Enjoy the Center Ice

Too be honest, I have not really followed the DirecTv V Versus dispute all that much, even though I am a subscriber. The only thoughts I have had on the subject are ones of continued dismay on how or why a major sports league would even consider entering a contract with such a unknown and obscure network. Especially one like the NHL, which needs all of the States-side exposure that it can get.

I have always maintained that the regular season coverage by Versus is too sporadic and thin at best. The post-season however, is another matter, only because when if our Wild fail to make it, that is all we can get...thank goodness for the NHL Network.

But a positive side-benefit has arisen out of this money squabble and I am bit overjoyed that this dispute has apparently spilled into the NHL opener. As a direct result of a lack of an agreement between Versus and DirecTv, the league will start the season by offering a three week free preview of their NHL Center Ice package, which means that from now until October 24th, there will be non-stop nightly hockey to be seen. Word has been swirling around that if DirecTv customers call and complain about the loss of Versus from their channel lineup, that the company is offering a free season of the Center Ice package...I'll let you know how that phone call goes...

from my in-box

For Immediate Release
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009

MINNESOTA WILD ANNOUNCES 2009-10 RADIO NETWORK
33 STATION WILD RADIO NETWORK IS LARGEST IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE “THIS WEEK IN HOCKEY” BEGINS OCTOBER 4 ON WCCO RADIO AND THE WILD RADIO NETWORK

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The National Hockey League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild today announced the club’s 2009-10 radio network includes 33 radio stations, the largest radio network in the NHL. The Wild radio network can be heard throughout Minnesota and the upper Midwest with affiliates in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin all carrying Wild hockey this season. WCCO Radio 830 AM is the official flagship station of the Wild. Any preempted games will be heard on both BOB 106.1 FM and KBGY 107.5 FM. In addition, every game is broadcast live via the Internet on www.wild.com. The club’s radio network is distributed by Skyview Satellite Networks. Bob Kurtz and Tom Reid are the radio voices of Wild hockey. The Minnesota Wild Radio Network pre-game show begins 30 minutes before each game and is followed by a 30-minute post-game show.

2009-10 MINNESOTA WILD RADIO NETWORK
Market Station Frequency
Albert Lea, MN KATE- AM 1450
Austin, MN KAUS-AM 1480
Bemidji, MN KBUN-AM 1450
Brainerd, MN KUAL-FM 103.5
Crookston, MN KROX-AM 1260
Detroit Lakes, MN KDLM-AM 1340
Duluth, MN KZIO-FM 104.3/94.1
Ely, MN WELY-AM/FM 1450/94.5
Fairmont, MN KSUM-AM 1370
Glenwood, MN KMGK-FM 107.1
Grand Marais, MN WXXZ-FM 95.3
Grand Rapids, MN KOZY-AM 1320
Hibbing, MN WMFG-AM 1240
Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN WCCO-AM 830 (Flagship) BOB FM 106.1 KBGY-FM 107.5
Montevideo, MN KKRC-FM 93.9
New Ulm, MN KNUJ-AM 860
Northfield, MN KYMN-AM 1080
Red Wing, MN KCUE-AM 1250
Rochester, MN KOLM-AM 1520
Roseau/Warroad, MN KRWB-AM 1410
St. Cloud, MN KXSS-AM 1390
Thief River Falls, MN KKAQ-AM 1460
Waseca, MN KOWZ-AM 1170
Winona, MN KWNO-AM 1230
Sioux City, IA KMNS-AM 620
Fargo, ND KVOX-AM 740
Grand Forks, ND KKXL-AM 1440
Aberdeen, SD KSDN-AM 930
Sioux Falls, SD KWSN-AM 1230
Vermillion, SD KVTK-AM 1570
Eau Claire, WI WBIZ-AM 1400

The Wild also announced today that “This Week in Hockey” will air each Sunday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. starting Sunday, Oct. 4 on WCCO Radio and the Wild Radio Network. The show will focus on coverage of the Wild and the NHL and will also include news related to college and high school hockey around the state. Hosted by WCCO’s Steve Thomson, the program will also include appearances by Wild radio personalities Bob Kurtz, Tom Reid and Kevin Falness, as well as Let’s Play Hockey’s Wally Shaver.

Great seats are still available for all Minnesota Wild home games including the Home Opener against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 8:00 p.m. Visit the Xcel Energy Center Box Office or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 to get tickets today.

-- WILD --

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