Mariners Sign Three-Year Radio Rights Deal With KIRO-AM

The Mariners have reached a three-year agreement with KIRO-AM for all regular-season games, as well as 20 Spring Training games, ending a six-year partnership with KOMO-AM. KIRO also receives all pre- and postgame programming. The deal will begin with the '09 season; terms were not disclosed (Mariners). In Seattle, Larry Stone reports the deal is worth approximately $5.5M a year, a "significant comedown" from the $10M per season KOMO paid for the rights. The Mariners "pondered installing an in-house radio operation ... before ultimately deciding that the benefits of working with a partner exceeded that of a self-produced operation." KIRO has the rights to the Seahawks, and the station is "expected by many to soon go to an all-sports format while moving its news-talk operation to FM" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/23). However, KIRO Program Dir Rod Arquette said that there are "no plans to alter the station's news and talk format." In Seattle, John Hickey reports on days when both the Mariners and Seahawks play, the Mariners "will be moved to a yet-to-be-determined station" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 7/23).