Fox Sports Net gains all Celtics TV games> Broadcasts easier to find with primary carrier

After a one-year fling with Boston television station WABU (Channel 68), the Boston Celtics have accepted the proposal of a new broadcast suitor.

After several months of negotiations, Fox Sports Net New England – formerly known as Fox Sports New England, Sportschannel New England and Prism Network – has accomplished a long-term goal by adding television rights to Celtics road games to the home game package it has held since 1981.

The good news for local viewers is it will now be easier to find the Celtics with one primary carrier. The bad news is the deal effectively locks out most non-cable viewers in New England – who make up 25 percent of the Boston TV market and 42-47 percent of the central and northern Maine markets.

“We realize that and we do have the flexibility to look for other broadcast partners,” said FSSNE representative Nancy Larkin. “But I will say I’ve gotten a lot of calls from people who are very happy about this deal and have already written to the Celtics to thank them.”

Larkin wouldn’t elaborate on what that “flexibility” involved, but FSSNE does have the right to negotiate deals for a few road games with local stations – like Bangor’s WBGR (Channel 33) – in certain low-cable penetration markets.

Even without 100 percent penetration in all the New England TV markets, the Celtics will likely gain viewership as FSNNE serves more than three million households in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

“For the most part, a lot more people in New England will be able to see them who weren’t able to see them last year,” said Larkin. “We have 1.4 million people in the outer markets who can see games now who couldn’t see them before.”

The length and financial value of the long-term agreement have not been officially disclosed, but the Boston Herald reported it was worth more than $100,000 per game. Celtics executive vice president and CEO Richard Pond said the deal is for more than two years.

The deal calls for FSNNE to air eight exhibition games, 81 regular season games, and any first- and second-round playoff games. Only one Celtics game is scheduled to appear on network TV: March 12 in Boston vs. Philadelphia on NBC.

“The Boston Celtics are New England’s team,” said Pond in a press release. “Fox Sports Net New England will make the games available to all of New England through its cable affiliates – more than a million additional homes will have the opportunity to view all the games this year.”

WABU was sold by Boston University to PAX television in May, and PAX wasn’t interested in continuing Celtics coverage. Before WABU took over last season, WSBK (Ch. 38) televised Celtics away games.

King holding court in Maine

The King of fast-pitch softball and his four-man court will visit Bangor for the first time in seven years Sunday as part of a free public exhibition sponsored by the NEWS and Bangor all-sports radio station WZON (620 AM).

Eddie Feigner’s world famous troupe of barnstorming softballers will play a WZON-sponsored team of local media members, area personalities, and residents in a 1 p.m. game at Mansfield Stadium. The event is being held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of WZON’s all-sports format.

After 53 years of touring all over the world, Feigner has decided to retire after this current tour.

The King and His Court will also play a benefit game sponsored by area Kiwanis organizations at the Presque Isle Pool Field at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Advance tickets are $5 (adults), $3 (children), and $15 (family) while tickets at the gate are $1 more.