The 80's cable systems also had the opportunity to watch teams on a regular basis. The Cubs on WGN, Braves on WSB (?) Ted Turner owned the station and the team. Same with the Cubs...The Tribune Company had control of WGN-AM and TV. There was also the Mets broadcast out of N.Y. in the Strawberry, Gooden hay day. There always seemed to be an afternoon game somewhere and gave the fans out of the metro areas to pick a team.
Living in SE VA we had the Mets AAA team in the Tides as well as the Braves AAA guys in Richmond. That also contributed to an interest.
Also the "Super Stations" as they were billed were over the air broadcasts they weren't blacked out in the home cities.