Indians 2014 ratings up 12% and 5th in MLB











September 30, 2014 12:52 PM    |    Author: KEVIN KLEPS

Indians ratings rise 12%

Indians games on SportsTime Ohio drew an average rating of 6.1, a 12% increase from 2013, and Tribe games were watched by more than 90,000 households this season. The Tribe’s 6.1 local TV rating ranked fifth in baseball.

A few more TV tidbits provided by SportsTime Ohio:

• The highest-rated game of the season was the home opener against the Twins, which posted a 14.77 rating and was watched by more than 219,000 households on WKYC and SportsTime Ohio.

• The top-rated non-simulcast game of the year was a July 9 matchup against the Yankees, which generated a 10.24 rating and more than 150,000 households.

• July was the highest-rated month, with a 7.0 average and a norm of 104,000 households. Of the Tribe’s 23 games in July, 16 were the highest-rated program of the day in the Cleveland market.

• Through August, Indians prime-time broadcasts were posting an average rating of 6.84 and reaching nearly 102,000 households. According to Nielsen, the Tribe’s prime-time ratings prior to September were 70% higher than the No. 2 station in the Cleveland market — WOIO, which had a 4.04 prime-time rating during the same period.


Cavs Chalk Talk

This past Tuesday, September 23rd, FOX Sports Ohio advertising and affiliate partners had to opportunity to meet Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager David Griffin and Head Coach David Blatt along with FOX Sports Ohio broadcasters Jeff Phelps and Allie Clifton.

Approximately 30 people gathered at Cleveland Clinic Courts, the Cavs practice facility in Independence, to network, enjoy drinks and appetizers, and hear from Griffin and Blatt.


Phelps and Clifton opened the Chalk Talk session with Griffin and Blatt by asking them some questions about their goals for upcoming Cavs season and then moderated an open Q&A with the group. Among many topics, Blatt discussed his strategy and coach styles while Griffin shared that he didn't know of LeBron James' decision until just before the news broke!


2014 Tip-Tober


This "Tip-tober", FOX Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio are pleased to announce that all seven Cleveland Cavaliers preseason games will be televised. Four games will be on FOX Sports Ohio and three games will be on SportsTime Ohio. Austin Carr and Fred McLeod will call the games with Allie Clifton on the sideline.






CLICK for more Tip-tober plans on FOX Sports Ohio and FOXSportsOhio.com.

Browns Home Opener 2014


The Cleveland Browns' 2014 home opener ended in a 26-24 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Sept. 15th. 

SportsTime Ohio and FOX Sports were present at First Energy Stadium and throughout the city of Cleveland, (as well as on FOXSportsOhio.com) engaging fans and getting pumped for the Browns season.

FOX robot Cleatus was in town and made his way around the stadium to take photos with fans and do a t-shirt toss. 





He also bumped into Machine Gun Kelly.



FOX Sports Ohio Girl Bridget was on the SportsTime Ohio Fan Express to meet and greet fans as they were shuttled to and from the stadium. 









FOX Sports Ohio Girl Sara was in-park host for the game.




FOXSportsOhio.com featured Browns Gameday Live which included Live Burst video, tweets from the game, and a live chat.



Blue Jackets FanFest 2014

FOX Sports Ohio is counting down until Blue Jackets season and spent Friday, Sept. 12th at Nationwide Arena for Blue Jackets FanFest.



Our tent featured photo ops with Jackets broadcasters Jody Shelley and Jeff Rimer along with FOX Sports Ohio Girl Sara. Fans also stopped by to play Xbox NHL 15.



Click for more PHOTOS from Blue Jackets FanFest.

Trip to Comerica


SportsTime Ohio's social media gurus and FOX Sports Ohio Girl Bridget got to join Indians social media fans and bloggers on a trip to Detroit's Comerica Park via the SportsTime Ohio Fan Express to watch the Tribe take on the Tigers.











 VIDEO of their group celebrating Raburn's HR

Blue Jackets playing baseball?

As we Countdown To Face-Off, FOX Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio were excited to feature Columbus Blue Jackets Mark Letestu and Scott Hartnell as they threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Indians (Letestu) and Reds (Hartnell) games. Both players were interviewed during the games.

Letestu was a guest on All Bets Are Off prior to his Sept. 5th appearance on the Indians mound.[VIDEO

When he got to there, he was surprised with who was receiving his pitch -- Indians starter Corey Kluber - and called it a "big thrill" to throw to one of the best pitchers in the American League.

"It was a ball. I can comfortably say that. But I didn't bounce it," Letestu said. "It was pretty nerve racking but I'm really happy to be here representing the Blue Jackets and thankful to the Indians for giving me the opportunity."

Click HERE for BURST videos and photos. 

Hartnell made his trip to the Reds mound on Sept. 8th. Here's a photo of his interview with Brian Giesenschlag.


Countdown to Face-Off!


