IronPigs reach historic TV deal
In addition to the games airing on SECTV TV2, the telecasts will be carried live on Service Electric Cablevision, Blue Ridge Cable and WYLN35.
The announcement is of national significance, as it is believed the IronPigs will become the first Minor League baseball team ever to have its entire 72-game home schedule televised.
"We are extremely excited about this partnership -- not only for the IronPigs and Service Electric, but for our fans and sponsors," said IronPigs general manager Kurt Landes. "We want to offer our community and fans as many Major League amenities as possible. To offer a service like this allows for everyone to follow the IronPigs closely regardless of how many times they can make it to the ballpark."
The multi-year deal, through which SECTV will provide the region this "first" in minor league baseball, comes from the pioneers of community antenna television system -- now known as cable TV. The deal also provides for SECTV to be the team's Official Communications Provider. The IronPigs will utilize SECTV for all phone, high-speed internet and cable television services inside the new ballpark.
"Service Electric Cable TV, Inc. is a company of many firsts and our president and owner John Walson Jr, and his son, John M. Walson, are proud of our exclusive affiliation with the IronPigs. We look forward to being able to provide our customers with exclusive television coverage that rivals major league baseball. We have been providing local origination programming since 1969 with award winning sports coverage on 2Sports," said Andy Himmelwright, general manager of Service Electric TV2.
The new IronPigs television network will broadcast each of the team's home games to well over 960,000 households in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Service Electric Cable TV, Inc., Service Electric Cablevision and Service Electric Company service over 285,000 subscribers located in approximately 350 communities in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northwestern New Jersey in three operating regions.
Blue Ridge Cable extends the viewing area into the Carbon, Monroe, Pike, Lehigh, Wayne, and Bradford counties - adding more than 175,000 homes throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania. WYLN35 will bring the IronPigs to an additional 500,000 households in Hazelton and to Conyngham, Drums Valley, Sugarloaf, Weatherly, Berwick, Shenandoah, Wilkes-Barre, Mountaintop, Danville and portions of the Poconos.
The IronPigs will start play in April 2008 as a Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies and as a member of the International League.