The Arizona athletics department will earn more than $5 million for selling production rights to UA radio game broadcasts, television coaches' shows and game program publications, according to the five-year contract made available yesterday by the UA athletics department.

Host Communication, Inc., agreed to pay the amount in exchange for the rights to broadcast all Arizona football, men's basketball and select baseball and softball games on KCUB (1290-AM), Tucson's Fox Sports Radio affiliate.

"Arizona is one of the premiere universities in the country and we are elated to begin this relationship with the athletics department," said Host CEO Gordon Whitener. "We are impressed with their coaches and athletics administrators, and we are excited that our journey with the university coincides with that of (new head football) Coach (Mike) Stoops."

The Lexington, Ky.-based company will shift play-by-play duties from KNST (790-AM), a Clear Channel Communications station, to Fox Sports Radio, owned by Citadel Broadcasting Corporation, beginning July 1. KNST's most recent deal was scheduled to pay the UA more than $3.3 million at the time of its inception.

KNST spent more than two decades as radio provider of UA sports broadcasts, with its contract running through the end of the current season.

The contract leaves the relationship between long-time UA football and men's basketball play-by-play man Brian Jefferies and the university up in the air. Jefferies said earlier this week he is unsure if his status as the "Voice of the Wildcats" would continue past this season.

"I really kind of dedicated myself to the UA and that product, and I take great pride in it," Jefferies said. "I very much would like to keep going."

According to the deal, Host and the UA must mutually agree on all on-air talent, which includes play-by-play and color commentators and television coaches' show hosts.

Jefferies has spent close to two decades calling UA sporting events, primarily as lead play-by-play commentator for UA football and men's basketball radio broadcasts, on top of his duties as television host for the football and men's basketball coaches' shows on TV.

The deal also grants Host production rights for Wildcat women's basketball games, to continue being aired on KJLL (1330-AM), or another local Tucson station.

Host will pay the athletics department $950,000 during the 2004-05 school year, with the amount increasing by $25,000 each year for the duration of the five-year deal. Payments are set to broken into three equal installments per school year, on July 1, Dec. 1, and April 1.

On top of the $5 million base, Host will pay the UA additional bonuses for success on the field of play. Host could pay up to an additional $32,000, or increments thereof, for postseason success. For example, if the UA football team won a Bowl Championship Series game, Host would pay an additional $15,000. Should the UA men's basketball team reach the Final Four, Host will pay an additional $12,500. The contract also contained smaller bonuses for women's hoops, baseball and softball postseason appearances.

The contract also dictates that Host make additional payments if the company surpasses certain revenue levels during each fiscal year. If Host grosses more than $2.5 million, it must pay the UA an additional 15 percent of that revenue.

Host, according to contract terms, will also pay football head coach Mike Stoops, men's basketball head coach Lute Olson and women's basketball head coach Joan Bonvicini for appearances on coaches' shows during their respective seasons. Stoops and Olson are slated to make $50,000 each, while Bonvicini will earn an additional $5,000.

Host has also agreed to pay more than $90,000 for event tickets, parking and usage of a luxury suite during football contests at Arizona Stadium. The agreement includes 100 football season tickets, totaling more than $35,000, 68 men's basketball tickets, totaling close to $30,000, and a $25,000 payment for usage of the luxury suite.