This is nowhere near the TV deal the Angels got, but it’s still not encouraging for Royals fans.

According to an Associated Press story, Fox Sports Media Group said Friday it will have the exclusive long-term local telecast rights for the Indians.

Although financial terms were released, The Plain Dealer reported that Fox Sports is paying an estimated $230 million for SportsTime Ohio and $400 million over 10 years to broadcast the games. That’s far less than the Angels’ $3 billion television deal, but at $40 million a year, it’s still better than the Royals.

As The Star’s Sam Mellinger has written about before, the Royals have one of the worst local TV contracts in baseball: less than $20 million for each of the next seven seasons.

So AL Central foe Cleveland will take home more than $20 million a year more than the Royals, in addition to the extra cash for selling SportsTime Ohio. That stings, doesn’t it?

| Pete Grathoff, pgrathoff@kcstar.com