In recent seasons, Big 12 fans had access to all the games that appeared on the conference's patchwork alignment of stations that it dubs the "Big 12 Network'' because WRBU (Channel 46) carried that full package. Those contests are the ones left over after the major networks make their picks, and primarily are on Saturday afternoons.

However, the Big 12 Network moved this year locally to KPLR (Channel 11), which is airing only the Mizzou games in the package — including the Tigers' game Saturday against Oklahoma.

It is sending the rest to its 11.2 component — which currently is available only to those with over-the-air digital conversion equipment, including antennas, and subscribers to Charter cable (Channel 153). Meanwhile, KPLR has been airing infomercials and reruns of old syndicated shows such as "Ugly Betty'' and "Heartland'' on Saturday afternoons.

KPLR estimated that about 800,000 homes with a TV in the market (out of approximately 1.26 million) have access to 11.2, although another broadcast source estimated the number at about half that. Either way, Oklahoma State-Oklahoma and Iowa State-Kansas State were bounced last Saturday to the lesser 11.2 entity in favor of sales pitches and rehashed shows. The Kansas-Iowa State game suffers the same fate Saturday after Mizzou airs on the main station.

KPLR and KPLR 11.2 program director Elaine Claspill said the stations' hands are tied because it didn't even have talks with the Big 12 about the package until this fall, after having already committed to the other fare.

"We weren't really prepared for it, KPLR has a lot of programming and there's not much room to move things around,'' she said. "We're doing the best we can under the circumstances.''

She said the same policy will be in place for the Big 12 tournament next month, which figures to anger some fans because many of those tourney games are set to be relegated to the Big 12 Network. It has eight of the 11 contests in that event and the Claspill said the same policy will be in place at KPLR as in the regular season — only Mizzou's games will be on KPLR, the others on 11.2. That network has all four first-round contests as well as two quarterfinals and both semifinals. (ESPN2 has two quarterfinal contest and ESPN has the title game.)

"In a perfect world we would have all of our games cleared on the best station in each market but the priority has always been the local teams,'' the league said in a statement when asked about the situation in St. Louis. "The digital component (such as 11.2) continues to improve and to provide more opportunities.''

But Claspill said that if the Big 12 returns to KPLR next season, much more of the package could wind up on the main outlet.

"We'll have more time to plan,'' she said.