Leaving KIRO-FM which carried the games since 2009, iHeartMedia is new radio broadcast partner, with 950 KJR AM becoming radio flagship of the Rave Green
Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it has come to an agreement with iHeartMedia Seattle, making Sports Radio 950 KJR AM the English-language home of the Rave Green. The new multi-year deal is the first of its kind between the Rave Green and Seattle sports legacy station 950 KJR, with the regional radio affiliate operating on Puget Sound since 1922.
“We’re incredibly excited and proud to open this new chapter of Sounders FC radio broadcasting with iHeartMedia,” said Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Bart Wiley. “KJR is a Seattle sports institution, and our new partner brings a second-to-none production quality and institutional knowledge of broadcasting to our club. We believe this partnership provides the best platform for elevating the thorough, insightful coverage of Sounders FC that our fans deserve.”
All home and away Sounders FC MLS matches are to be carried on 950 KJR AM, including a 30-minute pregame and 30-minute postgame show surrounding each contest. Former KJR producer Matt Johnson reprises his play-by-play role with Sounders FC radio, alongside a number of talented Seattle soccer analysts, including former Sounder players Wade Webber and Danny Jackson, in addition to Seattle University Head Coach and longtime Sounders FC analyst Pete Fewing. Additionally, the station is set to carry an hour-long Sounders FC weekly show, scheduled to air at 7:00 p.m. PT every Tuesday evening throughout the season.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the most successful MLS franchise, the Seattle Sounders,” said Robert Dove, President of the Pacific Northwest Region for iHeartMedia. “We are very much looking forward to showcasing the Sounders product on 950 KJR and connecting with their powerful and passionate fans. This is an incredible opportunity to share our over three million person reach across all our brands to build on the already incredible Seattle Sounders fan base.”
“KJR has a long and significant legacy in Seattle,” said Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “Growing up in this city, I’ve listened to the station myself for many years, and I’m now looking forward to working with KJR in this new partnership to bring our club’s amazing fans even closer to the team.”
iHeartMedia is the leading media outlet in the Seattle market with multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; live events; data; and its digital businesses and platforms, including mobile, social and its own iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s free all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service – with more than 1.7 billion app downloads and 110 million registered users.
Sounders FC opens its slate of matches on 950 KJR AM with its MLS season-opener against expansion side Los Angeles FC. That contest is set for a 2:00 p.m. PT kickoff at CenturyLink Field in the first-ever matchup between the two Western Conference sides.
This is disappointing. Not that the broadcast itself will be bad, but I live far enough out of Seattle (not very far) that I will not get reception for evening games. KJR — unless they have improved their strength) has a very bad signal after dark and is often nearly impossible to hear clearly at all.