Richie hinted at this earlier, but the Texas Rangers just made it official: Beginning next season, Eric Nadel and Dave Barnett will be heard on ESPN's local radio affiliate, which I believe is located at 103.3 on your FM dial. The official release follows, but note: Some games will actually wind up on KSKY-AM (660 AM) "due to programming conflicts on 103.3 ESPN." Chuck Greenberg's particularly happy-sited about the move offa KRLD and The Fan: "Our partnership with ESPN will be an important element as we expand the Rangers brand locally, regionally, and nationally. We look forward to a long and productive relationship." Now jump.
TEXAS RANGERS ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH 103.3 ESPN AND 1540AM ESPN DEPORTES FOR ENGLISH AND SPANISH RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY RIGHTS BEGINNING IN 2011
Rangers ESPN Radio Network to provide coverage throughout Southwest
Arlington, Texas - The Texas Rangers today announced that the club has entered into a multi-year agreement with Dallas/Fort Worth's 103.3 ESPN and 1540am ESPN Deportes for the exclusive English and Spanish radio play-by-play rights beginning with the 2011 season.
The broadcasting agreement includes coverage of a predominant number of regular season games and any post-season contests on 103.3 ESPN and 1540am ESPN Deportes as well as selected spring training broadcasts on 103.3 ESPN. Both stations will compliment their play-by-play coverage with live pre- and post-game shows as well as extensive Rangers-themed daily programming featuring interviews with players, coaches and front office personnel.
A select number of regular season Rangers games will be carried in the DFW area by KSKY 660 AM, also broadcasting 24/7 on 92.9, 95.5, and 99.9 FM, due to programming conflicts on 103.3 ESPN. At present, there are two regular season games affected by conflicts during the first month of the 2011 season. It is expected that the Rangers will also move a handful of Spanish broadcasts to an alternate station due to programming conflicts on 1540am ESPN Deportes.
In addition, the Rangers ESPN Radio Network will provide Rangers baseball coverage in English and Spanish to a network of stations throughout Texas and the Southwest.
"We are very pleased to enter into this long term radio agreement with ESPN and ESPN Deportes," commented Rangers Managing Partner and CEO Chuck Greenberg. "Our partnership with ESPN will be an important element as we expand the Rangers brand locally, regionally, and nationally. We look forward to a long and productive relationship."
"We are excited that the Texas Rangers are moving to 103.3 ESPN and 1540am ESPN Deportes" said Rangers President Nolan Ryan. "The identification with ESPN and the promotion and programming the Rangers will be receiving on the two stations will be extremely beneficial to the club. I welcome ESPN as a Texas Rangers partner."
The Rangers will have the rights to the majority of the commercial inventory in both the English and Spanish broadcasts and will oversee all production and network elements as part of the new agreement. The club's English radio rights had been with KRLD 1080 AM since 1995 with a majority of games moving to KRLD 105.3 FM in 2009.
"The Texas Rangers and ESPN are two great brands which belong together, and we are honored to be the new radio home for the team," said Pete Dits, Vice President and General Manager of ESPN Dallas/Fort Worth. "There is tremendous excitement surrounding the Rangers, and we look forward to serving fans with both our English and Spanish radio stations, as well as with enhanced content on the biggest sports web site in the D/FW market, ESPNDallas.com. ESPN is committed to being a great partner for the Texas Rangers for a long time to come."
Eric Nadel, a finalist for the 2011 Ford C. Frick Award, begins his 33rd season of broadcasting Texas Rangers baseball this spring. He will join Dave Barnett, returning for a third year, to call all games on 103.3 ESPN and the Rangers English radio network. Eleno Ornelas will provide Spanish radio coverage for his 12th season on 1540am ESPN Deportes. Rangers Spanish broadcasts had been on KFLC 1270 AM since 1999.
