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BROWNS vs. STEELERS
WKBN’s president and GM David Coy decides which team gets air time on Channel 27
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
When the NFL releases its schedule each April, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns fans anxiously scan it for the key matchup dates — specifically when they play each other.
David Coy, president and general manager for New Vision Television of Youngstown, takes a slightly different approach on that day. That’s because his CBS affiliate — WKBN Channel 27 — is the station for most Browns and Steelers regular-season telecasts.
Coy’s mission is to see how many times the Browns and Steelers are scheduled to play on the same day at the same time. On those Sundays, chances are pretty good that the station will be blitzed with calls from fans wondering why their team’s game isn’t being shown.
Sunday, it will be Browns’ fans turn to howl as Channel 27 will be showing the Steelers-Baltimore Ravens game and not the Cincinnati Bengals-Browns game.
“I suspect Browns fans won’t be happy,” Coy said.
This season, there are four Sundays with conflicts.
CBS has the rights to the AFC games played in the daytime. The Browns and Steelers are members of the AFC North Division.
Because of location, the NFL designates Youngstown as a secondary market for both teams.
Years ago, Youngstown was a primary market for the Browns, but eight AFC championship game appearances since 1994 by Pittsburgh and Cleveland’s lack of a team from 1996-98 has elevated the Steelers’ status.
When the schedule is released, the first thing Coy does is “circle the Cleveland and Pittsburgh games to see if they are head-to-head.”
If either team is picked for a night game (NBC on Sundays, ESPN on Mondays. NFL Network on Thursdays), Coy knows his station loses a game of local interest but avoids a conflict.
SDLqThis year, we lose the Cleveland-at-Pittsburgh game to the NFL Network [Dec. 8],” Coy said. “It’s flattering when the big boys want your teams.”
When NFC teams play in Cleveland or Pittsburgh, FOX has the broadcast rights. And it’s rare when the Steelers and Browns host NFC opponents at the same time.
On Sept. 18, Channel 27 avoids a conflict. Channel 27 will show the Browns-Indianapolis Colts game while WYFX Channel 19 shows the Seattle Seahawks (NFC)-Steelers game.
The other dates for Channel 27 are: Oct. 2 when the Browns host the Tennessee Titans and the Steelers are on the road against the Houston Texans; Oct. 30 when the Browns are at the San Francisco 49ers while the Steelers host the New England Patriots; and Dec. 4 when the Steelers host the Bengals and the Browns host the Ravens.
According to the NFL:
“When there is a conflict [both teams playing on Sunday at 1 p.m.], the NFL rule states that if one team is away and the other team is at home, the home team ‘protects’ their attendance and the away team ‘serves’ the fans who can’t attend.”
That’s why the Steelers games on Sunday and Oct. 2 and the Browns game on Oct. 30 will be shown on Channel 27.
Because both teams are at home on Dec. 4 against division opponents, Coy says the station gets to choose which game to show. Most likely, it will be the one that has the most affect on the playoff race.