Big Sky TV is only a temporary loss, from what I hear. The company that was partnered with the conference has multiple things tied up in probate court after it's leader died earlier this year.
Here's what I could dig up on the Altitude deal:
"Altitude Sports & Entertainment (Altitude) and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) today announced an exclusive, multi-year cable telecast agreement to present live UNC Bears sporting events on Altitude. Shelly Harper, Senior Vice President of Programming for Altitude, and Dr. Bob Heiny, interim Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Colorado, made the announcement.
Under the agreement, Altitude will televise annually a total of up to ten Bears events. To kick off the agreement, this upcoming 2004 football season Altitude will air two games: Idaho State University at UNC, September 18 at 12:00pm MT; and Southern Utah University at UNC, November 6 at a time to be determined.
Further Bears programming includes men’s basketball games, winter and spring sports highlight specials, as well as other intercollegiate athletic events."
That was the official word from UNC in '04; nothing on length of the deal...