re: Your Atlanta Braves

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The Braves utilize a huge network of local stations which I think is either the largest or the second largest (behind the Cardinals) in MLB.

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When I would listen to games on XM, the Braves Radio Network would bill itself as the largest radio network in professional sports.

Not really sure if that was counted by by affiliates, coverage area, or population of affiliate coverage area though.

TBS was a huge positive effect on the size of the fan base though. I've talked to Braves fans at games in Arizona who were from the southwest but started watching the Braves because of TBS.

The lack of expansion in MLB from 1977-1993 at the same time as the rise of cable TV probably allowed the Braves to become a nation-wide team. Even the teams added in 1977 wouldn't have really had an impact on the Braves footprint (Seattle and Toronto).