Their footprint is the local area so they'd probably reach more fans with a local affiliate. Not to take a swipe at them, but they like a lot of schools have no interest outside their own state. Maybe they and other schools are better off with the local channel.

As a Montana Grizzly fan I loved growing up watching the Griz on the local CBS channel. The footage was okay and the camera angles were few, but we always got to see them play. Unfortunately as I left the state it is impossible to see them now.