SNY, the television home of the New York Mets, was to air the first of three Sacred Heart games when the Pioneers hosted Norfolk State on Saturday. Unfortunately, this did not go as planned thanks to Major League Baseball's postseason.
The Pioneers-Spartans game instead received the #AfterDark treatment on tape delay thanks to the New York Mets continuing their postseason run. The most aggravating aspect of this debacle is SNY did not even broadcast the game live, pregame studio coverage of the Mets' NLDS game preempted Sacred Heart-Norfolk State.
SNY's choice to air studio coverage over live college sports epitomizes their respect for Sacred Heart football. Sacred Heart already partners with a local station to rebroadcast several Pioneer sporting events. WWAX, the sister station of the Hartford-New Haven TV market's CBS affiliate, WFSB, already has a partnership to rebroadcast several Sacred Heart sporting events. Why not expand the deal to football now that the Pioneers are independent?
SNY may currently pay Sacred Heart to diversify its live sports portfolio. However, the Pioneers get more exposure from being on a local over-the-air station free from the confines of cable packages. SNY's disregard for the Pioneers should make them realize partnering with a local over-the-air station is better for the long-term relevance of the program.
WWAX also airs simulcasts UConn's home game against an FCS school each year with its sister station, WFSB. Sacred Heart aligning itself with UConn in any way increases the visibility and reputation of the program. Sacred Heart could be lead-in or lead-out coverage for that one UConn game, further increasing viewership. WWAX benefits by increasing its live event portfolio and its reputation as a credible broadcaster of college athletics in Connecticut.
Saturday proved Sacred Heart’s deal with SNY is suboptimal. The Crusaders deserve better. Luckily, there is a local broadcaster that wants to air there games. The Crusaders must rid themselves of this deal and partner with WWAX.
