While Scene was tiptoeing through the halls of power and influence, we happened to hear chatter from a reliable source that the Dolan family is looking to unload one of its high-dollar assets. Don’t get too excited — we’re not talkin’ Tribe. Not yet anyway.
The source says the team’s tight-fisted owners have slapped the “Make Offer” sign on Sports Time Ohio, the network that subjects viewers to regular doses of Chuck Galeti, among other horrors. Exactly who would be interested in cutting a check for the TV home of the Indians remains a big fat question mark. But the rumor is out there. A call to STO President Jim Liberatore wasn’t returned by press time.
(Contact the author of this post at kswenson@clevescene.com)
This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2011.
Kyle-
John Schupp here, I had the privilege of having an article written about the SERV program back in late 2007, and I would like you and the rest of the Scene staff to know that 5 vets who read that article signed up for the program at CSU and 4 of the 5 have graduated in 3 years. An 80% grad rate in 3 yrs vs a campus wide grad rate of 29% in six years. So thank you for the publicity and the article.
I am planning another veteran program, but this time its a little bit bigger. I was just starting to write a letter to Joe Liberatore at STO to see if they would be interested in airing it, but your article stopped me in my tracks.
I agree, repeat call in shows of ‘Last Call’ and ‘All Bets are Off’, cannot be good for ratings, and it really doesn’t matter what color/style pants Jimmy Hanlin wears, it won’t pick up the ratings. But the event I am planning just might.
So…. Kyle, if you could, let me know if you feel that the source is a good one- and I will change the heading of my letter to go to Fox-Sports Ohio-
Thanks Kyle-
Kind Regards
Dr. John Schupp
Professor of Chemistry/Cleveland State University-Tiffin University
National SERV Director
STO will always be “for sale,” because it’s a dumb business move to buy.
There’s maybe three potential buyers.
Fox Ohio–just to shut them down
Root Sports/DirecTV just to add more to the portfolio
Some silly, stupid, rich idiot that wants to lose a lot of money.
STO, due to partnering with Time Warner, has very low subscriber rates–a huge detractor to any potential buyer. Their ad rates are low, viewership stinks…sure they’re up by 35%, but 35% from near nothing. Their product offering is of low quality. Their broadcast product for Indians coverage looks like it’s from 1992. Their programming outside of Indians coverage is filler at best. They’re locked into production studios at WKYC, which experts claim is one of the worst in all of major league baseball.