One broadcast rights deal down, one to go.
The Minnesota Twins announced their radio broadcasts will continue on Audacy and legacy flagship WCCO. The radio rights extension begins next season, but an end date was not specified. As in previous seasons, games will be aired live on 830 WCCO, 102.9 The Wolf, and across the Twins’ Treasure Island Baseball Network’s affiliates, along with the Audacy App and the MLB app for MLB.TV subscribers.
We have extended our partnership with Audacy to ensure widespread distribution of Twins baseball across radio broadcasts: pic.twitter.com/Ib5aTtpYCy
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 7, 2024
The Twins’ partnership with WCCO dates back to the franchise’s move to Minnesota, partnering with the radio network for 53 of their 64 seasons.
Earlier this month, The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman reported that the Twins were also in discussions with KFAN and SKOR North, with the latter as a long shot. KFAN had the best shot to steal away the Twins, but they also have a crowded schedule on their docket. They own the radio rights to Vikings games as well as most Timberwolves, Wild, Lynx, and University of Minnesota football and basketball games, making the Twins less of a priority. That’s before getting to the popular local radio shows with which they would be competing as well.
In staying with WCCO, the Twins get, essentially, a radio network whose entire identity is built around baseball while keeping games freely accessible to fans both in Twins territory and across the country.
The Twins’ broadcast landscape has changed quite a bit over the last couple of seasons, with the biggest chip still to fall. Longtime TV play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer retired last offseason, replaced by radio man Cory Provus. Provus’ role was then backfilled by Kris Atteberry, who has been around the Twins for nearly two decades. In my opinion, both Provus and Atteberry were excellent in their first seasons in new roles.
Of course, the most impactful broadcast move is still to come. Diamond Sports, owner of the regional Bally Sports networks, declared bankruptcy last year with the TV rights process still playing out in bankruptcy court. Last week, Diamond said they would not be broadcasting games for any of the 19 teams they work with, save the Atlanta Braves, barring renegotiations at lower price points. That technically doesn’t affect the Twins who were TV free agents anyway, but it doesn’t bode well for a long-term partnership. Though, that may be a positive for Twins fans who were locked out of TV broadcasts for most of the summer.
The Twins made big promises last season about prioritizing local TV access before going back on their word. This offseason, they will likely be forced to make that a reality. In the meantime, at least fans can rest easy knowing the radio side has been sorted out.