A Digital Leap for College Football
North Dakota State University’s football team is preparing for its first season in the Mountain West Conference, a move that promises fresh rivalries and heightened visibility for the Bison program.
The conference has introduced a dedicated streaming service, MW+, which will broadcast every Mountain West event, from football to basketball, at a subscription price of $10.99 per month or $79.99 per year, with special rates for email subscribers.
MW+ is designed to be universally accessible, supporting iPhone, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and even Amazon Prime Channels, ensuring that fans can tune in from virtually any device.
Ten of NDSU’s twelve games are slated for national television, with CBS Sports Network, the CW and FOX Sports sharing the schedule; the September 19 contest at Sacramento State will be streamed on ESPN, highlighting the conference’s growing media footprint.
Two home games — Sept. 5 against Fordham and Oct. 31 versus UTEP — will not appear on a national network, but a bid by WDAY‑TV and Forum Communications could place them on the state‑wide ABC network and on MW+ itself, expanding local reach.
Beyond football, the platform will carry all Mountain West sports and additional programming, with a share of subscription revenue earmarked for members based on their favorite team, creating a direct financial incentive for fan engagement.
Local Broadcast Ambitions
If the WDAY‑TV and Forum Communications proposal succeeds, viewers in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and other South Dakota markets will be able to watch the selected home games over the airwaves, while the MW+ app will remain an alternative outlet.
The initiative reflects a broader trend of collegiate conferences leveraging digital infrastructure to meet audiences where they are, blending traditional broadcast with on‑demand streaming.
For Bison supporters, the combination of national TV slots, a dedicated streaming hub and potential local airplay promises unprecedented access to the team’s journey in the Mountain West.