SportsChannel FL has extended its cable TV rights
agreement with the Devil Rays through 2012. Terms of the
new agreement include an increase in the number of televised
games beginning in 2003, to a minimum of 70 per season. The
original deal ran through the year 2002 and called for a
minimum of 64 games per season (SportsChannel FL). In St.
Petersburg, Marc Topkin writes that financial terms of the
deal "were not released," but Devil Rays Managing General
Partner Vince Naimoli said that the deal "ranks as one of
the best among the 30 major-league teams." Naimoli: "I
think I could say that with the exception of the Yankees and
Mets and one or two others, it's probably the best deal that
exists." Naimoli added that the deal "also was beneficial
because the Rays exercised an option to buy an ownership
interest in SportsChannel, then resold it at the appreciated
price." Topkin notes that there "had been speculation" the
team would reduce the number of games on TV "to boost
attendance, but Naimoli said research shows the two are not
linked," as attendance is "about" 2,000 higher at games that
are on TV (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/24).