FOX Sports Ohio is getting ready for what will be an exciting Columbus Blue Jackets 2014-15 season with “Countdown to Face-Off,” a month of special Blue Jackets programming, marketing and digital coverage.

In the “Countdown to Face-Off,” FOX Sports Ohio will feature Blue Jackets Classic Rewinds 2014, and Blue Jackets Live: Season Preview.

In Blue Jackets Classic Rewinds 2014, the network will air seven Jackets games from last season. Hosted by Brian Giesenschlag, this series premieres Thursday, Sept. 11th at 8:00pm with the game from December 21, 2014. Columbus opened the third period in a 2-2 tie with the Flyers, but David Savard, Boone Jenner, and Ryan Johansen netted three straight goals to give the Jackets the lead and a 6-3 win over the Flyers at Nationwide Arena.

Complete schedule and details of these replayed games are below.

FOX Sports Ohio further prepares for the start of the Jackets’ season with Blue Jackets Slap Shots: Season Preview. This half-hour special takes a look at the team’s off-season player moves and preparation as well as discusses expectations for the upcoming season. The show debuts Monday, October 6th at 6:00pm with replays.

Players to Watch and Memorable Moments
Through a series of promotional vignettes, Jackets fans will re-live some of the memorable moments from last season as well as get a look at players to watch this season. FOX Sports Ohio will also feature a series of countdown spots in the final week before the season opener.

FOXSportsOhio.com
Blue Jackets fans can also get ready for the season with preseason coverage on FOXSportsOhio.com. Rick Gethin and Alison Lukan will provide updates with regular features and posts.

Social Media
·        Like FOX Sports Ohio on Facebook and follow on Twitter @FOXSportsOH for updates on Jackets preseason coverage, trivia contests, and more. #CBJCountdown #CBJ
·        Like the FOX Sports Ohio Girls on Facebook and follow on Twitter @FSOhioGirls for #CBJCountdown updates.
·        Follow the FOX Sports Ohio Blue Jackets broadcast team on Twitter:
o   Jody Shelly – @shelleyhawk45
o   Jeff Rimer - @JRimerCBJ
o   Dave Maetzold - @DMaetzMedia
o   Bill Davidge - @BDavidge99
o   Brian Giesenschlag - @BGiesenschlag
·        Follow the FOXSportsOhio.com team on Twitter:
o   Rick Gethin - @RickGethin
o   Alison Lukan - @AlisonL

COUNTDOWN TO FACE-OFF PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

*Subject to change 

Announcing Drennan Live


SportsTime Ohio is excited to announce All Bets Are Off will begin airing 7-9pm on Sundays starting this Sunday, Sept. 7th as Drennan Live and will feature expanded Ohio team coverage.

The three-hour live local call-in sports talk show is currently Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. Host Bruce Drennan and sidekicks Gene Winters and Ashley Collins discuss sports news from around the state as well as take calls from fans.

Drennan Live will begin airing Sundays 7-9pm starting this Sunday, Sept. 7th and will continue its normal weekday schedule and format. The refreshed show will offer fans enhanced coverage of SportsTime Ohio and FOX Sports Ohio partners, including the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Columbus Blue Jackets, Cincinnati Reds, Ohio State, the OHSAA, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and University of Dayton, as well as other Ohio sports.

New guest co-host!
A new addition during football season, Akron native, Ohio State and NFL running back Beanie Wells will join the show on Mondays as guest co-host.


“Since the acquisition of SportsTime Ohio, FOX Sports has been working to develop the show under the FOX brand,” stated Francois McGillicuddy, General Manager and Senior Vice President of SportsTime Ohio and FOX Sports Ohio. “We’re excited to offer fans a refreshed name and look with the same Bruce fans have come to expect and love.”

Cleveland Browns 2014 Season Programming on SportsTime Ohio

As Browns Training Camp Daily ends, SportsTime Ohio is ready for the Cleveland Browns regular season with a full lineup of programming including:
  • Sunday Strategy, presented by Mazda
  • Inside the Cleveland Browns
  • Browns Insider with Mike Pettine, presented by Liberty Ford
  • Browns Overtime
  • Browns Red Zone, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Donte Whitner: Revealed


 "We are a proud partner of the Cleveland Browns and are excited to continue our tradition of delivering fans the highest quality Browns television coverage," said Francois McGillicuddy, Senior Vice President and General Manager of SportsTime Ohio and FOX Sports Ohio. "Our partnership and programming lineup provides in-depth analysis by the most knowledgeable local experts and an inside look at the team that fans can't get anywhere else."

Also, the SportsTime Ohio Browns Fan Express is ready to hit the Cleveland streets. Keep an eye out for the giant bus that will be shuttling fans to and from the stadium during the season.




Check your local listings for replays. Visit FOXSportsOhio.com or follow SportsTime Ohio on Facebook or Twitter for more information.