The former Louisville baseball announcer, who joined Reds radio full-time last year, will replace Paul Keels as the secondary Fox Sports Ohio play-by-play announcer when not on radio.

"I'm very thrilled with the opportunity, and glad the Reds believed in me and think I can do the job," Kelch said.

Kelch did TV and radio for the minor-league Louisville franchise from 1989-2009. He did two Reds games for FSO last season.

"Jim filled in for us and did a great job," FSO vice president Tom Farmer said.

Keels was dropped because of scheduling conflicts as Ohio State's football play-by-play announcer, according to Farmer.

The decision was made in September after analyst Chris Welsh was forced to do play-by-play when neither Thom Brennaman nor Keels could work a series against Colorado.

"We thought we could work around his (Keels) schedule. None of us realized how much Ohio State impacted his schedule," Farmer said.

The regional sports channel's 145-game Reds schedule will be set by the end of January, Farmer said.

ESPN and FOX, baseball's national television rights holders, have first call on the defending Central Division champions. The Reds could play more than a dozen national television games, according to Redreporter.com.

ESPN plans two Sunday night games (in St. Louis on April 24 and in Atlanta on May 29), and four Monday games (the Phillies on May 23 and Aug. 29; the Yankees in Cincinnati June 20; and the Mets in Cincinnati July 25).

The national dates mean FSO viewers will see several weekday afternoon telecasts, which draw lower ratings.

"It's a good problem to have, because it means the team is playing well," Farmer said.