New partnership with KKFN 104.3 FM and a return to KCOL 600 AM for men’s basketball and coaches’ shows
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Colorado State Rams will have a new radio home in 2016 for men’s basketball game broadcasts and the weekly coaches’ show. Beginning Jan. 4, Bonneville International station KKFN 104.3 FM “The Fan” will be the new radio home of the Rams, along with a return to iHeart Media station KCOL 600 AM, beginning Jan. 2, for coverage across Northern Colorado, it was announced Thursday by Colorado State and multimedia partner Learfield Sports.
The move follows the recent sale of KJAC-FM ESPN 105.5 serving the Fort Collins-Denver market. KJAC-FM, flagship station for the Rams since July 2013, will be switching formats under new ownership, necessitating an adjustment by CSU Athletics to its Colorado State Sports Network for the remainder of the current basketball season.
The final broadcast fans will hear on ESPN 105.5 will be the men’s basketball matchup at Boise State on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. MT. KJAC will conclude all station programming on January 3, 2016.
“While ESPN 105.5 has been an outstanding radio partner for us, the recent sale of the station made it necessary to secure additional station affiliates through the remainder of this basketball season,” said CSU Athletics Director Joe Parker. “We appreciate the work of our partner Learfield Sports to identify alternative affiliates and we were pleased with the strong interest from the marketplace to deliver our games on the radio to our loyal fans.”
Learfield oversees CSU Athletics’ comprehensive multimedia rights through its local Rams Sports Properties team, in addition to overseeing all aspects of the radio network. A new radio flagship for the Rams will be announced at the conclusion of the 2015-16 athletic season following a thorough bid process.
KCOL and KIIX 1410 AM have been consistent radio partners with Colorado State Athletics for most of the past five decades, and KIIX will remain the radio home for CSU women’s basketball broadcasts in 2016.
“We’re pleased to broaden our coverage of the Rams, kicking it off with men’s hoops from Boise State on January 2,” said iHeart Media Market Manager Stu Haskell. “It’s a privilege for us to work with Learfield and CSU Athletics, and we know the Rams’ passionate fan base expects quality radio broadcasts, which we promise to deliver.”
Throughout the season, KKFN 104.3 FM will broadcast the Coors Light Basketball Coaches’ Show live on KEPN 1600 AM from 6-7 p.m. on Mondays and tape-delayed on KKFN. Men’s basketball games will air on KKFN, with conflicting games broadcast on KEPN.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of the Colorado State Sports Network and look forward to providing exceptional coverage of the Rams throughout the basketball season,” said Bonneville International’s General Sales Manager Sean Brennan.
The first men’s basketball game carried on both KKFN and KCOL will be the Jan. 6 home game vs. UNLV (8 p.m.).
Statewide coverage across Colorado on the Colorado State Radio Network will remain the same on stations KJME 890 AM (Colorado Springs), KKVT 100.7 FM (Grand Junction) and KRFD 100.1 FM (Sterling).