SNY, the Mets’ cable channel, is in talks with local stations about providing sports reports for their newscasts, The Post has learned.
The sports channel is talking to both Ch. 11 and Ch. 4 about eventually doing away with their own sportscasters and replacing them with SNY reporters, according to sources.
“We’ve had what I would consider fairly in-depth conversations with two stations, and both have different questions and would potentially go about using [SNY] in different ways,” says SNY President Steve Raab, who declined to confirm which stations he’d been talking with.
Ch. 11 is owned by the Chicago-based Tribune Co. and Ch. 4 is owned by NBC.
Ch. 11 airs about 25 Mets games each season and already has a substantial relationship with SNY.
And Ch. 4 owner NBC is in the process of being bought by Comcast — a part-owner of SNY with Mets owner Fred Wilpon and Time Warner Cable.
“We’d be creating their sports content,” Raab says of SNY’s role. “It’s not really why we went into this business, but we’ve invested in an area where others are pulling back — and we’re focused on nothing but the sports news and information that New York sports fans are focused on.”
Over the past several years some high-profile, highly paid sportscasters, including Sal Marchiano (Ch. 11) and Len Berman (Ch. 4), have been shown the door as stations look to cut costs.
Ch. 11 officials could not be reached for comment yesterday. A Ch. 4 spokeswoman said the station “has no plans” to use SNY reports.
SNY, which is dedicated to covering the Mets and Jets, nonetheless covers all New York sports teams.
Outsourcing their sportscasts could be a way for local stations to save some dough.
And it could be another nail in the coffin of the way traditional local newscasts are presented.
“Our focus isn’t about delivering something cheaper or cost-effective, it’s about delivering the most comprehensive sports content in New York,” Raab says.
“If that works better for a particular station’s equation, great. Our sell is not price, it’s quality.
“We have a four-and-a-half year track record and we have the resources,” he says.
SNY’s lead anchors include former Ch. 2 sportscaster Gary Apple.
“That makes it a logical move as others look to de-emphasize their sports involvement and have had conversations with us about the role we can fill,” Raab says.
He says he’s not sure how the SNY reports would be branded if used by local stations.
“My response would be that we see the SNY brand as an attribute in the equation — not a deterrent,” he says.