Feeling The Sting: FSN Florida To Carry Rays Games Through 2016

By John Ourand, Staff Writer

FSN Florida signed a multi-year extension to carry all Rays games for the next eight years through 2016, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. Specific dollar figures were not immediately available, though a source said FSN was paying a "significant boost in rights fees in exchange for all local telecast rights." Previously, the RSN carried 75 games, with local broadcaster WXPX-ION sharing the rights deal. WXPX aired 67 games this season. Now, as many as 155 games will be on FSN, with ESPN and Fox cherry-picking the rest. FSN execs approached the Rays about forming an extension before the All-Star break. The two sides agreed to a deal before the end of the regular season in September, with the contract being signed earlier this month during the playoffs. Rays games saw TV ratings and households in the Tampa/St. Pete market nearly double this season, posting a franchise high 3.47 rating, up 99% from a 1.74 in '07, and 62,000 HHs, up 100% from 31,000 HHs last year.