WNDY Indianapolis Grabs ‘Hoosiers'

With hometown Butler in Final Four, LIN station goes old-school tomorrow night

By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 3/30/2010 2:35:43 PM

WISH-WNDY President/General Manager Jeff White says the response to WNDY airing Hoosiers has been "overwhelming" since the stations announced it on air and on Facebook. He declined to say how much MGM demanded for the film, but suggested it was not a princely sum.

Viewers and advertisers alike have expressed abundant interest in Hoosiers. "We've already sold three packages," says White, "with multiple spots for each advertiser."

A MyNetworkTV affiliate, WNDY is also promoting the film with a large banner on the middle of the station's home page. WNDY produced and aired 13 Butler games this season. "We've secured the rights in honor of the university's big win and invite you to join us to watch," says the website.

It's been a charmed few months for sports-mad Indianapolis, with the hometown Colts in the Super Bowl and underdog Butler, a #5 seed when the tourney began, in the Final Four. Both events air on CBS; the local affiliate is WISH. Butler's last few games, including its win over Kansas State March 27, have posted 24 household ratings.

Butler faces Michigan State in one of the April 3 semifinals. The final game is April 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Whereas the Colts' popularity is year-round, White says Butler-mania has hit DMA No. 25 fast and hard. "Overnight, the whole community has become Butler fans," he says. "The school is really part of the fabric of the community."

To help viewers better get to know the Butler boys, the LIN stations are offering online profiles of the players. They're also offering ticket giveaways.

White had initially planned to air an All Access Pass special on WNDY 7-8 p.m. Friday night, showcasing the weekend's highlights, both in terms of basketball and the community events built around the roundball action. With the hometown squad now in the Final Four, both WNDY and WISH will air the special. "What was a big event has gotten huge," says White.  

Gene Hackman stars as Coach Norman Dale in the '86 film, which IMBD.com's "MovieMeter" says is up 36% in popularity this week-thanks in part to Butler's unlikely run for the title. The climactic high school championship game in Hoosiers was filmed at Butler's ancient Hinkle Fieldhouse arena.

White is enjoying Indy's similarly unlikely run of good sporting fortune while it lasts. "I don't know another station that has had its hometown football team in the Super Bowl," he says, "and hometown college team go to the Final Four in the same year."