Indians TV Deal Press Conference

[Lebowski]

Libertore held a presser today regarding the new Indians TV deal. Here are the details.

- Name of the network is "Sportstime Ohio"

- It will include other Cleveland sports programming

- Will have a more local feel
- mentioned doing programs on local high school sports (specifically St. Eds-St.Ig.)

- WKYC will run approx 20 games

- Will have higher quality
- All homes games will be in hi-def
- Pregame show will be improved
- additional cameras for games

- Broadcast team will be Sanders, Heagan, and Manning...with Jim Donovan doing pre-game

- Will show some ST games, but not in same quality as regukar season games

- Will have minor league programming, but not games
- would like to introduce the players to the fans

- sent out offers to cable providers 2 and half weeks ago
- said it was their fault that they got started so late
- mentioned that dspite this, they are making up ground very quickly
- said he is "very confident" that they will get all the deals done
- said he predicts that 90% of people who saw Indians games last year will see first game
- said he is confident in all cable companies except one (Cox?)
- Re: satellite--said there is no reason to believe DirectTV deal wont be done in time
- they are dealing with Adelphia seperately from Time Warner
- said 3 smaller providers called today, and they want to take their offer
- said biggest hurdle has been rate, but that most negotiations with providers is beyond that point now
- said FSN was going to increase rate anyways
- said that the new station will be "highest rated programming in the market," so their rate is rational

[Lebowski]

Also, forgot that he mentioned 2 or 3 times the importance of people calling cable companies. Kinda contradicted he perceived confidence.

[consigliere]

- Name of the network is "Sportstime Ohio"

Lame.

Besides, that's awfully close to the old SportsChannel Ohio name.

- It will include other Cleveland sports programming

I've heard the Indians are trying to get the Buckeyes games. Well, the ones that aren't on ESPN or ABC. Basically, the ones on ESPN PLUS which usually air on UPN Channel 43 right now (at least on my cable).

I wonder if they may try to get the Cavaliers at all.....or if they may try to add some Browns programming.

mentioned doing programs on local high school sports

This will be a nice addition....the only question is, will they be able to carry the games live?

- Will have higher quality
- All homes games will be in hi-def
- Pregame show will be improved
- additional cameras for games

All nice improvements. The Cavaliers game last night was broadcast in HD by FSN.....and wow, what a difference than the usual FSN broadcast. Will be nice to see the Indians trhe same way at least half the season.

- Will have minor league programming, but not games
- would like to introduce the players to the fans

This is nice. A weekly wrapup show that runs separate from any Indians game programming would be nice. Getting input from Farrell, Shapiro and Mirabelli would be great, and the freedom a show provides can give fans more exposure to some of these guys.

- said it was their fault that they got started so late

While it is nice they are owning up to the mistake, this TV debacle could be yet another blow to the bad PR this team already gets.

[Lebowski]

I wonder how Donovan will translate to baseball. He does a good job with the Browns, but for some reason he just doesn't seem like a baseball guy to me.

I thought Underwood was going to be involved with the pregame...but there was no mention of him at the press conference.