DEAR EDITOR:
I believe the NFL wants to induce ticket sales versus watching games on television. The league considers a team’s home market to be within a 75-mile radius. Therefore, Youngstown is a dual market; the only one in the country. If the Browns and Steelers have a TV conflict, the local affiliate is mandated to show whichever team is on the road, regardless of the condition of sellout. No singular team has control over this rule.
The league wants to help its network partners (CBS & FOX) maximize their audiences, which is understandable given the billions of dollars the NFL receives in broadcasting rights. With rare exceptions, the networks alternate doubleheaders (1 and 4 p.m.) coverage each week. The opposite network can show either a 1 or 4 p.m. game. If the Browns and Steelers play at different times, but are on the non-doubleheader network, the Youngstown affiliate must abide by the aforementioned restrictions.
If both teams are on the road, or both at home, then the local affiliate can select which game it will air. Typically, WKBN and WYFX will choose the Browns, since many in Mahoning County have Armstrong Cable, which carries the Pittsburgh network affiliates. In Trumbull County, Spectrum customers receive Cleveland and Youngstown networks, and thus are seldom affected.
The most disgruntled fans, in this scenario, are DirecTV and Dish Network subscribers who have to make other accommodations.
BRIAN VERCH
Howland
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2023-10-15 04:07:07
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