K.C. Masterpiece: New FSN Net In Market Will Carry Royals, KSU

By John Ourand , Staff Writer FSN is launching a RSN in K.C. that will carry the Royals and Kansas State Univ., pushing the number of FSN RSNs to 20, though it is about to flip four to Liberty. FSN K.C. is planning a formal launch at the start of the baseball season. Previously, FSN had covered the market with its FSN Midwest channel. FSN signed a ten-year deal to pick up rights to the Royals in '06 after the Royals had unsuccessfully tried to launch its own RSN, RSTN, in the region and failed to get significant cable distribution. FSN Midwest will roll out FSN K.C.-branded programming starting January 24 from Royals FanFest. The net is planning to air 140 regular season games and two Spring Training contests. It also is planning pre- and postgame shows around those games. The net still will carry FSN national and regional programs, including games from the Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference.