MLB Media Notes: Sun Sports, Verizon Reach Deal For Rays Games

Verizon Customers Will Be Able To See 75 Rays Games On Sun Sports

ROYAL TREATMENT: In Omaha, Mitch Sherman reports Cox Communications yesterday reached an agreement with FS K.C. to televise all 140 of the net's Royals telecasts this season. Cox viewers in Omaha, Wichita and Topeka were able to watch last night's Royals-White Sox game, which "was to be the first game omitted from Cox's previous agreement to show only 100 games." Cox Communications Omaha VP/Public & Government Affairs Kristin Peck said that the MSO did not show the 140-game package last year "in order to avoid passing costs on to its customers" (Omaha WORLD-HERALD, 4/9). Meanwhile, in Little Rock, Rich Polikoff reported Cox reached a deal with FS Southwest to air 50 Royals games this season in Northwest Arkansas. The deal is a "major breakthrough for the Royals," as the club's games have not been shown in the region "for years because of [MLB's] longstanding blackout rules." The Royals are the closest MLB team to Arkansas, and they have "sought a larger presence in Arkansas ... but have been hampered in their efforts by their lack of TV exposure" (ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE, 4/8).

BLOCKED VIEW: In Ft. Worth, Anthony Andro reports Rangers fans "primarily in West Texas may not get to see as much Ranger baseball as they want" this season. FS Southwest has "picked up 50 more games this year, upping their coverage from 83 games to 133," and in order to "help defray the cost of the additional coverage, the network asked the cable providers to help cover the costs." While some have, "others haven't, which means 50 games won't be shown in some markets," including Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Abilene and Shreveport, Louisiana. FS Southwest PR Dir Ramon Alvarez said that viewers in those markets "will still get the original 83 games" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/9).

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