BYU Broadcasting's newest project, BYU-TV International, is finally available in Utah. Last week, Comcast Cable contracted to carry the network throughout the Utah area.

"We're very excited for BYU-TV International," said Ray Child of Comcast. "They offer a high-quality, excellent program that is targeted to an audience which is growing rapidly that really wants that kind of programming."

While this is certainly exciting news for many in the Utah community, especially those who speak Spanish and Portuguese, it also adds to the confusion spawned by so many BYU-centric acronyms.

KBYU, BYU-TV and now BYU-TV (I), stand out from among the mass of acronyms which riddle Mormon culture. For most students at BYU, LDS-centric acronyms such as EFY, CES, CTR and PPI bring to mind specific, concrete ideas, even if a literal definition as to what each letter represents is unknown.

BYU-TV and KBYU, on the other hand, are often the exact opposite. Certainly it is not difficult to figure out what BYU-TV stands for (Brigham Young University Television), but a concrete idea about what it does, what goes on there, and how it differs from its sister station, KBYU, is a mystery. Or at least it was until now.

"We are always striving to differentiate BYU Television and KBYU-TV," said Daniel Hubbard, a marketing manager at BYU Broadcasting.

"BYU Television reaches approximately 47 million households in the United States and millions more internationally with content from the three campuses of BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Hubbard said. "KBYU-TV serves a Utah audience with educational and entertaining programming from PBS, independent distributors, and content from the three campuses of BYU."

Both networks operate with funding from "viewers like you," underwriting from local business, and generous support from the university. While specifics on how much money the school provides to the networks was not available, Hubbard did say "BYU is very generous in the support that they provide."

In addition to these two television networks, BYU Broadcasting launched BYU-TV International last spring. On April 4 of this year, Comcast cable system throughout Utah added this network for their subscribers.

Hubbard said that this programming "runs the gambit for what your interests might be, whether it's sports, dance, music, how-to, nature, church programming - you name it, if it's uplifting and inspiring you can find it on either KBYU or BYU-TV."

In terms of eventual audience, KBYU is limited to Utah with some spread into the surrounding states.

"BYU Television and BYU-TV International both stream online, so you could literally be anywhere in the world and watch those programs," said Barbara Smith, one of BYU Broadcasting's programming directors.

BYU-TV and KBYU

BYU-TV

Content: Programs from BYU campuses; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Audience: 47 million U.S. households and millions internationally via BYU-TV International and Internet streaming.

Founded: 2000; internationally in 2007.

Channels: 2

KBYU

Content: Educational and entertaining programming from PBS, independent distributors and an assortment of content from the three BYU campuses.

Audience: Cable TV in Utah and small areas of the surrounding states.

Founded: Nov. 7, 1965.

Channels: 11