The following is a press release from the communications department of Columbus Crew SC.
COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced its new, hybrid broadcast television partnership ahead of the 2016 Major League Soccer season. The new agreement is with both Sinclair operated stations as well as Time Warner Cable SportsChannel for all 31 regionally televised Columbus Crew SC regular-season contests this year, with the Black & Gold’s remaining three regular-season matches to be televised nationally on ESPN or FS1. As part of this new, multi-platform arrangement, there will be no territory restrictions. The partnership provides increased distribution to 100% of the Columbus market and guarantees that Black & Gold supporters, regardless of location within North America, will have the ability to watch all of Crew SC’s regionally televised matches this year. Per club policy, additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Columbus Crew SC Reaches Landmark Broadcast Agreement
In 2016, supporters have the option to view all regionally televised Crew SC matches in multiple ways. Regionally televised matches will be available on Sinclair operated channels (The CW Columbus, ABC-6, FOX-28 or MyTVColumbus) and Time Warner Cable SportsChannel on channel 1311HD and channel 311 as well as channel 510 in Columbus and Northern Kentucky. The CW Columbus (WWHO-53) will be the flagship over-the-air station for Crew SC regionally televised matches and is expected to air 25 matches in 2016. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is the cable television home of Crew SC in Columbus and across the entire Time Warner Cable footprint in Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania. Subscribers to MLS Direct Kick via cable or satellite provider or MLS Live on digital platforms will have access to all regionally televised Crew SC matches with no local territory restrictions.
With the greatest broadcast reach in the Columbus market in club history, all 907,000 television viewing households in Ohio’s capital city have the option to watch regionally televised Crew SC matches via Sinclair operated stations, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, MLS Direct Kick or MLS Live. Outside Columbus, supporters within the Time Warner Cable Ohio footprint can access the action via Time Warner Cable SportsChannel or via MLS Direct Kick or MLS Live.
“We look forward to our television partnership with The CW Columbus, its Sinclair operated sister stations and Time Warner Cable SportsChannel throughout Ohio,” said Columbus Crew SC Investor-Operator and Chairman Anthony Precourt. “We heard our supporters loudly and we have taken steps to not only improve our overall distribution, but also enhance Crew SC accessibility across new platforms.”
Graphic courtesy of Columbus Crew SC Communications.
“The innovative rightsholder partnership forged between Sinclair operated stations and Time Warner Cable represents an important evolution in Columbus Crew SC television history. No matter the TV consumption preference – whether through over-the-air reception, cable TV, satellite TV, or over-the-top with digital services – the growing ranks of Crew SC supporters now have more reach and more options to watch their club play,” said Crew SC President of Business Operations Andy Loughnane. “Led by The CW Columbus, Sinclair operated stations will broaden the Crew SC spectrum through increased household penetration in Columbus and increased promotional support. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will continue to provide unprecedented matchday programming and exclusive inside access content across the Time Warner Cable Ohio footprint. The cooperation between Sinclair operated stations and Time Warner Cable to form a hybrid, simulcast partnership together has been remarkable, and their combined commitment to provide greater coverage for Crew SC supporters across Ohio will produce a powerful regional television platform.”
Columbus viewers will have access to all 31 regionally televised 2016 Crew SC matches via simulcast on Sinclair operated channels, with 25 contests airing live and in HD on The CW Columbus. Crew SC is scheduled to make two appearances on the Columbus FOX affiliate (WTTE FOX-28), one scheduled appearance on the Columbus ABC affiliate (WSYX ABC-6) and three scheduled appearances on MyTVColumbus (WSYX-6.2). Some Columbus area viewers may require an antenna to view the three scheduled MyTVColumbus broadcasts.
View the 2016 Crew SC Broadcast Schedule
“We are proud to partner with Columbus Crew SC making matches available to all supporters in Columbus,” said Tony D’Angelo, General Manager of ABC-6, FOX-28 and The CW Columbus. “This is certainly a great day for Major League Soccer supporters in Central Ohio, and creates a new era and commitment to live local sports that we are excited to build upon. I would like to thank Anthony Precourt for helping to make this deal a reality.”
Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is set to provide the most comprehensive Crew SC coverage on television. In addition to producing and simulcasting all 31 regionally televised matches, Time Warner Cable subscribers in Ohio will enjoy exclusive Crew SC shoulder programming, including 30-minute pre-match and post-match shows as well as the weekly 30-minute “Access Crew SC” magazine program.
Crew SC opens the 2016 campaign on the road in a nationally televised clash on ESPN on Sunday, March 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET, with the first regional broadcast of the season coming on Saturday, March 12. Crew SC Matchday – the special pre-match show – begins exclusively on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel at 7:00 p.m. ET, with the match airing at 7:30 p.m. ET, simulcast on The CW Columbus WWHO-TV and Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. Post-match coverage of the MAPFRE Stadium Opening Match is set to follow exclusively on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
“Crew SC remains a valued partner of Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and we are excited about the quality of the content we will offer our customers this season,” said Jason Pheister, Vice President and General Manager for Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. “We have a genuine commitment to the club, the League and the sport, and we will continue to give our viewers expanded access with top-notch production value.”
The partnership also sees the return of Neil Sika and Dwight Burgess to the Crew SC broadcast booth, with Sika on play-by-play and Burgess providing analysis. Sika is set to begin his 10th complete season with Columbus Crew SC after joining the club’s radio coverage full-time in 2007. Burgess, now the Head Soccer Coach at Wittenberg University, will return for his 21st season on the microphone, bringing more than three decades of soccer-specific broadcast experience. The duo served as co-hosts during last season’s Crew SC television coverage on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. Additional talent for Crew SC broadcasts will be announced in the near future.
The club will also have all 34 matches broadcast via English and Spanish radio calls, with further details on 2016 partnerships to be announced in the near future.
