Anchors away for Ch. 28's staff

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

WFTS-Ch. 28 will be putting some new faces on its sports coverage in upcoming months.

Reporter/anchor Scott Hanson is leaving at the end of July, while reporter/anchor Sage Steele will have a reduced role after she becomes a reporter for the new Fox Sports Net Regional Sports Report next month, according to news director Jeff Godlis.

Steele, 27, has a unique situation. From now until next year's Super Bowl, she will work for FSN while continuing to serve as a reporter/producer for Sports Rap, Ch. 28's weekly Sunday night show.

"I'm shocked that it worked out because Ch. 28 is allowing me to do both," Steele said. "I still have a year-and-a-half on my contract. They let me out of that as long as I work Sunday nights."

Godlis said having Steele do double duty benefits everyone.

"It was a dream job for Sage and we didn't want to hold her back from our dream," Godlis said. "But our viewers will still get the benefit of Sage. Everybody wins. Sage wins, we win and the audience wins."

Steele will provide reports for the Regional Sports Report on the pro and college teams in Tampa Bay and Orlando. Videographer Brett Hyman will join Steele in canvassing the area.

The Regional Sports Report debuts at 11 p.m. July 17 and will run 30 minutes. Ned Smith will anchor the show from a studio in Dallas, but it will consist primarily of reports from three Florida-based reporters and other correspondents.

Hanson, 28, will move to Comcast Sports Net in Philadelphia as an anchor/reporter. Comcast is a regional sports network that uses its ownership of the Phillies, 76ers and Flyers to broadcast their games. It also has daily sports news shows.

"I'm extremely excited," said Hanson, who reports he also had chances to work at CNN/Sports Illustrated and KUSA, the NBC affiliate in Denver. "They made me an offer I couldn't refuse and I'm really looking forward to it. At the same time, it's going to be hard to leave Tampa Bay.

"The opportunity to do all sports is thrilling. Going to an all-sports network will allow me to grow tremendously as a sportscaster."

Godlis said a search would begin immediately to find a replacement for Hanson.

MORE IN-STATE NEWS: Sunshine Network will debut a new golf show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Mercedes-Benz Florida Golf Scene will offer behind-the-scenes looks at some of Florida's most challenging courses as well as interviews, features and tips. Andrew Monaco will host the show, which will air periodically with new shows debuting the first Monday of each month.

Sunshine director of programming Dana Stites is promising a show unique to the state because it will focus on factors such as climate.

SOCK IT TO ME: Soccer is in the news on a number of fronts, and if the ratings are any indication, it should be.

Saturday, the match between the United States and South Africa drew a 1.4 rating and a 3 share (each rating point is roughly equal to 15,000 Tampa Bay households). That may not sound like a lot, but it bested ABC's coverage of the Stanley Cup final. Game 3 between Dallas and New Jersey recorded only a 1.1.

Even more surprising is that the Mutiny-Burn game (opposite the hockey match) on WTTA-Ch. 38 drew a 1.0. According to Mutiny officials, the average of three Devil Rays games recently televised on WTMV-Ch. 32 was equal to the 1.0 its soccer match received.

If some marketing strategies take hold, those numbers should increase. ESPN2 debuts MLS Extra Time June 19. Each show will feature condensed "Game of the Week," highlights as well as player profiles and features.

Two familiar faces will be part of the show: former WTOG-Ch. 44 reporter Rob Stone will host and former Rowdie Roy Wegerle will serve as analyst.

FINE TUNING: About 6 1/2 years ago, there were those who said who needs another 24-hour channel from ESPN? Now it's in 70-million homes, reaching the mark faster than any cable network in history. ... After some ratings woes early in the playoffs, NBC's coverage of the NBA playoffs is gaining steam. Game 1 between Indiana and Los Angeles increased 9 percent from Game 1 of last season's final between San Antonio and New York. ... CNN's Page One (11:30 a.m. Saturday) examines the question does a player have to win a championship to be considered great. ... Billy Crystal will direct and produce 61*, an HBO film chronicling Roger Maris' and Mickey Mantle's pursuit of Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. The film starts production June 28. ... The Golf Channel will air a tribute to Payne Stewart, which will include exclusive home films and videos recorded by Payne's wife Tracey. ... Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel will illuminate a bill introduced by Sen. John McCain that would ban gambling on intercollegiate athletics.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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