November 6, 2003
kcstar

The Comets completed a deal Wednesday that will put them on live, local television 11 times this season.

The games will be broadcast on three different stations, starting with a game at 7 p.m. Sunday in San Diego on Channel 38 .

Channel 38 will show seven games, Channel 29 three and Metro Sports one. All 11 games will be rebroadcast on tape delay by Metro Sports.

MISL commissioner Steve Ryan has required each of the league's nine teams to be on local television at least four times. The Comets are the eighth to do so, and Cleveland is the only remaining franchise without a TV deal.

“It's absolutely a big step forward,” Ryan said. “What it does is build awareness of the Kansas City Comets and the MISL. It makes new fans. It will get people to come to the games.”

The Comets have been on TV sporadically in the past, drawing modest ratings numbers. Officials on both sides are hoping a more prolonged agreement will help build a greater audience.

Specifics of the deal vary with each station, but basically, the Comets are paying for air time in exchange for the rights to sell at least some of the advertising. All but one of the games will be on the road, which Comets coach and general manager Zoran Savic hopes will enable the team to build a following during extended road trips.

The Comets have just one home game in the next 38 days, but four of the six road games in that stretch will be televised.

“We have such an exciting product,” Savic said. “Anytime we can reach more people with it, it's a plus. We really believe this will be a great benefit for us.”