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I am actually satisfied with the response that I got, it is well written and thought out
Hi, Adam
You Wrote....
Hello, my name is Adam Green, and I am currently attending the
University of Arizona. I, along with many of my friends, am a big fan
of the Arizona Diamondbacks. I know that many of the games are covered
on your station, and we appreciate that. However, there seem to be
games that are not broadcast on the WB, while in Phoenix they are
broadcast on KVTK (Channel 3). I understand that the Tucson WB does
have its own shows, but is there any way to get the Diaomndbacks games
that are not being broadcast?
A concerned Diamondbacks fan,
Adam Green
Well, here's why...
Once again, the Diamondbacks are playing baseball, and we're proud to be a
television affiliate of their organization, We, as you, wish them the best
of luck this season and are keeping our fingers crossed for another World
Series Championship!
You wrote to us expressing concern over our on-air baseball schedule, and
we'd like to explain what goes into our decision-making process, so that
you'll have a better understanding of what we do.
At the start of each year, a certain number of games are made available to
affiliates, like TV3 in Phoenix and KWBA for Southern Arizona. The games not
available to TV3 and KWBA are either,
q Contracted (by the Diamondbacks) to Fox Sports Arizona
q Contracted to Fox Network Television
q Picked up by ESPN or ESPN2.
q Blacked-out for television (this is in an effort to get more fans
to the ballpark, a common practice for sports teams)
That leaves approximately 80 games available to TV3 and KWBA. So why then
does TV 3 air all of those available games, where KWBA does not? Simple. TV
3 is a pure independent station, devoted to syndicated and local programming
and sports. KWBA, on the other hand, is a network affiliate. Much like KVOA
(Channel 4 in Tucson) is an NBC affiliate and must play NBC shows, KWBA must
play the network programming of the WB. It doesn't cause a problem for us
during our "syndicated" programming (Saturday and Sunday afternoons, or
weekday morning/afternoon), which we are able to make up at other times, but
our very existence relies on our promise to air the WB network in a
consistent fashion. The network needs consistency in order for their
programs to get ratings. And ratings rule our business.
You may argue that Diamondback baseball games would get us the ratings we
crave, and we don't disagree. As often as possible we have been able to get
permission from the network to preempt network programming, provided it's a
"special case" or during a time when the network is not in a ratings period.
But, sure as there are Diamondback fans, there are also WB network fans, and
they are just as vocal in their displeasure of our "messing with their
shows" as you are about baseball (we get letters all the time!) We will
stress again that we exist for our network. Baseball, unfortunately perhaps,
is secondary.
As far as the changes in our original schedule go, here's what happens. We
agree to a certain number of games at the start of the year. As pennant
races develop, some games become more important than others. That's when
ESPN or Fox steps in and asks us to "swap." (They want ratings, too.) The
Diamondbacks organization of course gives in to the "national" pressure.
(Nationally televised games are good for recognition). We are left with
games that may or may not work into our network's plans for us, and
sometimes have to drop games from our total number. We don't like it either,
as we lose advertising dollars. Sometimes, those changes happen at the last
minute, and the information isn't properly relayed to all sources. Thus,
Thom Brennaman may say on TV that the next game will be on TV 3 AND KWBA,
when in actuality, KWBA is unable to air it. Miscommunication in the
communications industry runs rampant!
The good news is that KWBA is able to air more Diamondbacks games than any
other television in Southern Arizona would be able to if they had the
affiliation. Southern Arizona does not have a pure independent station. We
do our best to please the Diamondbacks, their fans, the WB Network, and its
fans. Regrettably, we can't please all the people all the time!
We hope this helps you better understand the business of baseball on
television. Thank you for watching Tucson's WB!
Alicia Knighton
Program Manager
KWBA-TV
3481 E. Michigan St
Tucson, AZ 85714
(520)889-5800
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