COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University Athletics and Tri-County Broadcasting of Sauk Rapids, Minn., have agreed to an eight-year radio broadcasting extension through the 2018-19 academic year.
The contract involves the Johnnie football, basketball and hockey teams. Under the terms of the contract, all SJU football and basketball games, and nearly all hockey games will continue to be broadcast on The Bear (WBHR), 660 AM, an ESPN affiliate. Select Johnnie baseball and wrestling events will also be broadcast annually.
The Bear is the flagship station of the Johnnies Football Network, with affiliates throughout the state: WLOL-AM (1330), Relevant Radio, out of the Twin Cities, as well as KOWZ-AM (1170) out of Owatonna. WLOL-AM has a primary and secondary bandwidth to reach the seven-county Twin Cities metro area, as well as the southern portion of the state and into western Wisconsin and northern Iowa. Thus, SJU football broadcasts will continue to have state-wide coverage beyond its borders.
SJU's pre- and post-game football broadcasts, which total at least 2.5 hours, will continue to be one of the longest and most extensive in Division III athletics. In addition, Football Weekly returns as a mainstay this fall. The hour-long radio show airs each week during the season and includes a Johnnie coach, student-athlete and a head coach from a local high school. All broadcasts will continue to be streamed live and archived on the gojohnnies.com website. The 2011 season is the 15th year SJU football can be heard worldwide on the Internet.
SJU first signed on with The Bear for the 2006-07 academic year and extended the five-year contract through March 2014 following its first full year of broadcasts in December 2007. This new eight-year deal replaces the current radio agreement, though nothing structurally changes within the contract.
“Normally we do not sign eight-year agreements, but this makes so much sense,” SJU athletic director Tom Stock said. “With Mark Lewandowski, the network, the lengthy pre- and post-game format, male demographic, as well as the addition of some wrestling and baseball broadcasts, we think we have the best radio broadcast package in Division III athletics. This way, our fans know where to find Johnnie athletics on the radio dial for years to come.”
The contract also includes several exposure elements including newspaper advertising, radio promotional spots and Web-based advertising. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, though SJU will gain additional advertising revenue in regard to the number of radio sponsorship packages it is allowed to sell.
“We are excited to remain the home of Johnnie football, basketball and hockey broadcasts as the flagship station of SJU athletics,” said Herb Hoppe, president and general manager of Tri-County Broadcasting. “It's a partnership that is so strong; it just made sense to extend the contract for another eight years.”
The Bear, Minnesota's sports station, has a large primary and secondary bandwidth that reaches the northern part of the state, and is hopeful in expanding that bandwidth.
“Our coverage area, because of our networked stations, we believe is unmatched in NCAA Division III athletics,” said Gary Hoppe, operations manager of Tri-County Broadcasting. “Johnnie athletics have a history of consistency in terms of coaching longevity, success and fan following. And now, we have this consistency in our broadcast partnership.”
