Catch Yard Dawgz Arena Football Action Live on KSBI-TV/DT
OKLAHOMA CITY - KSBI-TV and the Yard Dawgz made a major announcement Thursday. The games will be televised live for the first time in the five year history of the arena football team. The games will air on KSBI-TV. KSBI-TV's Kealey McIntire has more on what this means for the station, the team and the fans.
The Yard Dawgz team is already among the top three in the league for attendance averaging 7,800 fans per game. The new partnership with KSBI-TV gives the team the opportunity to reach millions.
"To have a relationship and a new partnership with KSBI-TV 52 here in Oklahoma City is going to be a huge step forward for our franchise," says Gary Reasons, Head Coach and President of the Yard Dawgz.
The Yard Dawgz and KSBI-TV announced the partnership at a press conference Thursday. All home games will air live on KSBI-TV, starting on April 27. They will also be rebroadcast later in the week during prime time.
"Some people don't know about arena football, they don't know it's going on at the Ford Center and they'll see some of the excitement and some of the action," says Reasons.
What happens on the field has the potential to reach 1.4 million households. Because of KSBI-TV's extensive statewide translator network, KSBI-TV is available over the air and on cable outlets across Oklahoma. The signal even reaches into Texas and Kansas.
The Yard Dawgz new owners say this is a way to reach even more potential fans.
"We feel that we provide quality entertainment for family and we just haven't been able to reach far outside the Oklahoma City area. Our partnership with KSBI is huge in helping us to reach the masses," says Christie Cook, Yard Dawgz General Manager.
KSBI-TV currently has the exclusive rights to high school sports. Brady Brus, Family Broadcasting Group President, says the new partnership is a continuation of the station's commitment to sports.
"Hopefully, we'll have much more to come on the station in the future. We're excited about some of the broadcast and production we will be doing. I know we've got an award winning production staff and I trust they're going to do a fantastic job," says Brus.
Coach Reasons hopes the broadcast will showcase and attract fans to the family friendly environment where everyone can have fun.
"You're going to be entertained somehow when you come to our game, the promotions that we do, the music. Diezel Dawg is one of the best mascots in the world. It's a chance to come down and enjoy a great night with us," says Reasons.
KSBI-TV/DT reaches 52 Oklahoma counties and can be viewed in Oklahoma City on cable television (channel 9), Dish Network (channel 52/8897), DirecTV (channel 52), and locally (channel 52). For statewide cable and over-the-air listings, visit www.ksbitv.com.
This season will be the Yard Dawgz fifth season. All home games are played at Ford Center in downtown Oklahoma City. KSBI-TV will begin exclusive coverage of the Yard Dawgz on April 27 when the Dawgz host the Austin Wranglers.
