MLS Sounders FC Reach TV Deal, Name Calabro Play-By-Play Voice
The MLS Seattle Sounders FC, set to begin play next season, have signed a multi-year TV partnership with Belo Corp. to broadcast games on KING-NBC and sister station KONG-Ind, according to Matthew Gaschk of the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER. The stations will broadcast all Sounders matches and exclusive pre- and postgame shows, excluding any nationally televised games. Belo President & GM Ray Heacox: "Anything local of this magnitude is attractive to us. And the chance for us to be involved with anything that says leadership and great effort locally excites us." The Sounders yesterday announced that former Sonics TV announcer Kevin Calabro will be the Sounders' play-by-play TV voice. Also, Heacox said that KING will broadcast a weekly soccer show hosted by sports anchor Paul Silvi (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 7/22). Terms of the deal were not announced. The Sounders had indicated that "one of their highest priorities in a broadcast partner was a consistent home where their games wouldn't be bumped or delayed due to coverage of other local teams" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 7/22). The Sounders are the first MLS team "with a local TV contract and not a cable deal." The league does not have a blackout rule if there is no sellout (KITSAPSUN.com, 7/21).
STICKING AROUND: In Seattle, Jerry Brewer writes for the Sounders, the deal is "another shrewd move," and for Calabro, "it's a chance to soothe the sting of losing the Sonics." Calabro and Vulcan Sports & Entertainment CEO Tod Leiweke, whose company is part owner of the team, "began serious talks ... about this job two hours" after Seattle and then Sonics Owner Clay Bennett reached a settlement to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. Leiweke and Calabro "had engaged in some what-if conversations before then." Calabro said that he "remains 'hopeful' that he will do some NBA work, most likely on ESPN radio and NBA-TV" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/22).
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