As many predicted, the Minnesota Twins are shifting team broadcasts from ESPN 1500 to FM 96.3 K-TWIN, a radio station also owned by the Pohlad family, beginning with the 2013 season.
The agreement calls for FM 96.3 K-TWIN, part of Northern Lights Broadcasting, to broadcast all regular and post-season games and at least 25 spring-training games.
“The Minnesota Twins are thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with our locally-owned sister company, Northern Lights Broadcasting,” Twins President Dave St. Peter said. “Twins radio broadcasts have been an important part of the Upper Midwest landscape dating back to 1961. By partnering with 96.3 K-TWIN, the Twins not only gain a stellar broadcasting partner with a dynamic FM signal, but we get a chance to be an integral part of an emerging radio format that will be unique across the nation.”
As part of the Twins-Northern Lights Broadcasting partnership, the Twins will continue to produce the game broadcasts including pre-game and post-game shows. During the season, FM 96.3 K-TWIN will feature comprehensive Twins coverage including game day shows often originating on-location from various places in and around Target Field and Northern Lights Broadcasting’s new studios at the Ford Center (which is across the street from Target Field on 5th street in downtown Minneapolis, also owned by the Pohlad family).
“In teaming up to offer Twins play-by-play, K-TWIN will be providing the very best local programming available to listeners in the Twin Cities,” Northern Lights Broadcasting Senior Vice President Sam Elliot Gagliardi said. “As we are building our brand new radio station, it is extremely exciting to be able to partner with such a highly regarded and well-respected organization in the Minnesota Twins. We want the listeners of the Twin Cities to be able to wake up with great personalities like Eric Perkins in the morning, hear the very best music and information all day long, and be able to catch an exciting ball game in the evening all on the same station — all on 96.3 K-TWIN.”
Twins games will remain on AM 1500 ESPN for the balance of the 2012 season, the final year of the team’s contract with the radio station that has served as the Twins’ metro affiliate since 2007.
Meanwhile, in 2013 1500 ESPN and the stations of the Treasure Island Baseball Network will continue to air a variety of Twins-related year-round programming including the “Ron Gardenhire Show,” “Inside Twins” and an off-season Twins “Hot Stove League” program.
“While the team is excited about the new partnership with K-TWIN 96.3 FM, the Twins are equally thrilled to have this opportunity to maintain our successful relationship with Hubbard Broadcasting and 1500 ESPN,” Twins President Dave St. Peter said. “In short we are pleased that 1500 ESPN will serve as the ball club’s “Official Talk Station” and will continue to be the exclusive home of signature Twins ancillary programs.”
“We have truly enjoyed our play-by-play partnership with the Minnesota Twins for the past six seasons,” said Dan Seeman, Market Manager, Hubbard Radio – Mineapolis –St. Paul. “During the past year the Twins have been clear about their intentions to move play-by-play to the FM radio station that they own. Knowing that K-TWIN will also play music throughout the day, we are pleased to continue the partnership as “Official Talk Station” of the Minnesota Twins. Twins fans will continue to hear the most comprehensive and best Twins coverage they have become accustomed to hearing on 1500 ESPN.”
In 2007 the Twins, in partnership with the Minnesota News Network, assumed control and development of the Twins Radio Network with Treasure Island Resort & Casino becoming the first-ever naming rights partner for the network in 2010. Historically, the Twins Radio Network has been one of the largest in all of Major League Baseball with hometown radio partners bringing Twins baseball to fans across five states. In 2012, the Treasure Island Baseball Network has grown to include 86 stations throughout Twins Territory.
“The Twins organization is committed to ensuring our games remain highly accessible to radio listeners across the region,” St. Peter said. “We are quite proud of our existing relationships with current Treasure Island Baseball Network affiliates and look forward to building on those relationships while growing the network for 2013 and beyond.”
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