THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110245
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
The Hampton Roads Admirals were on television Friday night, but their fans didn't get to see the broadcast and probably won't see the Admirals on TV the rest of this season.
A Wheeling, W.Va., station broadcast the contest between the Thunderbirds and Admirals. The Admirals appeared on Home Team Sports, a regional cable sports network, earlier this season.
Otherwise, the Admirals have been off the air.
Old Dominion men's and women's basketball, Norfolk State basketball and even kickboxing in Virginia Beach have been televised in recent months. But unless there's an 11th-hour agreement, the most popular draw in Hampton Roads will be on television less than in any of its previous five seasons.
The Admirals averaged about four broadcasts per season until this year.
Admirals president Blake Cullen said local TV stations have changed how they go about televising local teams.
``They want me to fit the bill, whereas in the past we gave them our rights for $1. They produced it and kept all of the income,'' he said.
``Now they want me to share in half of the production costs'' without any way to recoup the fees.
Cullen said the local stations are ``taking their cue from the (Norfolk) Tides.''
The Tides have agreements with other teams to share broadcasts. For instance, games in Richmond and Norfolk are televised in both markets, cutting production costs and increasing potential advertising revenue.
``But I don't televise local games,'' Cullen said. ``It's not fair to people who bought tickets not knowing the game would be on TV.
``If somebody wants to buy our television rights, I'll be glad to discuss that. I would be glad to give my rights away for some road games.
``But I don't really have the staff to sell television. It's very expensive. I got murdered televising the (ECHL) All-Star game last year.
``I know when we did a game in Louisville in the (1992) playoffs, I bought the time, I bought the production. I turned it over (to another company) and they sold the advertising out in about three days. There's a big market for the Admirals.
``I think we'll be on TV next year. I didn't know it until September they (local TV stations) weren't going to do it the old way, so we got started on it too late.
``We'll get an earlier start this year. We'll start working on it in May. Right after we win the championship.''
CURLEY'S PIZZA: Brendan Curley didn't waste his time while on injured reserve the last three weeks. The Admirals center bought into a new Virginia Beach pizza parlor - Mama Autrino's, which is located on Norfolk Avenue.
The pizzeria has its grand opening today from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. Curley will be there along with four Admirals teammates - Rod Taylor, Ron Pascucci, Tom Menicci and Jim Brown. by CNB