January 06, 2006

More Pro Teams Starting Own TV Networks : "There's only so many tickets that you can sell and there's only so much that you can do" to make money, he said. "There's pressure on all sides of it and eventually they get to the television side of it."

posted by mkn to general at 10:21 PM - 5 comments

"With all due respect to the Indians, I'm not sure there's an insatiable appetite for Indians programming and nothing else," Swangard said. Even with all the games they already had on FSN Ohio, I already couldn't be bothered to watch 'em much. If they actually launch this, I give it two years unless the Tribe get into postseason play.

posted by alumshubby at 07:39 AM on January 07, 2006

This reminds me of when Ted Turner bought the Braves. he said it was expensive for a baseball team, but cheap for a television series.

posted by kickerofelves at 08:15 AM on January 07, 2006

A couple of years ago the Twins tried to start their own network, Victory Sports. They failed because the major cable companies to get on board. The "battle" dragged on into the season. Many areas wound up not getting coverage of the games for the first month of the season. The Twins had to finally pull the plug on the Victory Network. They were forced to go back to Fox Sport Net. All the Twins were trying to do was to produce more revenue so that they could compete better in the free agent market. Just another example where the playing field isnt equal.

posted by daddisamm at 08:48 AM on January 07, 2006

When the announcer and color commentator are paid not by an independent station but instead by the team they are beholden to not chastise management/ownership. I imagine Matt Millen is trying to figure out a way to start a network now.

posted by geekyguy at 05:23 PM on January 07, 2006

Matt Millen presents, The Gifted-College-Wide-Receiver-With-A-Ton-Of-Potential Network! Or, as the rest of us call it, the Detroit Lions.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 12:03 AM on January 08, 2006

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