Washington State University and Bonneville Seattle have locked in a multiyear radio rights agreement designating Seattle Sports 710-AM (KIRO) as the permanent flagship for Cougar Football and Men’s Basketball, a move that solidifies sports media inventory in the Puget Sound while expanding digital streaming access for athletics fans. This partnership directly impacts radio programmers and rights holders by reinforcing the value of long-term collegiate sports contracts in a market already dominated by Seahawks and Mariners broadcasts.
Flagship Station Retained Amid Scheduling Conflicts
The agreement ensures that pregame, postgame, and live game coverage for football and men’s basketball will air primarily on KIRO-AM. When conflicts arise with Seattle Mariners or Seattle Seahawks scheduling, the broadcasts will shift to 770 KTTH-AM, a sister station within the Bonneville portfolio. All games remain available for live streaming via the Seattle Sports app, ensuring consistent audience reach regardless of on-air scheduling disruptions. This structure provides radio executives a clear contingency model for managing high-value sports content against professional league priorities.
The deal also expands the digital footprint of Cougar Athletics. For the first time, Cougar Women’s Basketball game broadcasts will be available for streaming through the Seattle Sports app. Additionally, one Washington State Baseball game broadcast each season will air on Seattle Sports 710-AM. Fans gain expanded streaming access across multiple platforms, with WSU Football, Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Basketball games available via both the Seattle Sports app and the WSU Cougars Gameday app.
Digital Integration and Coach Access Drive Value
Beyond traditional airtime, the partnership integrates original video content to deepen engagement. Each Tuesday throughout the football season, Washington State Head Coach Kirby Moore will join Michael Bumpus, former Cougar standout and co-host of a Seattle Sports program, for a weekly video interview. This content will be distributed across Seattle Sports’ digital presence, creating a new asset for digital advertisers and content monetization strategies.
WSU VP and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow emphasized that Seattle Sports provides a premier platform to share stories of student-athletes and coaches, noting that reaching Cougs wherever they are is critical to outreach. Seattle Sports PD Kyle Brown stated the renewed partnership allows the station to deliver more coverage through enhanced on-air programming and original video content. The Cougar Sports Network, managed by Playfly Sports, continues as the official radio and digital broadcasting network for Washington State Athletics, ensuring professional management of these rights.
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