Here’s why it’s called commercial television.
KCNC-4 — “the Broncos station” — has outlined its coverage for this season, and it contains a great deal of “exclusivity.”
Heading the list of weekly Broncos-related programs is “The Josh McDaniels Show Driven by Your Neighborhood Toyota Stores,” debuting Sept. 12.
I can hear the beer-and-bar talk now, as one loyal Broncos fan turns to another and asks: “Hey, did you watch ‘The Josh McDaniels Show Driven by Your Neighborhood Toyota Stores’ the other night?”
The “JMcDSDBYNTS,” as it probably will be known by Broncos fans, is one of five locally produced seasonal programs about the NFL team, which are being revved up.
“Chevy Football Preview” begins a Saturday run on Sept. 11, followed by the “Ford Countdown to Kickoff,” which debuts Sept. 12.
Then there’s “Arby’s All Access” — currently on the air — which will review Broncos games at 10:35 p.m. on Sundays beginning Sept. 12.
And last but not least is “Comcast Broncos Live,” at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays following Sunday games.
That’s interesting. A cable giant sponsoring a sports show on a station owned by CBS, a broadcasting network. Actually, I expected to see “The Tim Tebow Jersey Jubilee,” sponsored by a football equipment firm with the weekly half-hour program featuring the Broncos’ rookie quarterback and a KCNC-4 sports guy analyzing NFL uniforms.
Maybe that will be added later.
Obviously, the reason for such commercialism is the big bucks KCNC-4 pays the Broncos for exclusivity. Channel 4’s sales staff must promise sponsors a lot of promotional coverage, which includes producing “the name game.”
KCNC-4 will televise three of the Broncos’ four exhibition (excuse me, preseason) games this year: at Cincinnati (Aug. 15), Detroit in Denver (Aug. 21) and at Minnesota (Sept. 2). Gary Miller and Reggie Rivers will be in the booth.
Plan on KCNC-4 providing numerous commercials that start: “This kickoff is brought to you by . . .” However, based on KCNC-4’s previous preseason coverage of the Broncos, professionalism will rule the actual telecast of the games.
Miller and Rivers are solid, vet- eran announcers who don’t turn the telecasts into Broncos cheerleader sessions.
Radio report.
Denver Post sports columnist Dave Krieger, who has won his spurs as a knowledgeable talk-show host who’s easy to listen to, joins KOA 850 AM for “The Ride Home” (3-7 p.m. weekdays) on Aug. 12. Krieger will team with Lois Melkonian for most of the four-hour show, with Dave Logan joining the duo late in the program.
Such a schedule is presented annually during the football season, when Logan concentrates on his head coaching duties at Mullen High.
Fond of FM.
The move to FM frequencies in Denver sports radio continues.
Mile High Sports Radio, which has operated for three years as KCKK 1510 AM, began simulcasting at 93.7 FM last week.
Station president James Merilatt said his company obtained Federal Communications Commission approval several weeks ago to broadcast on the vacant frequency.
“We wanted to be competitive in the local FM world of sports talk,” Merilatt said, noting the position of rival stations The Ticket (87.7 FM) and The Fan (104.3 FM).
Merilatt believes Mile High Sports Radio’s FM signal will better serve listeners in southeast Denver and Aurora during the broadcasts of Nuggets and Avalanche games.
Complaints pour in annually from frustrated Nuggets and Avalanche fans in those areas who have trouble getting clear AM reception during the nighttime hours.
Schefter’s situation.
Adam Schefter, an NFL reporter for ESPN and a former Broncos beat writer for the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post, has a financial interest in The Ticket. But Schefter won’t be heard on that station.
KOA has a contractual deal with ESPN and Schefter. He will remain as KOA’s “Broncos insider.”
Longtime Denver journalist Dusty Saunders writes about sports media each Monday in The Denver Post. Reach him at tvtime@comcast.net.
NFL Network looks at Little
The NFL Network will provide coverage this week of the career of former Broncos running back Floyd Little before his Hall of Fame induction Saturday in Canton, Ohio.
Little will be featured on programs airing at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. Friday.
The induction ceremony will be televised by the NFL Network beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday.
