South Florida Affil Skips Fox' Monday NASCAR Coverage

South Florida Only Major Market Not To See Yesterday’s Nextel Cup Race

Fox earned a 2.2/7 overnight Nielsen rating for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Autism Speaks 400, which began at 12:00pm ET yesterday after being delayed due to rain on Sunday.  The race aired on FX last year (THE DAILY). In Miami, Barry Jackson reports Miami-Ft. Lauderdale "was the nation's only major market that had no access" to the net's coverage of the race.  Fox Sports Senior VP/Media Relations Lou D'Ermilio indicated that WSVN "not only declined to carry" the race, but also "did not inform Fox of its decision until after the race."  If the station had informed Fox earlier, the net "would have explored moving the race to another outlet."  D'Ermilio: "We contractually expect all our affiliates to carry our live NASCAR programming."  Jackson reports Fox affils in S.F. and San Antonio "also declined to carry the race, but found alternate outlets to air it" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/5).

TALKIN' BASEBALL: In Milwaukee, Bob Wolfley reports Fox is adding "at least two Brewers games to its regional package" of Saturday national TV games.  With the addition of the June 30 game against the Cubs and July 21 game against the Giants, the number of Brewers games on national TV this season stands at three, not including games against the Braves on TBS (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/5).