The Olympics are causing the Ravens to move two of their preseason telecasts to WMAR 2 from WBAL 11. The Ravens’ game against the Patriots on Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. will be aired on WBAL. But since WBAL is an NBC affiliate and NBC paid millions to broadcast the Summer Olympics, the Ravens were forced to find another station to air their games against the Vikings on Aug. 16 and against the Rams on Aug. 23. The final preseason game on Aug. 28th at M&T Bank Stadium against the Falcons will be on WBAL TV.

The Ravens produce their own all their preseason telecasts and they are in the first year of a multi-year deal with WBAL that allows the station to air their preseason games and produce some special programming.

“We crafted the deal with WBAL TV knowing that they had the Olympics this season,” said Mark Burdett, the Ravens’ vice president of corporate sales and business development. “However I am very happy to say that WMAR was willing to work closely with the folks at TV 11 and this really is a team effort. WBAL TV and radio are the long term partners of the Ravens but we are grateful to WMAR for working with us so that sports fans in Baltimore can watch both the Ravens as well as the Olympics.”   

All four games can be seen live on MASN in the Baltimore area as well as throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

This story continues below
Advertisement

Burdett said the WBAL/98 Rock Ravens radio broadcast team of Gerry Sandusky, Rob Burnett and Stan White will call the games on television and on radio.

“The NFL wants teams to do things to enhance their broadcasts and we think that giving our fans Gerry, Stan and Rob on both TV and radio is a great way to give Ravens fans what they want,” Burdett said. “You won't have to turn down the radio to hear the home broadcasters during pre season. I think that being the only team in the NFL doing a simulcast will be both a challenge and great fun. I know that our broadcasters are up to doing this and I think our fans will enjoy it.”

Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on www.examiner.com.