JimBob
12-14-2007, 04:00 PM
Tulsans must pay to see bowl game
By MIKE STRAIN World Sports Editor
12/14/2007
Oklahoma City-area television viewers will be able to watch Oklahoma State's bowl game on basic cable television or on free TV. Tulsa-area viewers will not.
The reason? It's all about Stillwater, said a spokesman for the NFL Network, which owns broadcast rights to the Insight Bowl, between Oklahoma State and Indiana on Dec. 31.
Stillwater is in Oklahoma City's designated market area -- a television term denoting specific geographic markets for television stations. (Nielsen Media Research determines those areas.) The NFL Network wanted to be sure that people in Stillwater -- home of Oklahoma State -- were able to view the Insight Bowl on basic cable or free television. That meant opening a bid process for the game with Oklahoma City television stations.
"We consider this a nice gesture, a good gesture," NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky said.
But the gesture leaves out Tulsa-area viewers, who still have some options to see the game. The NFL Network is available to Cox Communications' digital cable subscribers with the sports and information package. The game is also available to DirecTV and Dish Network satellite systems subscribers.
When asked why the NFL Network couldn't make an ex ception for Tulsa, Palansky said the network has "246 different agreements" that have to be followed. As a result, it has chosen to air games only in the designated market area of the schools involved.
"Unfortunately, this is the best we can do," Palansky said. "We recognize it's not ideal, given the situation" of where OSU is located.
KSBI channel 52, an independent station in Oklahoma City owned by Family Broadcasting Group, is believed to have won broadcast rights.
Attempts to contact Family Broadcasting Group President Brady Brus were unsuccessful. Palansky didn't confirm which station would broadcast the game.
Tulsa's KOTV channel 6 submitted a bid for the game in partnership with sister station KWTV channel 9 in Oklahoma City. But the bid was rejected, said KOTV director of sales John Trook. He said the game had been awarded to KSBI.
Palansky said that if Stillwater had been in Tulsa's designated market area, the NFL Network would have opened the bid process for Tulsa television stations instead of Oklahoma City stations.
By MIKE STRAIN World Sports Editor
12/14/2007
Oklahoma City-area television viewers will be able to watch Oklahoma State's bowl game on basic cable television or on free TV. Tulsa-area viewers will not.
The reason? It's all about Stillwater, said a spokesman for the NFL Network, which owns broadcast rights to the Insight Bowl, between Oklahoma State and Indiana on Dec. 31.
Stillwater is in Oklahoma City's designated market area -- a television term denoting specific geographic markets for television stations. (Nielsen Media Research determines those areas.) The NFL Network wanted to be sure that people in Stillwater -- home of Oklahoma State -- were able to view the Insight Bowl on basic cable or free television. That meant opening a bid process for the game with Oklahoma City television stations.
"We consider this a nice gesture, a good gesture," NFL Network spokesman Seth Palansky said.
But the gesture leaves out Tulsa-area viewers, who still have some options to see the game. The NFL Network is available to Cox Communications' digital cable subscribers with the sports and information package. The game is also available to DirecTV and Dish Network satellite systems subscribers.
When asked why the NFL Network couldn't make an ex ception for Tulsa, Palansky said the network has "246 different agreements" that have to be followed. As a result, it has chosen to air games only in the designated market area of the schools involved.
"Unfortunately, this is the best we can do," Palansky said. "We recognize it's not ideal, given the situation" of where OSU is located.
KSBI channel 52, an independent station in Oklahoma City owned by Family Broadcasting Group, is believed to have won broadcast rights.
Attempts to contact Family Broadcasting Group President Brady Brus were unsuccessful. Palansky didn't confirm which station would broadcast the game.
Tulsa's KOTV channel 6 submitted a bid for the game in partnership with sister station KWTV channel 9 in Oklahoma City. But the bid was rejected, said KOTV director of sales John Trook. He said the game had been awarded to KSBI.
Palansky said that if Stillwater had been in Tulsa's designated market area, the NFL Network would have opened the bid process for Tulsa television stations instead of Oklahoma City stations.