KFAN (iHeart) is Reportedly Coming for the Twins Too

Few things have been more notable than where you can consume Minnesota Twins games over the past handful of months. With plenty of uncertainty regarding cable, there are some new changes that could be coming to broadcast airwaves too.

Currently on WCCO-AM and 102.9 The Wolf FM in the local market, the Minnesota Twins radio deal could see a significant change before next season. WCCO has had the rights for the past six years, and they are hoping to keep the baseball team on their airwaves.

KFAN (iHeartMedia) vying for Minnesota Twins radio rights

But Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press notes reported on Sunday that they have heavy-hitter competition, with radio footprint giants, KFAN (iHeartMedia) and Hubbard broadcasting also “in the mix”.

Talks about a new Twins radio deal are underway. Incumbent WCCO-AM has had rights the last half-dozen years and is in the mix, but so are iHeart and Hubbard broadcasting.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

KFAN, 100.3-FM, is the notable home of the Minnesota Vikings (since 2001) and the flagship station for every other major sports team in Minnesota. The Timberwolves got their own channel on iHeartRadio last year, and that includes appearances on KFAN, depending on the Minnesota Wild’s schedule.

The Lynx were part of the deal that brought Wolves games to 100.3 and iHeartMedia. The Wild have called KFAN home since the 2011-12 season. But the popular radio station doesn’t stop with pro sports. iHeart and KFAN is also the radio home of Gophers sports.

The MN Twins moving to KFAN would be a very logical, fit from a package perspective, given their baseball programming is relatively limited and they seem to be on a mission to become broadcasting partners with every major team in town.

Related: Cory Provus Named Twins New TV Play-by-Play

Hubbard broadcasting is also said to be in the mix when it comes to bidding for a new deal. That would mean the Twins move to 94.5 FM. While it’s possible either WCCO or KSTP could ultimately retain/secure rights, it appears that KFAN is on a mission to gobble up all radio rights to local sports teams, and creating a central hub is hardly a bad thing.

Minnesota Twins broadcast rights also remain hanging in the balance

It’s not just radio rights that could change hands next season. Bally Sports North hasn’t been available on Comcast for months, and Diamond Sports Group is currently going through bankruptcy proceedings. Nothing has changed in recent weeks, and nothing is expected to until at least July 29th.

Related: Bally Sports Releases Tone Deaf Statement on Contract Battle with Comcast

The eagerly anticipated bankruptcy hearing is scheduled for that date, and it is at that point where some sort of change may be coming for Minnesota Twins fans. A possibility for games to be streamed, in market, may come to fruition, according to Walters. Currently, the Twins themselves, not Bally’s/Diamond, own the rights to stream their contests.

>> Twins TV: It’s status quo for the Comcast-Diamond Sports Group dilemma, meaning no progress. Diamond’s pivotal big bankruptcy hearing in Houston remains on schedule for July 29. Don’t be surprised if streaming for Twins games becomes an option after the hearing.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press