CLEVELAND – Mike Hegan has joined the Fox Sports Net Ohio team to cover Cleveland Indians baseball action beginning next season. Steve Liverani, senior vice president and general manager, Fox Sports Net Ohio, made the announcement.
Hegan will provide play-by-play and color analysis with Rick Manning or John Sanders for 80 of the 150 Indians games on Fox Sports Net Ohio next season. The remaining 70 games on the schedule will be called by Manning and Sanders.
Hegan began broadcasting Indians games in 1989 after 12 seasons as a Milwaukee Brewers television announcer. Prior to his broadcasting career, Hegan played 12 years in the Major Leagues (1964-77) with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland A’s. The former first baseman/outfielder represented Seattle in the 1969 All-Star game and played on the 1972 World Championship Oakland A’s team.
Mike is the son of former Indians catcher, Jim Hegan, who played with the Tribe for 14 seasons. He and his wife Nancy, reside in Hilton Head, SC. They have two sons, Shawn and J.J.
“Mike has established himself as one of the best and most versatile announcers in baseball and synonymous with the Cleveland Indians,” said Liverani. “We are both fortunate and thrilled to have Mike Hegan join Rick Manning and John Sanders on Fox Sports Net’s coverage of Indians baseball in 2002.”
“I’m excited about the upcoming Tribe season on Fox Sports Net,” said Hegan. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Rick and John, and look forward to bringing the fans another great season of Indians baseball.”
The Cleveland Indians and Fox Sports Net Ohio recently announced a new television rights agreement that expands the 12-year relationship between the team and the network. Under terms of the agreement, Fox Sports Net Ohio has acquired the rights to televise 150 Indians games per season, beginning with the 2002 season.
Fox Sports Net Ohio reaches more than four million households in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, western Pennsylvania, western New York, and West Virginia. Fox Sports Net Ohio is managed by Rainbow Sports Networks, a division of Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. Fox Sports Net Ohio’s programming includes the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Cleveland Cavaliers along with select NASCAR and PGA Tour coverage.
Fox Sports Net reaches more than 77 million households nationwide and is a service of National Sports Partner, equally owned by Cablevision’s Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group. Rainbow Sports Networks incorporates Rainbow’s 50% ownership of Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports National Advertising and the ownership and management of Fox Sports Net regional networks in five of the nation’s largest markets: Chicago, Florida, Ohio, New England, and San Francisco.
Contact:
Steve Pawlowski
440-746-8000
sjpawlowski@rainbow-media.com