CLEVELAND, OH – October 18, 2001 – The Cleveland Indians and Fox Sports Net Ohio today announced a new television rights agreement that expands the 12-year relationship between the team and the network.
Under terms of the agreement, Fox Sports Net Ohio has acquired the rights to televise 150 Indians games per season, beginning with the 2002 season. The new agreement doubles the number of Indians games aired each season on Fox Sports Net Ohio, whose previous agreement with the team called for a 75-game schedule. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"We're absolutely thrilled to increase our commitment to Indians baseball," said Steve Liverani, senior vice president and general manager, Fox Sports Net Ohio. "This deal was really a natural for our network, fortifying our position as the premier destination for coverage of Ohio's hometown teams. We have a long and successful history with the Indians, and look forward to continuing to deliver the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art coverage to their passionate fans."
"Fox Sports Net Ohio has been a strong partner of the Indians and our fans for many years," said Dennis Lehman, executive vice president, business, Cleveland Indians. "The quality of the coverage the network delivers to our fans is simply unparalleled. This new agreement reflects the network's unyielding support of Indians baseball."
Fox Sports Net Ohio began airing Indians baseball on August 15, 1989, with an 11-game regular season package.
Fox Sports Net Ohio reaches more than four million households in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, western Pennsylvania, western New York, and West Virginia. Fox Sports Net Ohio is managed by Rainbow Sports Networks, a division of Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc.
Fox Sports Net reaches more than 77 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partners, equally owned by Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and FOX. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow's 50% ownership of Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports National Advertising, and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net regional networks in five of the nation's largest markets: Chicago, Florida, Ohio, New England and San Francisco.
Contact:
Steve Pawlowski
Fox Sports Net Ohio
440-746-8000
sjpawlowski@rainbow-media.com
Bob DiBiasio
Cleveland Indians
216-420-4394
bdibiasio@cleindians.com