Cox to televise five 51s games

Nick Christensen

Friday, April 9, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

Five Las Vegas 51s games will be televised this year on Cox Cable, the team announced Thursday. The first of the televised games will be this Saturday night, when the 51s play host to the Portland Beavers at Cashman Field. The game will air on Cox Cable channel 48.

Cox will then air 51s games on channel 96, a new community channel in development. Two home games -- June 19 against Edmonton and Sept. 4 against Salt Lake -- and two road games -- May 8 at Sacramento and August 21 at Salt Lake -- will be televised.

Las Vegas general manager Don Logan said the idea came when the team was discussing sponsorship arrangements with Cox in February.

"I think if it works out with the first couple, we might try to add more," he said. Logan said he wasn't concerned about airing home games and the impact that might have at the gate.

The team tried to reach an agreement to air some games on Fox Sports Net in Los Angeles, but a deal could not be concluded.

Russ Langer, the team's director of broadcasting in his fourth year with the team, will handle the television play-by-play responsibilities. Veteran local broadcaster Bob Blum will have the radio call for the television games.