UA broadcasts to leave KNST-790 for Fox-1290

Hands on your radio dials, UA sports fans: Your Wildcats are on the move.

Host Communications announced yesterday a five-year agreement with the UA department of intercollegiate athletics, giving the Lexington, Ky.-based company radio broadcast production rights to all Arizona men's and women's basketball games, all football games and select UA softball and baseball contests.

Scott Mackenzie, UA assistant athletic director of marketing and corporate sales, would not disclose the terms of the deal, citing a request by Host. The current five-year deal between the UA and KNST (790-AM), set to end this semester, is slated to earn the athletic department more than $3.3 million over the course of the deal.

The new deal marks the end of KNST's more than two-decade run as radio provider of UA sports broadcasts. KNST, a Clear Channel Communications station, and KJLL (1330-AM) will retain men's basketball and women's basketball broadcasting rights, respectively, through the end of the current season.

Tucson's Fox Sports Radio affiliate, KCUB (1290-AM), will assist with local production and serve as the flagship station for Wildcat sporting events starting in the fall, airing live play-by-play broadcasts and specialty programs. KCUB is one of five local stations owned by the Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, along with KIIM (99.5-FM), KSCR (97.5-FM), KHYT (107.5-FM), and KTUC (1400-AM).

"We believe that the promotional time Host and Citadel outlined in their presentation to us is unprecedented in college athletics," said UA athletic director Jim Livengood in a release. "While much of the programming will be aired on Fox 1290, Citadel will utilize all of its Tucson resources to feature student-athletes in all sports and has made a daily commitment to promote university-wide activities."

The new contract, however, leaves the relationship of long-time UA football and men's basketball play-by-play man Brian Jefferies to the university up in the air. Jeffries, the "Voice of the Wildcats" for close to 18 seasons, said he would like to continue calling UA events for Host next season, but added that he could not comment on the possibility of a position being offered.

"Absolutely, that is my greatest desire," he said, recollecting the time he's spent working with the UA. "It's been a long time. I really kind of dedicated myself to the UA and that product, and I take great pride in it."

"I started at KNST in 1979 and we started carrying the games in 1981," he said. "I have taken great pride into building that product into something that's pretty good."

Arizona becomes the ninth major collegiate athletic program to form a broadcast partnership with Host Communications, with services to each school varying from play-by-play broadcasts to advertising and publishing rights. Currently, Boston College, Florida State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Michigan, Purdue, Tennessee and Texas, along with the Southeastern Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, have media deals with Host.

The deal also includes production rights for weekly coaches' shows with head football coach Mike Stoops and men's basketball coach Lute Olson, along with publishing rights for printed game programs.

Host and Jefferson City, Mo.-based Learfield Communications were the only two serious considerations for the contract, according to Mackenzie. He said proposals were presented by Host to air coverage via Fox Sports Radio and by Learfield to continue airing programming on KNST.