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SportsTime Ohio
TypeCable television network
Country
United States
AvailabilityThrough regional affiliates
OwnerDolan Family (Cleveland Indians owners)
Launch date
March 12, 2006
Official website
www.SportsTimeOhio.com

SportsTime Ohio (or STO) is a regional sports television network in Cleveland and northern Ohio, launched in 2006. It was created to air Cleveland Indians games, and is owned by the family which owns the team. It is also the cable television home of the Cleveland Browns. The network is currently seen on flagship system Time Warner Cable and a number of other cable outlets in Northeast Ohio, as well as around the state. The network is also seen on both the Dish Network and DirecTV satellite services.

WKYC-TV, Channel 3, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland, also airs Indians games. WKYC provides SportsTime Ohio with television production services for both broadcast and cable games, and studios for non-game programming.

File:SportsTime Ohio alternate logo.png
Alternate SportsTime Ohio Logo

SportsTime Ohio is owned by the Dolan family, which owns the Indians team. It is operated as a separate business venture. It can be comparable to the New York Yankees' YES Network, as both were started primarily to broadcast each team's games, however they differ in that YES is owned by a holding company that also owns the Yankees, whereas STO is a venture separate from the Indians that is directly owned by Larry Dolan, Cleveland Indians owner.

When SportsTime Ohio was created, it created 2 regional sports networks in the Cleveland area. Previously, Fox Sports Net Ohio was the only regional sports network available in the region. Cleveland Indians games were previously broadcasted on FSN Ohio. Presently, SportsTime Ohio maintains rights to the Cleveland Indians baseball games and cable rights to the Cleveland Browns while FSN Ohio maintains rights to Cleveland Cavaliers basketball games.

SportsTime Ohio also has a High Definition channel that showed all Indians home games in 2007. In 2008, the HD channel will go 24/7 on April 1. Not only will all Indians home and away games be shown in HD, but so will several STO original shows.

Indians coverage

Thirty minutes before each Indians Game, STO airs "Indians on Deck," a pre-game show hosted by Al Pawlowski. It features highlights from the previous game, a preview of the upcoming game, and news around baseball.

The commentators during the game are Matt Underwood, Rick Manning, and Jim Donovan (WKYC games only). In 2007, all home games on STO and all games on WKYC were broadcast in high definition. Beginning in 2008, all away games will also be broadcast in HD.[1]

After the game, there is a post-game show recapping the game and featuring an interview with Indians manager, Eric Wedge.

Beginning in 2007, STO broadcast some minor league games from the Indians system, such as those of the Buffalo Bisons.

Other programming

STO is on the air 24 hours a day. In addition to Indians games, STO now broadcasts several other shows, including:

  • "All Bets Are Off" with Bruce Drennan; A daily 3 hour live local call-in sports talk show, generally airing weekdays from 4pm-7pm with an encore airing from Midnight-3am; and Sundays from 7pm-9pm
  • "The Tribe Report"; A weekly show based on what is happening with the Cleveland Indians. It is hosted by Al Pawlowski and Brian Anderson, and airs Tuesday nights
  • "Tee It Up Ohio:" an Ohio golf show that profiles local courses and offers tips starring local golf pro Jimmy Hamlin and Mike Cairns
  • "Outdoors Ohio with D'Arcy Egan": an outdoors show featuring Ohio fishing and hunting adventures. It is hosted by The Plain Dealer outdoors writer D'Arcy Egan and his wife, artist Laura Brown Egan, owner of Desdemona's Fine Art & Other Cool Stuff, an art gallery in Port Clinton, Ohio
  • "Ohio Sports Profiles:" a show profiling the lives of Cleveland Indians' players and other local athletes
  • "Pro Wrestling Ohio:" A local wrestling show. Airs on Saturday and Monday nights.
  • "Ohio Fight Fest:" A showcase of local mixed martial arts bouts. Airs on Friday and Monday nights.
  • "Ohio Boxing-In This Corner:" A showcase of local boxing bouts with analysis. Airs on Friday and Monday Nights.
  • "The Viking Basketball Report" A showcase of the Cleveland State University basketball team with head coach Gary Waters.

In 2008, STO obtained rights to broadcast all home Cleveland City Stars matches.[2] The Stars are Cleveland's local professional soccer team and they play in the United Soccer Leagues' second division.

STO airs seasonal programming for the Cleveland Browns, Ohio State football and basketball, Notre Dame football and basketball, Youngstown State football, and Cleveland State basketball.[3]

Beginning April 1, 2008, several STO original shows including All Bets are Off, the Tribe Report Tee it up Ohio, and Outdoors Ohio with D'arcy Egan, will be shown in HD.

STO broadcasted six Cleveland State basketball games for the 2006-2007 season, and is broadcasting eight for the 2007-08 season, including the Vikings' game against Ohio State.

The network had also expressed interested in obtaining rights to broadcast Cleveland Cavaliers games, which are currently held by FSN Ohio. However, FSN Ohio agreed to a long-term deal with the Cavaliers in 2006 to air 70 games per season.

STO officials has broadcast some high school football and basketball since its launch. In 2007, STO announced they would acquire the rights to some of the Ohio High School Athletic Association championships, including eight football playoff games, six football championship games, boys and girls playoff basketball, and four events to be announced. Time Warner Cable will provide coverage in Dayton and Cincinnati, which do not air STO.[4]

Broadcasters

Former broadcasters

  • John Sanders - Play-by-play (contract was not renewed after 2006 season)
  • Mike Hegan - Color analyst, and play-by-play (moved to Indians Radio Network in 2007)

Availability

STO is available on most cable providers in the Cleveland, Columbus, Youngstown, and Toledo areas, as well as DirecTV and Dish Network in those areas.

The over-air games seen in Cleveland on WKYC also air on the following stations in other cities in Ohio and nearby:

References

  1. ^ The Official Site of The Cleveland Indians: Official Info: Indians, SportsTime Ohio, WKYC-TV3 finalize 2008 Tribe TV schedule, featuring all games televised in High Definition (HD)
  2. ^ http://www.clevelandcitystars.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=107
  3. ^ SportsTime Ohio
  4. ^ http://www.wkyc.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=74594
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