FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Duncan
Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties
469-767-8324
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ATHLETICS, IHEARTMEDIA MINNEAPOLIS INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE BROADCAST PARTNERSHIP
Multi-Year Agreement Also to Include Basketball, Men’s Hockey for Gopher Fans
MINNEAPOLIS (June 20, 2017) – University of Minnesota Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, Learfield’s Gopher Sports Properties, announced today an unprecedented multi-year agreement with iHeartMedia Minneapolis. For the first time in recent years, Gopher fans can tune into iHeartMedia Minneapolis’ radio stations not only for live football game coverage, but for men’s hockey, men’s and women’s basketball games and coaches’ shows as well.
Gopher regular-season football games will continue to be heard on KFAN-FM 100.3, Minneapolis/St. Paul’s Sports Leader, beginning with the 2017-18 athletic season in August. This flagship relationship is unchanged, however extended through the 2020-21 academic year. The seasonal coach’s show with Head Coach P.J. Fleck also will be carried on KFAN for fans in the greater Minneapolis listening area.
The additional Gopher coverage for iHeartMedia Minneapolis listeners next season comes with winter sports as all regular-season and post-season men’s hockey games, and men’s and women’s basketball games will be carried on an iHeartMedia Minneapolis station. Men’s hockey and men’s basketball will be carried on Twin Cities News Talk, simulcast on 1130 AM and103.5 FM, while women’s basketball coverage will air on ALT 93.3, Twin Cities’ Alternative station. The coaches’ shows for hockey and basketball will air on the respective stations as well. In addition, starting with the 2017-18 men’s basketball season, a select number of games against the Gophers’ Big Ten Conference opponents will air on KFAN-FM 100.3.
“Our iHeartMedia Minneapolis team is excited to build on our great relationship with University of Minnesota Athletics,” said Jeff Tyler, President of the Great Lakes Region for iHeartMedia. “The energy surrounding Coach Fleck and the Gopher football program, and now adding the tradition of Gopher hockey and the excitement for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams, makes this the perfect time to bring them onto our iHeartMedia and iHeartRadio platform.”
According to Gopher Sports Properties’ General Manager Greg Gerlach, “iHeartMedia has been a great partner to Gopher football for many years now. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to expand that relationship to our men’s hockey, as well as our men’s and women’s basketball teams moving forward. Gopher Athletics is in outstanding hands due to the leadership of Mark Coyle and many excellent coaches. We look forward to a bright future with these sports, and our fans can enjoy our live radio broadcasts and other programming going forward led by the voice of Mike Grimm and our talented broadcasting teams.”
Sports fans can also listen to the radio stations’ broadcasts from anywhere via iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service.
About iHeartMedia Minneapolis:
iHeartMedia Minneapolis owns and operates KQQL-HD, KDDL3-HD, KTCZ-FM, KFXN-FM, KDWB-FM, KEEY-FM, KTCZ-HD, KQQL-FM, KTLK-AM and is part of iHeartMedia. With over a quarter of a billion monthly listeners in the U.S. and over 85 million social followers, iHeartMedia has the largest national reach of any radio or television outlet in America. As the leader in multiplatform connections, it also serves over 150 local markets through 858 owned radio stations, and the company’s radio stations and content can be heard on AM/FM, HD digital radio, satellite radio, on the Internet at iHeartRadio.com and on the company’s radio station websites, on the iHeartRadio mobile app, in enhanced auto dashes, on tablets, wearables and smartphones, and on gaming consoles.
iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s digital radio platform, is the fastest growing digital audio service in the U.S. and offers users thousands of live radio stations, personalized custom artist stations created by just one song or seed artist and the top podcasts and personalities. With over a billion downloads, iHeartRadio reached 100 million registered users faster than any other radio or digital music service.
iHeartMedia’s platforms include radio broadcasting, online, mobile, digital and social media, podcasts, personalities and influencers, live concerts and events, syndication, music research services and independent media representation. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (PINK: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.