Posted on 07/18/2006 5:38:53 AM PDT by E Rocc
Less than a month before their first preseason game, the Browns are looking for a new television partner after terminating their relationship with WOIO Channel 19.
The Browns notified the station of their intention on Thursday, three days after Channel 19 aired the 911 tape of Nancy Fisher, sister of Browns owner Randy Lerner, finding her 6-year-old daughter drowned in a creek on family property in Mantua.
Channel 19 was the only station to air the gruesome portion of Fisher's emergency call.
Bill Bonsiewicz, Browns spokesman, confirmed the team is looking for a new station to air its four preseason games and other programming throughout the season. He declined to elaborate on the reason for the abrupt switch.
The Browns were entering the second year of a three-year agreement with Channel 19.
A source said Channel 19 paid $2 million a year for the Browns' TV rights in a deal negotiated by former club president John Collins. WKYC Channel 3 had been the team's local flagship station from the expansion year of 1999 through 2004.
Bill Applegate, WOIO's general manager, could not be reached for comment. A message for news director Dan Salamone was not returned.
The airing of the 911 call was the last straw in a relationship that was rocky from the start.
Last year the Browns were at odds with the station over an on-air interview with Braylon Edwards that left the rookie receiver and his mother uncomfortable and complaining to team officials. Neither the team nor the station was satisfied with local ratings of programming supplied by the Browns on Saturday and Monday nights.
The Browns might choose to air their midweek programming on cable outlets Fox Sports Net Ohio or SportsTime Ohio. But they are obligated to televise all preseason games on an over-the-air station.
The first exhibition game is Aug. 10 in Philadelphia against the Eagles.
-Eric
Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone get Carl Monday on the case!!!!
You are being very generous by describing their performance as poor. :-)
What were the circumstances surrounding this girl's death? Might there have been any negligence (or worse) involved?
If so,it seems reasonable for this station to have done what they did.
Heard this a few hours ago and was hoping it was Jim Donovan they were cutting loose. Worst play by play guy in the NFL.
Move the coverage to Baltimore...
Don't blame the guy one iota. To play a 911 tape of someone's personal tragedy is over the top,and he did what any decent person should do.
Donovan was never as bad a play-by-play guy as Reggie Rucker was an analyst. It's unclear whether or not Donovan ever had dinner with Sam Wuyche though.
We need real game broadcasters, not a sports reporter and ex-players.
Agreed.
Ping.
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