CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati and WSTR Star 64, part of the Sinclair Broadcast Group, have announced that the local over-the-air television channel is the Official Broadcast Partner of FC Cincinnati for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The partnership not only includes WSTR’s agreement to carry all of FC Cincinnati’s games that are not nationally televised, but also extends the show into a two-and-a-half hour window to now accommodate a 30-minute postgame show during each telecast.
Further terms of the agreement were not released.
WSTR continues its relationship with FC Cincinnati as it debuts in Major League Soccer this year. WSTR has carried FCC’s matches in each of its first three years of existence, all while playing in the United Soccer League.
Also returning for a fourth year together on air is the FC Cincinnati broadcast team of Tom Gelehrter (play-by-play), Kevin McCloskey (analyst) and Lindsay Patterson (sideline). David Ashbrock returns as the broadcast’s lead producer. The club’s three-person broadcast team will be central to every WSTR telecast, including live, on-site reporting from every away game.
Each production is slated to feature angles from at least 10 cameras every show, including goal cameras.
“We’re excited to extend our agreement with Star64 and remain with the station as we enter MLS,” FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding said. “We have a diverse fan base and a traditional, over-the-air channel is the most accessible means for the vast majority of our fans to follow our club. In addition, WSTR’s commitment to carry a 30-minute postgame show demonstrates the station’s pledge to help us educate and grow the region’s soccer culture. We couldn’t be more pleased to remain with WSTR for the next two years.”
“It’s not often that you get the opportunity to be a part of the launch of a major league sports team,” said Jon Lawhead, Group manager for Sinclair Broadcast Group. “As the exclusive local broadcast partner, we’re proud to be a part of a vision that started three years ago and proceeded to take Cincinnati by storm. We’re excited to bring FC Cincinnati soccer games all season long on WSTR as they begin play as an MLS team.”
FC Cincinnati’s debut MLS game will be at Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, March 2, at CenturyLink Field. The Orange and Blue will make its home debut as an MLS team at Nippert Stadium on Sunday, March 17, when the team hosts MLS Cup finalist Portland Timbers at 5 p.m. Season tickets, mini plans and individual-game tickets are on sale at
fccincinnati.com/tickets
or by calling
513-977-5425
(KICK).
For up-to-the-minute information about FC Cincinnati, visit the team’s official website at
fccincinnati.com
, or follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FCCincinnati. For more information about FC Cincinnati tickets, call
513-977-KICK
(5425) or visit
//fccincinnati.com/tickets
.
Broadcast Team Bios
Tom Gelehrter, Play-by-Play & Executive Producer:
For the fourth straight season, Tom Gelehrter once again leads the FC Cincinnati broadcast team, bringing 20 years of experience to the booth. Gelehrter served as the “Voice of FC Cincinnati” throughout the USL era and has extensive experience on both television and radio, having called games for ESPNU, ESPN3, FOX Sports Ohio and 700-WLW. Before founding 4th Floor Creative, he spent nine years as the Senior Director of New Media and Broadcasting at the University of Cincinnati. Additionally, Gelehrter called soccer on the collegiate level at both the University of Akron and the University of Cincinnati and hosted the weekly television shows for Bearcats football and basketball for seven years. He is a 2002 graduate of Syracuse University.
Kevin McCloskey, Match Analyst:
Kevin McCloskey joined the FC Cincinnati broadcast team in 2016 and has served as the club’s match analyst since. A native of Belfast, Ireland, Kevin McCloskey moved to the United States in 1999 to play soccer at the University of Rio Grande. He was an All-American midfielder during his collegiate career and participated in two NAIA national tournaments before playing professionally for four years with the Cincinnati Kings of the USL. He has experience as an assistant coach with the men’s soccer programs at Northern Kentucky University, Xavier University, the University of Rio Grande and Urbana University. McCloskey currently serves as Executive Director for Kings Hammer Soccer Club and holds a USSF A license. Prior to his collegiate career he played on the Northern Ireland U16 & U18 national teams. McCloskey received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rio Grande and master’s degree from Urbana University.
Lindsay Patterson, Sideline Reporter:
In the past eight years, Lindsay Patterson has established herself as one of the hardest working sports reporters in the Tri-State area. She is the only sideline reporter in club history, joining FC Cincinnati in 2016 and serving in that role over the past three years. Patterson has spent the last seven years as a sideline reporter with the Time Warner Cable Sports Network and has experience as a sideline reporter on ESPN3. She previously worked as a radio producer/anchor for ESPN 1530 and also provides commentary and analyst on Cincinnati sports to Q102 FM and the Cincinnati Enquirer. She is a 2010 graduate of Wilmington College.
David Ashbrock, Producer:
Award-winning producer David Ashbrock returns for his fourth season leading FC Cincinnati’s broadcast production. Ashbrock is an independent television producer, director, editor, animator and project manager who regularly works for FOX and ESPN. He is the coordinating producer and director for the Cincinnati Bengals Television Network and is the lead consultant-designer for studio and edit facilities at Pro Football Focus. His sports experience includes both producing and directing basketball, tennis, indoor and outdoor soccer, volleyball, college and professional football, bowling, golf, hockey and horse racing. Ashbrock was the executive producer and director of University of Cincinnati Basketball and football from 1983-2007. In his 39 years in Cincinnati television, Ashbrock has won 39 Regional Emmy Awards and three Telly Awards for his work.
