FARGO, N.D. — University of North Dakota Athletics and its athletics multimedia rights holder, Learfield's UND Sports Properties, announced Tuesday a new five-year partnership with KFGO AM 790 and Midwest Radio – Fargo Moorhead beginning with the 2016-17 athletics season.
This brand new partnership will expand game coverage in the Fargo market to include all men's hockey, football and men's and women's basketball broadcasts. Hockey and football broadcasts can be heard on KFGO AM 790 while men's and women's basketball broadcasts, and the weekly Coaches Shows will air on AM 740 The Fan (KVOX AM). The daily program, UND Sports Today, will air on both stations.
"We are looking forward to partnering with Midwest Radio – Fargo Moorhead to deliver the best quality broadcasts in the Fargo market,” University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Brian Faison said. “Midwest Radio is a respected name in the industry and working with them will provide a valuable product for our fans throughout the various sport seasons. I'd also like to thank WDAY, our previous partner, for their commitment and service to our department over the last several years.”
UND Athletics will feature an extensive presence within Midwest's local talk shows. Football, hockey and basketball coaches, players and athletics personnel will be featured regularly during The Dan Hammer Show (KFGO AM), News & Views with Joel Heitkamp (KFGO), It Takes 2 with Jack and Amy (KFGO AM), and The Jack Michaels Show (KVOX AM).
In addition, custom UND Athletics content will be available to fans on all six Midwest Radio station websites featuring nightly recaps and audio podcasts of interviews with coaches and players.
“We here at KFGO appreciate the opportunity to partner with UND Athletics. To showcase teams that have and will bring championships to the state of North Dakota is an honor,” 790 KFGO, 740 KVOX-AM Operations Manager Joel Heitkamp said. “We are excited to be working closely with coaches and athletics personnel to share the latest from a premier institution and a perennial powerhouse in collegiate athletics through our weekly broadcasts while providing an experience to fans that they get from no other station.”
Midwest Radio of Fargo-Moorhead is owned and operated by a family broadcasting company with North Dakota roots, Midwest Communications. Founded in Wausau, Wisconsin in 1958 by Duke Wright, Midwest Communications has grown from a single station to over 73 radio stations across Middle America. Duke, his wife Pegge, daughter Mary-Kay and sons Michael and Jeffrey oversee daily operations of this growing, local managed, community focused media company.
An industry leader for more than four decades, Learfield has a deep presence in the college athletics landscape nationwide. It manages the multimedia and sponsorship rights for more than 120 collegiate institutions, conferences and arenas, and supports athletic departments at all competitive levels as title sponsor of the prestigious Learfield Directors' Cup. Learfield also provides its collegiate partners access to professional concessions and ticket sales; licensing and trademark consulting; digital platform expertise; and venue and technology systems through its affiliated companies. For more about Learfield's history, businesses and career opportunities, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
What UND coaches are saying about the partnership with Midwest Radio – Fargo Moorhead:
Brad Berry, men's hockey head coach:
“This is an incredible partnership and opportunity for UND Athletics. Specific to our program, the Fargo-Moorhead area is an outstanding hockey market that is home to a great many North Dakota hockey fans and this allows us to continue cultivating what is already a tremendous fan base.”
Travis Brewster, women's basketball head coach:
“It's nice to have this additional coverage to reach a broader base of the Red River Valley because our fans are all over the state and our players come from all parts of the upper Midwest. Also, it's a plus to have the familiarity we do as an athletics department with some of their on-air personalities, in particular, Jack Michaels and Dan Hammer.”
Brian Jones, men's basketball head coach:
“This partnership is a great opportunity for our athletics department to further its reach and give the state's flagship institution a stronger presence in the Fargo-Moorhead footprint. All of our programs have a large following in the area and, especially for my team, this will give our fans another way to stay connected to us, which is something I think will benefit all parties involved.”
Bubba Schweigert, football head coach:
“This is a great deal. We have University of North Dakota fans all across this great state of ours and being able to get into the state's largest market on a consistent basis and have a constant voice in Fargo-Moorhead is only going to help grow that fan base. There are thousands and thousands of individuals who listen to KFGO throughout the day and being a part of that programming will only enhance the positives that are going on with UND Athletics and the University as a whole.”
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