Don'tKARE 11's decision to not show NLL AllStar game

by **Rob Graff** on Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:32 am

As many of you know, KARE 11 TV did not show the NLL ALL-Star game this weekend. Thanks to St. John's Head Coach Mark Hellenack, here is the contact information for KARE 11. Do what you will.

Here are the names of the sports personalities and general mgr, plus the general email and main switchboard phone # for KARE 11 (NBC) in Golden Valley, MN.

Station Gen Mgr John Remes kare11@kare11.com KARE 11
Sports Ann Tim McNiff kare11@kare11.com KARE 11 763-593-1111
Sports Ann Eric Perkins kare11@kare11.com KARE 11 763-593-1111
Sports Ann Randy Shaver (sports Pro) kare11@kare11.com KARE 11(NBC) 763-593-1111

Here is Don't Kare 11's web site www.kare11.com

**Sponsor**

by **TexOle** on Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:34 pm

As someone who learned about this great game in college I was quite disappointed bye not seeing the game on TV. I had planned a day around the game, and then wondered all weekend if something was wrong with the television service on campus. I was planning on watching the game on television either in our student run club or our movie theater. As a fairly new MN resident I have learned to like NBC and KARE 11, but not showing this game hurt. The business surrounding the X are struggling during the lockout. The Swarm is an alternative. It may not bring the number of people to the area the Wild brought, but at least it is something. I hear the team struggles to attract fans, and now KARE 11 decides to not show the game. This could have been a great for all parties. Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in Minnesota. KARE 11 could have really stolen something from every other station in the area, but they failed. As a strong supporter of local lacrosse I find this action KARE 11 unacceptable.

by **Aaron** on Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:32 pm

I was at the party at KFAN restaraunt, the 10 or so players in attendance were pissed that it wasnt on (same with the Swarm reps). The KFAN manager was on the phone the whole time and they couldnt even get it on direct tv. On the upside the swarm put on a good event for those who showed up.

by **Rob Graff** on Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:47 pm

FROM Laurie BOYCE at KARE:

Please accept our apology for preempting the National Lacrosse All-Star Game on Saturday, February 26. Due to other commitments, we preempt NBC programming on occasion.

Your email has helped us to understand the importance of Lacrosse to a growing local audience and will shape our future programming decisions.

Again, we apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced and hope you will tune in for the National Lacrosse Championship on Saturday, May 14.

-----Original Message-----

From: kare11.com Email [mailto:rgraff@meagher.com]

Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 7:29 AM

To: Kare-sports (KARE)

Subject: Not Broadcasting the NLL All-Star Game

email : rgraff@meagher.com

message : To whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my displeasure at KARE 11's decision to not broadcast the NLL All-Start game this past Saturday.

The number of people interested in lacrosse is growing in Minnesota. It is one of the fasted growing sports in Minnesota. And yet you pre-empted the first network, non-cable lacrosse game that would have been viewed in this area. And apparently without notice to the local professional franchise, as they did not notify anyone before the event of your decision.

I watch your 10 pm newscast often. I find it immeasurably superior to the other newscasts in the metro because it educates, exposes Minnesotans to new things, and addresses issues responsibly. Thus, my disappointment in your programming choice this past weekend is magnified due to my expectations - you had an opportunity to expose Minnesotans to a growing sport, and, instead, chose to accept easy $ for lowest common denominator programing.

I can remember when Andy Warring (Roseville) was chosen "Athlete of the Week" a few years ago for his performance in the HS boys lacrosse tournament. I was pleased that the Kare 11 sports department had noted the surge of lacrosse and treated it with respect and support. I can only believe that those people who saw the potential for lacrosse growth in Minnesota were not around when the decision to prempt the NLL All Star game was made.

Rob Graff

by **Joe_Foster** on Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:16 pm

the Moorhead-Fargo area recieved the all-star game even though half of us knew it was going on. We have done a lot of stories about lacrosse on their 10pm news, and I'd like to think that is the reason they programmed it. For once our town did the right thing (still bitter about very few gopher games televised), but one step at a time.

by **PNWLaxer** on Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:10 pm

A question for those in the KARE-11 area, what was shown in place of the All-star game that caused its preemption?

by **TexOle** on Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:30 pm

There was Mike Golic's Sports Bloopers and a few infomercials. It was terrible. At least they did not show some soap opera.

by **Pinball** on Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:33 pm

PNWLaxer wrote:A question for those in the KARE-11 area, what was shown in place of the All-star game that caused its preemption?

"The Lighter Side of Sports" It is that crappy sports blooper show hosted by Mike Golic that was was cancelled in about 1993.

by **PNWLaxer** on Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:53 am

Hard to believe the reason written by the KARE-11 rep. If a station wants ratings why on Earth would they choose to run some syndicated blooper reel that has probably been seen by millions of people over and over again instead of a once a year showcase of talent. Regardless if it was lacrosse or not a live broadcast of pretty much any sporting event would have beaten Golic's sports reel.