Jim Williams » Two cities, one shared market

Antwaan Randle El and the Redskins face the Ravens on Sunday with local bragging rights on the line, writes Examiner columnist Jim Williams. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

The Baltimore-Washington region has become a shared sports media market over the past 10 years. The point was driven home when Major League Baseball designated it so upon the Nationals’ arrival in Washington. Peter Angelos and the Orioles were rightfully protected throughout the region. It was decided that the Orioles and the Nationals would get equal treatment meaning Orioles broadcasts would continue from south central Pennsylvania to North Carolina. Meanwhile, the Nationals would get access to the same region.

In every sport except the NFL, the Baltimore-Washington region is considered a “shared market.” Much like the San Francisco-Oakland market, there are two NFL and Major League Baseball teams but only one NBA and NHL franchise shared by the area.

Getting a shared-market status has been an on going goal by the Ravens front office for the last 10 years. Before Ravens fans go off blaming the Redskins — it is the NFL that is keeping the markets separate. Washington owner Dan Snyder and Baltimore owner Steve Bisciotti are actually friendly toward each other and the Redskins support a shared market with the Ravens.

Presently the NFL is the only league that treats Washington and Baltimore as two different cities. The NBA considers Baltimore part of the Wizards’ market and the same is the case with the Capitals and the NHL.

Truth be told, the region is really one market now. There are many people who work in Washington and are Redskins fans, but live in Baltimore and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, there are Ravens fans in Washington as well as the surrounding Virginia and Maryland suburbs.

So this week, the Ravens and the Redskins will battle less as rivals and more as neighbors who want bragging rights until they meet again.

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