Stephen Tsai: Here’s hoping UH’s new TV partner will continue predecessor’s high standard

There was sadness when the Long Beach State men’s volleyball team defeated the University of Hawaii in the title match of the Big West Tournament this past Saturday.

Not so much for the Rainbow Warriors, whose disappointment was erased after receiving the No. 2 seed and the opportunity to serve as host for an NCAA Tournament Regional pod. There was never any doubt that no matter the outcome of that match, the ’Bows would continue their quest for a national title.

But there was melancholy about the possibility that event might have been the final Spectrum Sports-produced telecast of a UH volleyball match for at least the foreseeable future. ESPN+ is streaming this week’s NCAA Regional at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii News Now and the school are in exclusive negotiations for the telecast rights of UH sporting events. If both sides reach an agreement, it would end Spectrum Sports’ 15-year run as sole rights holder.

Several critically acclaimed TV franchises have ended on their own terms, while ahead, namely “Friends,” “Breaking Bad,” “The Sopranos,” “Mad Men,” “The Office.” The plug was pulled on some series for rising production costs, diminishing financial returns and the lapsing of freshness. None applied to Spectrum Sports, which aired more than 100 UH events a year while also providing the school, through fiscal year 2025, more than $3 million annually in rights fees.

Spectrum Sports delivered quality telecasts, certainly the best among local affiliates associated with the Mountain West and Big West conferences. In particular, Spectrum Sports mastered the storytelling of men’s volleyball — wide angles to capture the ferocity of 60 mph shots and close-ups to show the emotions and intensity of the players delivering those swings. Nobody is better than play-by-play announcer Kanoa Leahey and analyst Chris McLachlin in syncing the narration to the videography.

Times, of course, are a-changin’. Many viewers watch sporting events on their phones, tablets and laptops. They want their football games live and, preferably, free. Gamblers … um, sports enthusiasts in legally permitted enthusiast states, want to watch the last college football game of Saturday, which is usually set at the Ching Complex. Sometimes an enthusiast just can’t wait a few hours for the NFL games to start. Viewers apparently also want options. If two UH events are played simultaneously, they want the choice to watch both.

The NFL understands the trends, offering all games not shown nationally on Sundays to be available on YouTube TV. MLB and NBA also offers packages for fans to watch most of their teams’ games through the internet. (Not sure why Hawaii is blacked out from watching the Golden State Warriors or Seattle Mariners, to name two.) KHON also has adjusted to cord cutters, launching an outlet that is available on platforms such as Roku.

UH believed it needed to address the evolving broadcast landscape. Since July 2012, UH has been a football-only affiliate of the Mountain West. This July 1, most of the other UH sports will be moving from the Big West to the Mountain West. The conference wants its members to show sporting events (notably for football, basketball, women’s volleyball) not telecast nationally to be available for live viewing on the Mountain West app. Potential rights holders were asked to be able to show two or more events simultaneously. UH wanted an appropriate amount in broadcast fees and wide exposure. The marketing appears to be: watch a game, like a game, maybe then attend a game,