MLB Opening Day is this week, but "there's uncertainty over whether" A's flagship radio station KTRB-AM will be broadcasting the team's games during the regular season, according to Joe Stiglich of the OAKLAND TRIBUNE. A source said that "negotiations for the A's to buy KTRB -- which is in receivership with Comerica Bank -- have hit a major snag." The source said that in the fallout, the "agreement between the A's and the receiver to broadcast games during the regular season also is in jeopardy." The A's in a statement Friday night said KTRB would not broadcast this past weekend's games against the Rockies as planned, "due to technical issues beyond their control." The games instead were slated to air on MLB.com. Stiglich noted KTRB "went into receivership in September," and the A's "have been negotiating to purchase the station ever since and are thought to be the primary bidder." The source indicated that the receiver is "looking for a higher bid than the A's are willing to offer, and might be threatening to pull games off the air as leverage." But it also is "very possible that one of the sides could budge and a compromise struck before Friday's opener to continue airing games" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/26). The A's said that today's Spring Training game against the Giants "will be on the radio," but it is not certain whether it will air on KTRB or another station. It is "possible the A's and KTRB strike a compromise to continue airing games while negotiations continue" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 3/28). A's Owner Lew Wolff in an e-mail said the team will be "ready to broadcast" all regular-season games in '11, though he did not specify if that meant on KTRB (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/27).
