Rattlers up national TV total to 9 games

Carrying off the Foster Trophy three consecutive years leads to national exposure.

The three-time ArenaBowl champion Rattlers are getting it big-time after the Arena Football League released the national television schedule the past two days.

The Rattlers will appear on national TV nine times during the 18-game regular season – five times on the CBS Sports Network and four times on ESPN2 and ESPNEWS.

The three-time defending ArenaBowl champion's national TV schedule looks like this:

April 4: Las Vegas Outlaws, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

April 25: at LA Kiss, CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.

May 2: San Jose SaberCats, ESPN2, 6 p.m.

May 30: at Spokane Shock, ESPN2, 7 p.m.

June 20: Orlando Predators, CBS Sports Network, 5 p.m.

June 27: at LA Kiss, CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.

July 26: LA Kiss, ESPNEWS, 3 p.m.

July 31: at San Jose SaberCats, CBS Sports Network, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 8: Portland Thunder, CBS Sports Network, 6:30 p.m.

The Rattlers also will get local coverage from Cox 7.

Thursday's update:

The three-time defending Arena Football League champion Rattlers will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network five times during the 18-game regular season, starting with a game against the LA Kiss in Anaheim on April 25.

CBS Sports also will televise the Rattlers on June 20 at home against the Orlando Predators; at the LA Kiss again on June 27; on July 31 at the San Jose SaberCats; and at home on Aug. 8 against the Portland Thunder.

The league announced the CBS Sports Network AFL schedule on Wednesday with 14 games on slate.

This is the third consecutive year that CBS Sports Network will televise Arena Football League games.

The league will soon announce an ESPN schedule.

ArenaBowl 28 will be televised live on ESPN for a second consecutive year on Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

The Rattlers open camp Friday to get ready for their season opener March 28 at home at US Airways Center against the Spokane Shock.