The Wild and Clear Channel Communications yesterday announced a three-year deal that will see all preseason, regular-season and postseason games broadcast on KFAN-AM beginning next season. KFAN will also broadcast Wild pre- and postgame shows, as well as other Wild-related programs. The Wild's radio team of Bob Kurtz, Tom Reid and Kevin Falness will remain the same (Wild). The Wild had been on WCCO-AM "since the franchise's inception in 2000," but in Minneapolis, Justin & Russo report WCCO "will sign a four-year deal to broadcast Timberwolves games" in a deal that also will start next season. The T'Wolves, outside of a "two-year experiment" with KLCI-FM, had been at KFAN "since the team was formed" in '89. T'Wolves President Chris Wright said, "Sometimes fresh is good. We really, really like the fact that the reach of WCCO is incredible. As we grow our franchise, we see ourselves more and more (as) a regional team." Wright added that Alan Horton "will remain as the play-by-play announcer." Justin & Russo note the announcement of the deals "comes less than a month after WCCO lost all" Univ. of Minnesota sports to ESPN Radio 1500 Twin Cities and KFAN (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/6).
MISSING THE ACTION: In Minneapolis, Joe Christensen reports FS North is televising 150 Twins games this season, but Charter Communications, Mediacom, Cable One and Dish Network subscribers are "slated to see only 105 of those games." FS North Communications Manager Becky Ross said that "about 37 percent of the homes in the region were affected." She added negotiations "are ongoing" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/6).
