Oceanic PPV package shrinks

Oceanic Time Warner Cable is offering a 14-date, 16-event University of Hawaii sports pay-per-view television package, though just half of the Warriors’ 12 football games will be included.

Last year eight of 13 football games were shown.

Under terms of its contract with Oceanic, UH has had to make at least seven games available to receive a minimum $2.3 million annual payout.

UH has been in negotiations with Oceanic on an extension, but acting athletic director Rockne Freitas declined comment on how that might affect the PPV rights payments.

The package will commence Sept. 8 with the second night of the Verizon Volleyball Challenge. The first football game shown as part of the package will be the Sept. 15 Lamar University contest.

"It has taken a while, but Oceanic Time Warner is pleased to offer a very robust package of pay-per-view events to our Hawaii customers," said Bob Barlow, Oceanic president.

For Oahu customers, the price is $320 for renewals, $375 for new customers and $65 for single football games. Neighbor island rates are $160, $187.50 and $32.50.

The prices are a significant reduction from last year, when Oceanic charged $420-$500 for the Oahu package and $210-$250 on the Neighbor Islands.

Oceanic and UH will again offer an $85 "away game package" for UH season-ticket holders.

UH has had fewer games to offer this year because of its move to the Mountain West Conference, where all rights are controlled by the conference, a change from the Western Athletic Conference, where the school retained local rights to second- and third-tier games.

UH was able to make available to Oceanic games against Lamar, South Alabama and New Mexico, but the cable operator had to negotiate with MWC rights-holder CBS College Sports for games against UNLV, Fresno State and Colorado State.

Meanwhile, Fox will air the Sept. 1 opener at USC, while ESPN has the Brigham Young and Air Force games, and NBC and CBS have the remainder.

Customers may begin placing orders by calling 643-3333 today. They can also be ordered through Channel 254 beginning Monday.

The PPV lineup:

» Football (6): Sept. 15: Lamar vs. UH ; Oct. 13: New Mexico vs. UH; Oct. 27: UH at Colorado State; Nov. 3: UH at Fresno State; Nov. 24: Nevada-Las Vegas vs. UH; Dec. 1: South Alabama vs. UH.

» Wahine volleyball (5): Sept. 8: UH vs. Idaho, and UCLA vs. San Diego State; Sept. 9: UH vs. UCLA, and Idaho vs. San Diego State. Sept. 29: UH vs. Long Beach State. Oct. 20: UH vs. Pacific. Nov. 8: UH vs. Brigham Young-Hawaii.

» Men’s basketball (1): Nov. 11: UH vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

» Wahine basketball (2): Nov. 17: UH vs. Stanford. Nov. 18: UH vs. Baylor.