Sounders FC announces complete 2017 regional broadcast lineup

SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC today announced its complete regional broadcast details for the 2017 Major League Soccer season, following a year in which the team’s MLS Cup championship match set national and local records for ratings and viewership. Supporters of the Rave Green are set to continue enjoying a robust array of ways to follow the team, as Seattle maintains its relationships with all of its existing regional television and radio partners.

In regional television, the club’s home remains Q13 FOX (KCPQ-Channel 13) and JOEtv (KZJO-Channel 22), while ROOT SPORTS is scheduled to again serve as the live out-of-market television home of Sounders FC. Additionally, Univision-Seattle (KUNS-TV) returns to provide televised Spanish-language coverage for 10 matches, in addition to 15 episodes of 30-minute shoulder program Sounders FC en Acción.

In regional radio, both KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM continue their matchday coverage in 2017 as the English and Spanish-language homes of Sounders FC, respectively. Both radio affiliates are carrying weekly Sounders FC shoulder programs. A 60-minute Sounders FC-focused show is airing on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM at 9:00 p.m. PT every Thursday evening throughout the season, with El Rey carrying a 30-minute weekly show – Somos Sounders FC – airing Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. PT.

“We are thrilled to continue these relationships with our incredible broadcast partners, as their commitment enables Sounders fans to follow their team closely throughout the season with a variety of options,” said Sounders FC Chief Operating Officer Bart Wiley. “We are also pleased to continue with such an experienced group of broadcast talent across our many platforms, offering fans a diverse array of analysis and insight surrounding the team. We truly believe our club has one of the most thorough broadcast lineups in the league, and we’re eager for the season to begin Saturday in Houston.”

MEDIA RESOURCES

SOUNDERS FC BROADCAST HOME: http://sndrs.com/2erb

SOUNDERS FC MEDIA RESOURCES HOME: http://sndrs.com/n9ta

2016 saw Sounders FC air separate television and radio broadcasts for the first time, a feature that fans can again look forward to in 2017. Keith Costigan and Matt Johnson reprise their play-by-play roles, with Sounders icon and broadcast analyst Kasey Keller returning to the fold. Keller is joined by a stable of rotating radio analysts, including former Sounders Danny Jackson and Wade Webber, in addition to Seattle University Head Coach Pete Fewing. Costigan joined the Rave Green’s broadcast crew last year, working alongside Keller on the club’s television broadcasts, and has an extensive background as both a professional player and an analyst for FOX Sports. Johnson enters his second season as a play-by-play voice for the club, having previously served as the voice of Sounders FC radio broadcasts following a lengthy broadcast career with 950 KJR and the Seattle Seahawks.

Sounders FC's partnership with Q13 FOX and JOEtv includes a 30-minute pre-match show and 30-minute post-match wrap-up following each locally-telecast contest, two feature-length Sounders FC specials during the 2017 season and a weekly segment during Friday's "Q It Up" sportscast throughout the year. Eight 2017 Sounders FC matches, including a nationally-televised bout against Portland on May 27, are being carried by Q13 FOX, with the remaining 12 regional fixtures slated for JOEtv. The network’s first Sounders FC special – a 60-minute Return of the Champions feature – is slated to air first on JOEtv on Thursday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m. PT, followed by a re-air on Sunday, March 5 at 5:00 p.m. PT.

Jackie Montgomery returns as the host of pre-match, halftime and post-match coverage, alongside broadcast analysts Taylor Graham, Marcus Hahnemann, Steve Zakuani and Fewing.

New in 2017, the club welcomes a special contributor to its matchday television broadcasts, as newly-retired Sounders FC defender Zach Scott joins for periodic appearances in pre-match, halftime and post-match coverage. Scott, known as “Mr. Sounder,” needs little introduction to the Seattle faithful. Having retired at the conclusion of the championship-winning 2016 season, Scott spent a total of 15 years with the Sounders at the USL and MLS levels, earning an MLS title, two USL titles, four U.S. Open Cups and a Supporters’ Shield.

“Q13 FOX and JOEtv are thrilled to once again bring the excitement of the Seattle Sounders to our television audience,” said Pam Pearson, SVP / General Manager of Q13 FOX and JOEtv. “As fans and partners, we look forward to another incredible season with the reigning MLS champions!”

ROOT SPORTS returns as the live out-of-market home of Sounders FC regional broadcasts, bringing eight live matches to households throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. ROOT SPORTS is also set to re-air all Sounders FC matches regionally throughout the network's five-state regional footprint.

Sounders FC has also partnered once again with Sinclair Broadcast Group to air Sounders FC Spanish-language programming, including 10 MLS match telecasts on Univision-Seattle (KUNS-TV). Following a successful 2016 debut, Sounders FC Fútbol en Vivo returns April 8 against the San Jose Earthquakes and is once again hosted by Univision-Seattle's play-by-play voice Jaime Mendez and analyst Diego Arrioja. Sinclair is also scheduled to air 15 episodes of Sounders FC en Acción, a 30-minute recap show on Univision-Seattle hosted by Mendez. Each of the scheduled episodes airs Saturday evenings at 4:00 p.m. PT, save for an episode airing on Friday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT. Fans should check their Univision schedule for additional details. Sounders FC en Acción gives Western Washington's Hispanic community and Sounders FC fans an inside look at their favorite Seattle Sounders FC players with exclusive interviews and appearances, as well as a recap of key team happenings from the past week.

