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Montana's biggest football game has aired on free TV - but that's about to change.

Montana's News Station has learned that when the Cats and Griz kickoff this fall, viewers will have to pay to see it on TV.

The Big Sky Conference Tuesday will officially announce its new TV deal with a regional sports network, meaning Montana's News Station no longer has rights to televise Griz football games.

Instead of over-the-air programming that viewers have seen on Montana's News Station, sports fans will have to buy a satellite or cable service to see most Bobcat and Grizzly games.

Big Sky Conference Assistant Commissioner John Kasper says the league expects most of it's games will still be available to Montana viewers, but now a few could have a broader viewership.

"Some of those games are going to be expanded beyond the borders which is huge for the exposure of all Big Sky Conference schools, including the University of Montana and Montana State," Kasper says. "Millions of people are gonna be able to see selected games from those two schools through this package."

Meanwhile The University of Montana and Montana State athletic directors won't comment until Tuesday when the deal is officially announced.