The inability of Sacramento-area TV viewers to watch Kings road games on TV has become "something of an embarrassment for the organization," according to Scott Howard-Cooper of the SACRAMENTO BEE. While some Kings employees say privately that they are "frustrated at the disappearing act," Howard-Cooper wrote that "to their credit" the team's ownership does so "publicly." Kings co- Owner Joe Maloof: "I can sympathize with the fans. We need a way to break it up. If we go away on a long trip, we have to get something done to show more of the games here." The Kings will not have their sixth road game broadcast locally on KMAX-UPN or FSN until February 13, after the All-Star break. In December, FSN is carrying four home games and KMAX-UPN two home games, but Howard-Cooper wrote the "more important point is that TV is needed for road games. Fans can't attend those." Most of the 50 telecasts on FSN and KMAX are for West Coast games because "they don't want to show" road games against East Coast opponents since the time difference means so much of the audience "will be at work or in mid-commute through halftime and they don't want to show them on tape delay" at 6:00pm, since past ratings "have shown serious declines." Howard-Cooper wrote that, ultimately, it is a "money decision" since early games do not get good ratings, and sponsors do not want to pay for games that "won't mean a good return on their investment." Howard-Cooper: "It might be about dollars for the sponsors, but it's also about loyalty for fans who support the Kings with a passion and then get ignored for a week when the team leaves town" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/13).
