KU’s new deal with Sports Radio 810 leaves K-State, for the moment, without KC affiliate

Kansas Athletics has signed a three-year agreement with Union Broadcasting, meaning KU football and men’s basketball radio broadcasts now will be aired on Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City.

The announcement affects two local fan bases, as it also ends 810’s long-standing relationship with the Kansas State radio network.

“They were great partners for 18 years,” Chad Boeger, president and CEO of Union Broadcasting, told the Star on Wednesday. “Moving forward, we’re going to continue to cover them and all schools in the area to the best of our ability.”

Kansas State associate athletic director Kenny Lannou responded to the news with a release on the K-State sports Twitter account Wednesday afternoon, saying the program’s multimedia rights holder Learfield had been in renewal talks with WHB before Wednesday’s break. K-State has 33 other radio partners in addition to having a digital broadcast available online.

“Learfield has begun discussions with other affiliates in Kansas City, and it is their responsibility to work diligently to find a new home for K-State athletics,” Lannou wrote. “We will have a new radio home in Kansas City soon.”

As part of the 810 deal, KU will have extra programming on ESPN Kansas City (1510 AM and 99.3 FM). That will include women’s basketball broadcasts, Hawk Talk coaches’ shows and additional play-by-play calls for baseball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

“Sports Radio 810 is a major player in the Kansas City market,” KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger said in a release, “and we are excited to join forces with the entire Union Broadcasting team.”

ESPN Kansas City also will have the play-by-play call for KU basketball’s exhibition games in Italy starting next week.

“Our agreement with Kansas Athletics is another example of how Union Broadcasting and Sports Radio 810 WHB is dedicated to offering our listeners the best sports programming experience,” Boeger said. “Kansas Athletics is one of the crown jewels of sports in the Kansas City area. We look forward to being the radio home of the Jayhawks for many years to come.”

Wednesday’s proclamation comes one day after 610 Sports said it would no longer be the Kansas City affiliate for KU events. That ended a previous 18-year agreement between Entercom, which owns 610 Sports, and KU Athletics.

This story was originally published July 26, 2017 at 12:50 PM with the headline "KU’s new deal with Sports Radio 810 leaves K-State, for the moment, without KC affiliate."