CBS 21 Community

I was rather disappointed with 21 this afternoon when I saw the Ravens on instead of the Eagles... Why can't the WHP management work with the NFL to restate our Market designation? There is a higher percentage of Eagles and Steelers fans in the WHP market than Ravens fans. Why can't you work to satisfy your audience? Can't you broadcast the Ravens games on channel 15 and Eagles/Steelers games on channel 21?

I'm sure 15 isn't showing any valuable programming on Sunday afternoons.

Hi Stevo,

I'm sure there are others who can answer this question better than I could, but I can tell you this:  our management HAS tried to work with the NFL to change our market designation.  The NFL has refused, and we're obligated to follow their rules. 

Believe me, no one here likes it either, and it's unfortunate that we're stuck in this situation.  From what I'm told, broadcasting the Ravens on 15 is against the rules, too. 

I understand your frustration, but please direct that feeling toward the NFL.  Unfortunately, their choices are the reason we are in this position, not because our station doesn't want to "satisfy the audience."

Thanks for your post!

Do you have a contact for the NFL?

I think that a CBS station in Baltimore/DC are can show the Ravens and our Whp21 can show the Steelers.  That makes perfect sense.  I know Whp21 must have already addressed that with the NFL.  It make NO sense that so many Steeler fans in the midstate must suffer.  At least there are about a third of the Steelers upcoming schedule are night games.  Also there's those games when we get to play (and beat) the Ravens when we are assured the opportunity to get even.
 Perhaps it's a scheme by local sports bars to have a full house on those Sundays Steeler fans suffer. In a way it's nice to view the game with other fans.  That's the bright side.

I've recently looked at the new schedule for the upcoming season.
It appears the Ravens have No preference over our World Champion Pittsburgh
Steelers!!!!.In fact both teams weekly games are being shown seven times during this season on
WHP.Pittsburgh plays five evening games being shown on other networks.
It leaves us with just three games to see at some sports bar.
Remember there's the bye-week.
We won't have to miss any play-offs,but the Ravens won't even be there!!!!

What is the best Steeler bar that you go to? You can always listen on 93.5 fm or 1320 am, but I could never just listen to a game on the radio. Sometimes I turn the tv all the way down and listen to the radio. Some announcers are horrible.

I love going to Steeler bars to watch the game.

Will the pre season game against Buffola be on Fox Sports Pittsburgh tomorrow night or will it be blacked out? Also according to the paper the radio station carrying the game is 105.7 fm. That has to be incorrect.

The York paper corrected the radio broadcast to 93.5 today.

Why doesn't the NFL just stagger the game times???

Ravens at 1:00, Steelers at 4:15????

Problem solved...

I have Verizon FiOS and I had the Eagles game on 21 Sunday...how does that work?

Hi everyone, I posted this on another forum, as well:

 

Hello everyone -

We at CBS 21 are in a very difficult position when it comes to the NFL and Steelers vs. Ravens fans.

We know our viewing area has both! Not to mention the Eagles, too.

While we may see more Balitmore fans than Steelers fans in places like York County, remember we also serve Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon, etc.

For every one Ravens complaint (i.e. not showing the game), I'll typically receive 10-15 Steelers complaints on why are we showing the Ravens over the Steelers.

Per NFL rules, we are a Ravens secondary market (since we fall within a 75 mile radius of Baltimore). The NFL stipulates a secondary (and primary like Bal) must show that team's road games.

Home games are a different story, since the NFL figures fans always have the option of attending the game, if they choose. When the Ravens are at home, we will typically choose to air the Steelers games - or in this past weekend's case, an Eagles game (as the AFC's Kansas City Chiefs were on the road).

The local Steelers fan club once sent the NFL a petition with over 22,000 signatures. Obviously, the NFL hasn't budged.

If anyone would like to discuss this further, please feel free to call or email me.

---

---

Jason Bristol
Sports Director
CBS 21 WHP-TV