SportsTime Ohio

Infobox TV channel
name = SportsTime Ohio
logofile = SportsTime Ohio logo.pnglogosize = 200px
logoalt = SportsTime Ohio logo
country = United States
network_type = Cable television network
available = Through regional affiliates
owner = Dolan Family (Cleveland Indians owners)
picture format = 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
launch = March 12, 2006
founder = Fastball Sports Productions
past_names =
website = [http://www.sportstimeohio.com/ SportsTimeOhio.com
network_type = Regional sports network

SportsTime Ohio (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.

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 two 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 and went 24/7 on April 1, 2008. The full-time HD status included showing all Indians home and away games in the format, as well as 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 with the 2008 season, all home and away games are broadcast in HD. [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080121&content_id=2351916&vkey=pr_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle 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) ] ]

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 and the Lake County Captains.

Other programming

STO is on the air 24 hours a day. In addition to Indians games, STO now broadcasts several other shows -- many of them going HD in 2008 when STO unveiled its 24/7 HD format -- including:
*"All Bets Are Off" with Bruce Drennan; A daily 3 hour live local call-in sports talk show, generally airing weekdays from 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m. with an encore airing from Midnight-3:30 a.m.; and Sundays from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. The times are somewhat flexible, based on the Indians' schedule and length of games. The show also has special live postgame editions for important games; in the past, it was for the Cavaliers' appearance in the 2007 NBA Finals and the Indians' postseason games in 2007. (HD)
*"The Tribe Report"; A weekly show hosted by Jim Donovan based on what is happening with the Cleveland Indians. In 2007 it was hosted by Al Pawlowski and Brian Anderson. (HD)
* "Indians Minor League Magazine"; A weekly show hosted by Al Pawlowski and Mark Schwab profiling the Minor League Baseball teams affiliated with the Indians. (HD)
* "Tee It Up Ohio:" an Ohio golf show that profiles in-state courses and offers tips starring local golf pro Jimmy Hanlin and Mike Cairns. (HD)
* "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. Cleveland Browns Offensive Tackle Joe Thomas (Known for his love of Fishing and Hunting has been added as a co-host in 2008. (HD)
* "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. Hosted by Mike Cairns.

In 2008, STO obtained rights to broadcast all home Cleveland City Stars matches. [ [http://www.clevelandcitystars.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=107 Cleveland City Stars - Changing the World - Cleveland City Stars Sign TV Deal with SportsTime Ohio ] ] 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. [ [http://www.sportstimeohio.com/blogDetail.php?blgId=6 SportsTime Ohio ] ]

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. [ [http://www.wkyc.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=74594 SportsTime Ohio signs a one-year deal with OHSAA ] ]

Broadcasters

*Matt Underwood - Indians Play by play
*Rick Manning - Indians Color analyst
*Jim Donovan - Indians Play-by-play (WKYC games only), Host of numerous shows covering the Cleveland Browns, Host of "The Tribe Report", Radio play-by-play voice of the Browns.
*Al Pawlowski - Indians Pre-game and post game host, STO Update Anchor during the game, Host of "Indians Minor League Magazine", and play by play for high school football
*Mark Schwab - Co-host of "Indians Minor League Magazine", Occasional Friday host of "All Bets Are Off", sports anchor/Indians beat reporter for WTAM AM 1100
*Dave Chudowsky - WKYC/STO Reporter
*Bruce Drennan - Host of "All Bets Are Off", a daily talk show that began airing in April 2007
*Gene Winters - Producer/sidekick on "All Bets Are Off"
*Ashley Collins - Update Anchor on "All Bets Are Off"
*Doug Dieken- Football Studio Analyst, also radio color analyst of the Cleveland Browns.
*Sam Rutigliano - Football Studio Analyst, former Cleveland Browns head coach
*Tony Grossi - Football Studio Analyst, also Browns beat writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer
*Mike Cairns - Occasional Friday host of "All Bets Are Off", co-host of "Tee it up Ohio", play by play voice of Cleveland State Basketball, and high school football
*Jimmy Hanlin - Co-host of "Tee It Up Ohio"
*D'Arcy Egan - Host of "Outdoors Ohio", also outdoors writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer
*Joe Thomas - Co-host of "Outdoors Ohio", Cleveland Browns offensive lineman
*Chuck Galetti - Host of "Ohio Fight Night"
*Joe Dombrowski - Play by Play announcer for "Pro Wrestling Ohio"
*Jamie Scott - Color analyst for "Pro Wrestling Ohio"
*Michael Cash - Backstage Interviewer for "Pro Wrestling Ohio"
*Andre Knott - Thursday host of "Browns Red Zone", Occasional Friday host of "All Bets Are Off", sports anchor/Browns beat reporter for WTAM AM 1100
*Desmond Armstrong - Color Commentary for the Cleveland City Stars
*Glen Duerr - Play-by-Play for the Cleveland City Stars

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:

*WYFX-LP - Youngstown
*WLIO - Lima
*WWHO - Columbus
*WICU, WSEE, and WBEP - Erie, Pennsylvania
*WNGS - Buffalo, New York
*BCSN - Toledo

References

External links

* [http://www.sportstimeohio.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_links/links_article.aspx?storyid=50153 List of SportsTime Ohio cable affiliates and channels (from STO partner WKYC/3)]