The American Sports Network Reaches An Agreement With Minor League Baseball

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Sports Network (ASN), a division of Sinclair Networks Group, LLC, announced today that ASN has reached an agreement with Minor League Baseball (MiLB) to televise a weekly game this summer. The new series, called "Minor League Baseball Sunday Showcase" will debut with a Pacific Coast League (Triple-A®) matchup between the Iowa Cubs and the El Paso Chihuahuas on Sunday, May 31, at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas.  The series will continue weekly on Sunday nights with the finale being a South Atlantic League (Single-A®) matchup between North Carolina rivals, the Hickory Crawdads and the Greensboro Grasshoppers.  

As part of the agreement, 25 teams, 11 leagues and 20 Major League Baseball affiliates will be featured on the "Minor League Baseball Sunday Showcase." Additionally, ASN will televise two All-Star Games, beginning with the Florida State League (Advanced-A™) matchup Saturday June 20, from Port St. Lucie, Florida, and the Midwest League (Single-A®) All-Star Game Tuesday, June 23, from Peoria, Illinois. 

"We're proud to enter into this relationship with Minor League Baseball, a leading sports property," commented Doron Gorshein, COO of Sinclair Networks Group. "This initiative extends our sports brand, deepens our connection to our communities, and enhances localism.  We're pleased to enter into this relationship. This agreement makes our offering more robust and helps take ASN to the next level."

ASN has enlisted Dave Armstrong, Keith Moreland and Brian McRae to provide play-by- play and analysis on the Minor League Baseball package. Armstrong, who will do play-by-play, served as the primary television voice of the Kansas City Royals (1993–1995), followed by six seasons with the Colorado Rockies (1996–2001). Moreland, a 12-year MLB veteran who played for the Phillies, Cubs and Padres, and Brian McRae, who played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball and six seasons in Minor League Baseball, will serve as color analysts. Moreland's broadcast experience includes serving as TV and radio analyst for Texas Longhorns baseball and football. He also worked as lead radio analyst for the Chicago Cubs, and as a college baseball TV analyst for ESPN. McRae has worked as a television studio analyst for ESPN's Baseball Tonight, WGN and SportsChannel Chicago, and part-time game analyst for the Kansas City Royals.

"We look at our new relationship with ASN as yet another way to expand the reach of Minor League Baseball beyond the ballpark," said Michael Hand, Minor League Baseball CMO and President, MiLB Enterprises. "We have been a part of the sports landscape for more than a century and provided entertainment to millions of fans. We're thrilled to bring the Minor League Baseball grassroots experience into more American homes and tell the incredible stories of our clubs while highlighting the commitment made to each community."

About Minor League Baseball

Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2014, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.4 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit www.MiLB.com. 

About American Sports Network (ASN)

American Sports Network is a programming initiative of Sinclair Networks Group, LLC, a division of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. ASN has produced more than 250 college sports games during the 2014-2015 academic year featuring distinguished NCAA Division I conferences including the Atlantic 10 Conference, Big South Conference, Big 10 Conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, Conference USA, Horizon League, Ivy League, Ohio Valley Conference, the Patriot League, Southern Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference. In addition to its college initiative, ASN produces local high school sports under the "Thursday Night Lights" and "Friday Night Rivals" brands. Visit ASN's website www.americansportsnet.com.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country. Sinclair owns and operates, programs or provides sales services to 161 television stations in 79 markets. Sinclair Networks Group, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. For more information on Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc., visit www.sbgi.net.

The full lineup of games is listed below:

• May 31: Iowa Cubs (Cubs) at El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), 7 p.m. ET
• June 7: Carolina Mudcats (Braves) at Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs), 6 p.m. ET
• June 14: Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) at Lexington Legends (Royals), 6 p.m. ET
• June 20: Florida State League All-Star Game, hosted by St. Lucie Mets (Mets), Port St. Lucie, Florida, 7 p.m. ET
• June 21: Harrisburg Senators (Nationals) at Altoona Curve (Pirates), 6 p.m. ET
• June 23: Midwest League All-Star Game, hosted by Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), Peoria, Illinois, 7 p.m. ET
• June 28: Springfield Cardinals (Cardinals) at Arkansas Travelers (Angels), 7 p.m. ET
• July 5: Akron RubberDucks (Indians) at Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants), 6 p.m. ET
• July 12: Spokane Indians (Rangers) at Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks), 7 p.m. ET
• July 19: Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles) at Tri-City ValleyCats (Astros), 6 p.m. ET
• July 26: Durham Bulls (Rays) at Norfolk Tides (Orioles), 6 p.m. ET
• August 2: Nashville Sounds (Athletics) at Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 6 p.m. ET
• August 9: Birmingham Barons (White Sox) at Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Reds), 6 p.m. ET
• August 16: Gwinnett Braves (Braves) at Columbus Clippers (Indians), 6 p.m. ET
• August 23: Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins), 6 p.m. ET

SOURCE Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

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