The battle over Broncos fans between local Denver TV stations is "stronger than it has been since 2004" after KUSA-NBC became the team's official flagship station, beating out incumbent flagship KCNC-CBS, according to Dusty Saunders of the DENVER POST. KCNC "will air the bulk of the Broncos' regular-season schedule," but KUSA will broadcast "preseason games along with numerous locally produced weekly series." While KUSA is "not scheduled to air any regular-season games on NBC, it is utilizing sister station KTVD-20 to increase its previous Broncomania coverage." KCNC is "still pursuing its Broncos romance by squeezing in as many weekly Broncos-related shows as the local schedule permits." KUSA and KOA-AM will "add a new wrinkle to preseason games by producing a simulcast of the first and last road games ... with KOA's Dave Logan and Brian Griese in the booth." KUSA will have the two home preseason games with Verne Lundquist and Alfred Williams calling the action. Broncos VP/Football Operations John Elway "will be featured regularly on KTVD-20 during a Monday night half-hour" beginning next week. KUSA and KCNC will "compete for viewers with late-night postgame Sunday reports during the regular season." However, KUSA's contract "gives the station early exclusivity in the team's locker room after games," and the station also can produce "four hour-long quarterly specials" out of season. Not to be outdone, KUSA's weekly coverage includes a "preview half-hour at 6:30pm Saturdays before Sunday games and a 'Countdown to Kickoff' series Sundays" (DENVER POST, 8/1).
