The Browns yesterday announced a new local TV deal with WEWS-ABC to become the "TV home for the team's preseason games and for official year-round Browns programming," according to Mark Dawidziak of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The deal means the Browns are "leaving longtime TV partner" WKYC-NBC, which has aired preseason games since '06. WKYC President & GM Brooke Spectorsky said, "They wanted a complete change in the business arrangement, and I didn't feel what they were proposing was a good, fair relationship." When asked if it came down to money, he said, "That's what it boils down to." Dawidziak notes WEWS, which is owned by Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Co., was able to "reach an agreement for a longer-term partnership arrangement" with the Browns. The media company also has a "similar partnership deal" with the Lions. Browns President Alec Scheiner "seemed to go out of his way to emphasize that the station switch was not due to any dissatisfaction" with WKYC's programming. Spectorsky confirmed that the Browns "voiced no objections to programming content or philosophy." He also "downplayed the impact of losing the Browns as official partners." Spectorsky: "It's just four preseason games, maximum. There's a bunch of shoulder programming, and we can still do that. We just can't use the name Browns in an official capacity or use NFL footage" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/20).
LIVING ON THE AIR IN CINCINNATI: In Cincinnati, John Kiesewetter reported local broadcasts of Bengals games "will remain on the same three Cincinnati radio stations" through '19. WLW-AM, WCKY-AM and WEBN-FM "will continue to simulcast games." WCKY-AM and WEBN-FM "will carry all games." A caveat is that WLW "will air the Bengals games that don't conflict with Reds broadcasts." The Bengals also have extended their agreement with iHeartMedia Cincinnati to "broadcast the team's games on radio" through the '19 season (CINCINNATI.com, 11/19).
