WKYC, a TEGNA owned NBC affiliate, and the Cleveland Guardians are proud to announce an exciting expansion of their 20-year partnership, reinforcing their commitment to providing fans with unparalleled access to the team and supporting the local community.
As part of this renewed collaboration, WKYC will air 10 simulcast games during the upcoming season, available for free, over-the-air to viewers throughout the region. These broadcasts allow a larger audience of Guardians fans to watch a sampling of the regular season, enhancing distribution of the games and strengthening the league¡¯s partnership with pay TV partners that provide access to the full regular season.
In addition to the game broadcasts, Channel 3 and the Guardians will partner on various community initiatives, including the annual Guardians ¡°CLE Inspires¡± Giveathon. This impactful fundraising event, scheduled for August 26, supports the Guardians key community benefactors including CMSD baseball and softball programs, Play Ball CLE programs and Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Ohio.
Further strengthening this partnership, WKYC will continue to be the Official Weather Partner of the Cleveland Guardians. The station's trusted meteorologists will provide gameday weather updates and forecasts, ensuring fans know the most accurate conditions before heading to the ballpark. Channel 3 will continue to collaborate with the team on their popular "Weather Day" field trip to Progressive Field, held this year on May 1 with a game versus Minnesota. Local students will visit the ballpark for interactive weather lessons and an unforgettable day of learning.
WKYC will also produce a weekly show, ¡°Guardians Tonight,¡± which will air every Sunday night following the late news at 11:35pm. The show will give fans a front row seat to game highlights, player profiles, community events and more.
¡°Our ongoing relationship with WKYC has been incredibly valuable," said Alex King, Cleveland Guardians Executive Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy. "Throughout our 20-year partnership, Channel 3 has consistently demonstrated their dedication to serving our fans and our community. We are thrilled to expand our partnership to ensure our games are broadly accessible and our fans can experience exciting and impactful Guardians programming.¡±
¡°We're incredibly proud to extend this long-standing creative partnership, which not only strengthens our connection with the team but also deepens the bond fans feel with the players, the moments, and the stories that make baseball so special,¡± said John Trevino, President & General Manager of WKYC. ¡°With thoughtful coverage and behind-the-scenes access, we¡¯re committed to bringing fans closer to the heart of the game.¡±
TEGNA will work with partner broadcast companies to announce additional Ohio markets. The 10 OTA simulcast broadcasts include:
May 30 vs. LAA 7:10pm June 6 vs. HOU 7:10pm June 24 vs. TOR 6:40pm July 4 vs. DET 7:10pm July 18 vs. ATH 7:10pm July 25 at KC 8:10pm August 15 vs. ATL 7:10pm August 26 vs. TB 6:40pm (CLE Inspires Giveathon) Sept. 5 at TB 7:35pm Sept. 19 at MIN 8:10pm | |