Crew SC's comprehensive broadcast deal allows fans to watch games on any device they wish, be it a phone, tablet or laptop. But nothing compares to plopping down and firing up the big-screen television in high definition, one of the club's broadcast partners said, and the numbers back him up.

Crew SC�s comprehensive broadcast deal allows fans to watch games on any device they wish, be it a phone, tablet or laptop.

But nothing compares to plopping down and firing up the big-screen television in high definition, one of the club�s broadcast partners said, and the numbers back him up.

The Crew has averaged a 0.9 rating for its first 10 broadcasts on the Sinclair Broadcast Group family of local stations (Chs. 6, 28 and 53, the local ABC, Fox and CW affiliates). That is about the same rating that the NHL Blue Jackets averaged on cable-and-satellite-only Fox Sports Ohio last season (0.96, up from 0.87 in 2014-15), according to figures provided by that network.

Sinclair group general manager Tony D�Angelo said Crew viewership is growing. The Crew�s past two broadcasts have averaged a 1.45 rating. The past five have averaged 1.1. One ratings point in the Columbus market is equivalent to about 9,300 households.

�Major league sports have a lot of different ways for people to access them with streaming and different devices,� D�Angelo said. �But none of them replicate the experience of sitting down in front of a 50- or 60-inch TV in the luxury of your own home and watching them.�

One source with knowledge of local Major League Soccer broadcast numbers said the Crew�s ratings rank among the top five in the league. The Crew has been at or near the bottom in the past.

�I believe we have the best local TV coverage of any MLS team in the league,� D�Angelo said. �No one has an over-the-air package like we do.�

Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, which continues to produce and simulcast Crew broadcasts statewide, is a nonmetered station. Ratings numbers were not available for the past two seasons, when TWC SportsChannel was the exclusive carrier of the Crew.

The Crew averaged a 0.31 local rating in its final season on Fox Sports Ohio in 2013.

Team president of business operations Andy Loughnane said the improved numbers are a tribute to the team�s growing fan base, Sinclair�s commitment to the club and its simulcast partnership with Time Warner.

Back to school

A knee injury suffered Saturday that will keep 6-foot-3 defender Gaston Sauro from playing for at least four months made 6-6 guest player Alex Crognale stand out more than usual at training this week.

But Crognale, a highly regarded Crew Academy and Gahanna graduate, said he intends to return to the University of Maryland for his senior season. A potential homegrown contract with the Crew is something to consider later, he said.

�I think four-year (college) players have just as good of an opportunity to play in the league as a guy who leaves early,� Crognale said.

Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said Crognale is on schedule to get his degree in December and that the club had no immediate plans to attempt to sign the second-team all-Big Ten defender and Maryland captain.

smitchell@dispatch.com

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