When Crew SC reveals the details of its new local television contract in the coming days, expect a two-year burden carried by the team and its fans to be finally be lifted.

When Crew SC reveals the details of its new local television contract in the coming days, expect a two-year burden carried by the team and its fans to be finally be lifted.

The team�s previous deal with Time Warner Cable SportsChannel that limited local broadcasts to Time Warner subscribers during the past two seasons will be a not-so-fondly remembered thing of the past, and the Crew is closing in on resolving its most pressing off-the-field issue heading into its 21st season of Major League Soccer.

"Obviously (fans) were unhappy and as an owner I was disappointed in the (old) deal,� team owner Anthony Precourt said. �I think fans will be very happy with the new deal.�

Precourt and other Crew officials declined to share details of the new contract, which according to multiple sources is still being worked on.

Other officials affiliated with potential broadcast partners did not return messages or declined comment, but a source close to the team said the new agreement will �fix the distribution problem� and that all 34 games of the regular season that begins March 6 will be available �to everyone in Columbus.�

Multiple sources said that a new, multiyear contract could include Time Warner retaining production of the team�s locally televised games, pre- and post-game shows and other Crew programming.

That content could also be made available to viewers with cable or satellite providers other than Time Warner via channels common to all providers or over-the-air stations.

Alternative outlets might include the local stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, including channels 6, 28 and 53, sources said.

The Crew also could shift its production to the Sinclair-owned American Sports Network, a source said.

Other sources indicated that a non-Sinclair station had offered to broadcast the Crew�s games via one of its over-the-air digital subchannels, as well.

"There are still a lot of moving parts,� said one source with knowledge of the process.

It is not clear how those outside of central Ohio would access Crew broadcasts, though Sinclair owns television stations in Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Steubenville.

ASN began producing local broadcasts for Real Salt Lake last season, allowing that team to expand its television footprint to Sinclair-owned stations throughout the region, including those in Las Vegas, Boise, Idaho, and Reno, Nevada.

It is also not clear if Crew games would be blacked out locally for subscribers to Major League Soccer�s Direct Kick television package and MLS Live streaming service as they were in the past.

The Crew will appear on national television three times, including the March 6 opener against Portland (ESPN) that is a rematch of last season�s MLS Cup final.

smitchell@dispatch.com

@smitchcd