DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

CLEVELAND — A look at the week ahead on the site:

• Monday: Because none of us could possibly get enough of the Steelers’ gem yesterday, Steelers PATs will be posted in the afternoon. I’ll also check in with Paul Chryst at Pitt’s news conference.

• Tuesday: We’ll chat on Tuesday 12 Qs at 1 p.m. following Mike Tomlin’s press conference.

• Wednesday: Steelers column first thing. I’ll check in at Penguins practice closer to noon.

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION — ALEX MESSMER

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A weekly look at what’s new and what’s coming on our site …

• Not going to lie: It isn’t easy taking my eye off the various mechanisms we have for monitoring new subscriptions. I usually can cite the exact number off the top of my head when the topic arises, then will quickly update it with the next alert.

Sad, I know.

But we’re getting very close to a number that just blows me away: 5,000.

As of this writing, we’re at 4,722 subscriptions, so our regular pace will have us at 5,000 — the halfway mark to our full-year goal of 10,000 — before the site is even three months old on Oct. 23. At the same time, our unique page views are rapidly approaching the million mark, currently at 840,071.

I share this mostly because, at the site’s inception, one of the most common questions was about the credibility that’s needed for credentialing and the like. That was never an issue in this specific case, because of my long-standing professional relationships in covering our local teams. But this still should serve as a statement that this is a real media outlet with real readers who are really invested in reading material about their favorite teams.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A look at the week ahead on the site:

• Monday: I’ll fly back to Pittsburgh today, but the weekly Steelers PATs feature will auto-publish at 1 p.m. (If only they could be auto-written!) Also set to auto-publish at 4 p.m. is a video interview with Kasperi Kapanen, the Penguins’ top pick. This was conducted over the weekend at Consol.

• Tuesday: We’ll chat it out on the Tuesday 12 Qs at 1 p.m. following Mike Tomlin’s press conference. There also will be more Penguins material in some form, to be determined that day.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A weekly look at what’s new and what’s coming on our site …

• Here comes the app. On Friday, we entered the blissful state of beta testing for our new app, being developed by Brisk Media, a first-class Canadian outfit that also has done work for Disney and NBC. Our target all along has been the Penguins’ home opener Thursday vs. the Ducks, but I’ll be candid: If it takes a bit longer to get it right, we’ll do it. This is super important.

I trust that you’ll like it. We aren’t going overboard in either the design or useability. The idea is to offer the user the easiest possible method for navigating our comment, commenting and everything you do here. Only with thumbs.

And to repeat, the app will be free to all subscribers. Your subscription here will apply there, and vice versa for anyone who subscribes through the app.

Also, iPhone will come first, then Android. There aren’t currently plans for any other types of phones, but I haven’t slammed the door on that, either..

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A look at the week ahead on the site:

• Monday: I’ll turn the finishing screws on Sunday’s debacle with this week’s Steelers PATs feature because, you know, that’s worth a second piece. I’ll also stop up at Consol for the Penguins’ practice and share with the group afterward.

• Tuesday: After we chat it out on the Tuesday 12 Qs at 1 p.m., I’ll be over at PNC Park to touch base with the Pirates and Giants at their respective workouts. Column to follow.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A look at the week ahead on DKonPittsburghSports.com:

• Monday: I’ll put a bow on the Sunday night game with this week’s Steelers PATs feature this afternoon, then fly back to Pittsburgh for a few hours.

• Tuesday: I’ll fly right back south to Atlanta to cover the Pirates-Braves series Tuesday through Thursday, virtually ensuring our site will be there for the playoff clinching. We’ll also do Tuesday 12 Qs, live from Turner Field, a bit later than usual. The goal is to share with you guys first-hand stuff from the clubhouse when we do it. Probably around 5 p.m.

• Wednesday: Another Pirates column from Atlanta.

• Thursday: Another Pirates column from Atlanta.

• Friday: The Friday Insider will be up in the afternoon.

• Saturday: Pitt vs. Akron, a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Heinz Field, column to follow.

• Sunday: Steelers vs. Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. kickoff at Heinz Field, column to follow.

I’ll try to squeeze in some Penguins preseason, too. Not sure when.

PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION: ALEX MESSMER

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A weekly look at what’s new and what’s coming on our site …

• Those who despise PayPal have been heard, and in a wonderful way. We just had our best week since our very first week in terms of new subscriptions, and it can’t be coincidence that nearly three-quarters of the newcomers came through our new credit-card option.

To those who trudged through PayPal beforehand to get here, thank you a dozen times over. But at the same time, we’re delighted to have finally found a way to make the process easier.

Please pass the word, if you know anyone who’d been discouraged by the presence of PayPal.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A look at the week ahead on DKonPittsburghSports.com:

• Monday: Crazy week coming. Seriously, glance ahead, and you’ll see one of the few times all of our big-league teams have something important happening in the same span. I’ll start this one by covering Paul Chryst and the Pitt football press conference at noon, followed immediately by the Steelers’ first player availability of the week.

• Tuesday: Tuesday Twelve Qs chat at 1 p.m. All topics welcome, as always. Later, I’ll cover the opener of the Pirates-Red Sox series with a column.

• Wednesday: Column advancing Steelers-Panthers. This will be posted in the afternoon after the players’ — and Ben Roethlisberger’s — media session.

• Thursday: Pucks! The Penguins report to training camp, and a column follows in the early afternoon. Later that night, I’ll be over at PNC Park for the Boston finale.

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PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION: ALEX MESSMER

DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A weekly look at what’s new and what’s coming on our site …

• Before I get to all the usual technical stuff, I’m proud and thrilled to introduce a new program for our active military men and women, here and abroad, who are Pittsburgh sports fans: A very generous benefactor has stepped up to help me cover free subscriptions for anyone in this category.

If I told you how I felt about this gesture, I’d cover this page in sap. I’ll bet you get it.

So I’ll put this next in your hands: If you know of a friend or loved one in this category and can email us any form of verification of their service, we’ll be delighted to sign them up and, above all, to express gratitude.

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DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS

A look at the week ahead on DKonPittsburghSports.com:

• Monday: I’ll post the first regular-season edition of Steelers PATs, our day-after analysis.

• Tuesday: Tuesday Twelve Qs chat at 1 p.m.

• Wednesday: Column advancing Steelers-Ravens.

• Thursday: From Baltimore, column covering Steelers-Ravens.

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