised contests scheduled, leaving the remaining seven games for Spectrum to broadcast. Six of those games will come at home (UH’s August 23 opener against Stanford will be on CBS) while the October 18 matchup at Colorado State will also be broadcast on Spectrum.

Spectrum customers with Spectrum TV Select Plus or Spectrum TV Platinum will be able to watch Rainbow Warrior football on channels 12 and 1012 or via the Spectrum TV app, per the release. Hawaiian Telcom customers will also have live access without pay-per-view fees or delays while viewers outside of Hawaii can access broadcasts via the Mountain West app.

“This partnership with the University of Hawai’i expands access to more fans and brings exceptional value to our customers,” Dan Schmidt, senior director and coordinating producer for Spectrum Sports said. “We are looking forward to an unforgettable season, delivering high-quality sports coverage that will allow viewers to catch all the excitement.”

Pay-per-view access has been a sticking point for many fans in recent years with questions surrounding how the football program would create a new generation of Rainbow Warrior fans. Neighbor island fans without access to pay-per-view football packages pointed out difficulties in seeing the team play despite the actual desire to support being there.

“Hawaiʻi’s passion and loyalty for UH is something any pro team would envy,” Elliott stated. “We had an opportunity to do something different this season, and we went for it. This is our way of saying mahalo to the greatest fans in the world.”

The football program is entering its fourth season under the stewardship of head coach Timmy Chang and looks to take the next step back towards national relevance after rebuilding from the ground up. With redshirt freshman QB Micah Alejado and multiple all-conference weapons leading the charge, Hawaii hopes to return to the postseason for the first time under Chang with fans along for the entire ride.

Elliott believes that increasing access of UH football on television will not only increase ratings but can help bring an influx of fans for actual attendance numbers.

“What we believe is that if we invest in the community, invest in the people who support UH athletics, and in this case, specifically UH football, we’re going to build momentum,” the UH athletics director said during his media availability.

He pointed to the return of tailgating among a multitude of improvements to the fan experience that the school is looking to make for the upcoming season and beyond while talking about the product on the field being the main attraction for those in-person and at home.

Elliott also said that the contract with Spectrum has been a major priority to finalize since taking over. The deal extends further than football as Spectrum will broadcast around 90 live UH events.

UH President Wendy Hensel also spoke to the importance of the deal and how it was an example of how the university is committed to serving the community. Fans from all over the state will have the chance to be connected to UH and strengthen fandom for the next generation.

“We want to open the door to our fans, whatever island they are [located on], for access,” Hensel said Monday. “That’s part of the university’s strategy, that we meet the demands of every island and provide access for every career opportunity. Same with athletics. It’s no fun if we can’t give access to our fans for whom it is not easy to for them to gain entry [because they’re] on a different island.”