Courtesy the Houston Chronicle

(March 18, 2011) As the Astros and Fox Sports Houston approach the end of their long relationship, the network is sticking to the letter of the contract for the 2011 season: 130 games on FSH, nothing more, nothing less — with 24 games on KTXH (Channel 20). That compares to 154 on FSH and seven on Channel 20 last year. Of eight games not scheduled for broadcast, two fall within Fox and ESPN exclusivity windows. The others, said network spokesman Ramon Alvarez, "are primarily early midweek and West Coast games and some Sunday afternoon games in September that tend not to get high viewership."

Day games generally lag in the ratings as well, and 15 of the 24 games on Channel 24 are daytime starts.

One consolation for Astros fans: All games on FSH and Channel 20 will air in HDTV. Bill Brown will return for his 25th season with the Astros, joined by analyst Jim Deshaies and reporters Greg Lucas, Bart Enis and Patti Smith and pregame and postgame host Kevin Eschenfelder.

FSH will continue to carry Rangers games in Houston after the Astros and Rockets decamp for Comcast SportsNet Houston in 2012. It's no coincidence that the network will carry more Rangers games in Houston this fall - 48 on FSH, up from 32 a year ago, and 75 to 80 FSH Plus (Comcast channel 110).

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