“We are again honored to serve as the home of the MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders FC for our Hispanic community,” said Sinclair Media of Seattle Vice-President & General Manager Janene Drafs. “On behalf of the fastest-growing segment of Sounders fútbol fans we say: Vamos, Sounders!”    

Bonneville Seattle Radio Group returns as the English radio home of Sounders FC, with KIRO Radio 97.3 FM set to again carry home and away matches in 2017. In addition to match broadcasts, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM is carrying pre and post-match shows surrounding most Sounders FC contests, once again hosted by Jason Rantz with a rotating panel of analysts that includes Webber, Fewing and Jackson, among others. Additionally, a 60-minute Sounders FC-focused show on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM will air at 9:00 p.m. PT every Thursday evening throughout the season featuring Rantz and Matt Johnson.

The club also continues its partnership with El Rey 1360 AM as the Spanish-language home for Sounders FC matches in 2017. With play-by-play voice "Zuper" Mario Rodriguez alongside Carlos Tapia and Felipe Maqueda on the call, El Rey 1360 AM is set to carry all 34 Sounders FC matches during the 2017 season. El Rey 1360 AM also provides 30-minute pre-match and post-match shows as part of their matchday coverage, as well as a 30-minute weekly radio show, Somos Sounders FC. The latter is hosted by Felipe Maqueda, and he is joined by Carolina Antipolo, Niko Moreno, Hugo M. López and Marco Canseco, airing Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. PT.

Seattle kicks-off the 2017 MLS regular season with two road matches: at the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, March 4 and at the Montreal Impact on Saturday, March 11. The defending MLS champion’s home-opener is scheduled for Sunday, March 19 against the New York Red Bulls in a nationally televised match on FS1.  

COMPLETE 2017 SOUNDERS FC TELEVISION BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Every Sounders FC match can be heard over the radio on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM (English) and El Rey 1360 AM (Spanish).
ABOUT Q13 FOX AND JOETV

Q13 FOX is the Seattle / Tacoma FOX Network affiliate and the home for market-leading local news and sports. Q13 News produces news content across multiple platforms including 10 hours of local news programming each weekday.  Q13 FOX is the official television partner of the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC and the Seattle Storm. JOEtv is the Seattle / Tacoma My Network TV affiliate broadcasting on channel 22 and also available on Comcast Cable 110. JOEtv carries a variety of programming, including Sounders FC matches and entertainment programming. In addition, Q13 News at 9 airs nightly on JOEtv and is the #1 nine o'clock news program in the market. For more information visit www.q13fox.com.

ABOUTROOT SPORTS

ROOT SPORTS™ is the television home of the Seattle Mariners, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders FC, Portland Timbers, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Big Sky Conference and Mountain West. The network reaches approximately 3.2 million households across five states, and delivers more than 350 live events each year – all of which are available in high definition. ROOT SPORTS Northwest is operated by AT&T Sports Networks, which operates regional sports networks in the Northwest, Pittsburgh, Rocky Mountain and Southwest regions. The four networks combined reach approximately 13 million households across 22 states and own exclusive rights to produce and distribute live events from more than 25 teams and conferences.    

ABOUT UNIVISION-SEATTLE (KUNS-TV)

Part of Sinclair Broadcast Group, the station is in its tenth year of broadcasting and is the only full power Spanish language station in the market offering locally produced news and sought after sports and prime programming. Univision Seattle is home to the most exclusive audience in the Seattle-Tacoma market as more than 40% of the station's audience cannot be found with any other English Language broadcast station. Representing more than 123,000+ homes, the Hispanic community is among the largest and fastest growing population segments in the Seattle-Tacoma DMA, and Seattle is now the 26th largest Hispanic market in the U.S.

ABOUT KIRO RADIO

KIRO Radio tells you what's happening and why. All day we deliver the news and connect the dots through the eyes of KIRO's thinkers and talkers. Through breaking news and stories that range from the meaningful to the offbeat, we bring you what's most interesting right now. Found at 97.3 FM, KIRORadio.com and your smartphone, KIRO Radio gives you award-winning, around-the-clock news and iconic Northwest voices. KIRO also is home to the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders FC.

ABOUT SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

EL Rey 1360 AM and KDNA 91.9 FM in Granger, Washington are part of the Sea Mar Family, one of the largest Community Health Centers in the nation. Last year 1.2 million individual services to 244,519 people were provided in 11 counties of the state. Sea Mar was founded in 1978 offer medical, dental, behavioral health and human services to diverse communities. Its ultimate goal is precisely communities' empowerment. SeaMar and its radio stations are very proud of being the Sounders home in Spanish. Futbol is our passion!