DENTON, Texas – UNT Athletics and its exclusive multimedia rightsholder, LEARFIELD’s Mean Green Sports Properties, announced today a multi-year broadcast relationship with iHeartMedia Dallas.
The new agreement provides comprehensive radio coverage for Mean Green football fans across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex through the 2025-26 athletic season. Starting in August, fans will be able to hear North Texas game broadcasts on 97.1 The Freak, iHeartMedia Dallas’ newest local, personality-driven, lifestyle talk-radio station.
“We are excited to announce this agreement with The Freak to bring UNT Football to fans all across the Metroplex this fall,” UNT Vice President and Director of Athletics Jared Mosley said. “We believe The Freak’s unique brand and growing fanbase is a perfect fit for UNT’s trajectory as we move into the American Athletic Conference. We are committed to growing the reach of our brand, and we look forward to a long partnership.”
Football broadcasts are led by a familiar voice in North Texas alumnus and two-time Emmy-award winner, Dave Barnett, who handles play-by-play. Barnett enters his ninth year as the “Voice of the Mean Green” and is joined by color analyst Hank Dickenson, who is in his 28th year as a member of the UNT broadcast team.
“The Freak is the newest and most unique media outlet to serve the Dallas/Fort Worth market. It’s the perfect home for Mean Green football and we proudly welcome them to iHeart Dallas,” said Paul Corvino, Region President iHeartMedia Dallas.
Mean Green men’s basketball coverage will continue to be heard on KHYI 95.3 FM in the Denton area. Live football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball game broadcasts and athletics content is also available worldwide through The Varsity Network online and on The Varsity Network app.
iHeartMedia is the leading media outlet in the Dallas 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 3 billion app downloads and more than 160 million registered users.
To view the release online, click here.
About iHeartMedia, Inc.
iHeartMedia Dallas owns and operates 106.1 KISS FM, STAR 102.1, 102.9 NOW, Lone Star 92.5, Talk Radio 1190 AM, Dallas’ BIN, 97.1 The Freak, and is part of iHeartMedia. iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, reaching over 90% of Americans every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have more consumer reach in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the reach of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled reach of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined and has the number one social footprint among audio players, with seven times more followers than the next audio media brand, and the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
About UNT Athletics
With more than 350 student-athletes, North Texas Athletics is located in Denton, Texas, and is a member of the American Athletics Conference. The Mean Green’s mission statement is Building Champions and Preparing Leaders through the pursuit of perfection in academics, athletics, and life. UNT Athletics has won 140 conference championships all-time, and in 2023 earned the basketball program’s first-ever National Invitation Tournament championship in Las Vegas. UNT Football has made six bowl appearances in the last seven seasons.
About Mean Green Sports Properties
Mean Green Sports Properties is the locally based LEARFIELD team which solely represents the University of North Texas. In complete collaboration with the university, this team is committed to extending the affinity of the Mean Green brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes looking to align with the undeniably loyal and passionate collegiate fan base. As North Texas Athletics’ exclusive multimedia rightsholder, Mean Green Sports Properties manages all aspects of the rights relationship, providing corporate partners both traditional and new media opportunities with the university in which to bolster their own brand and garner maximum exposure through such inventory as venue signage; event sponsorships and promotion; corporate hospitality; radio and television; digital engagement and visibility via the official athletics website.