List of Kansas City Chiefs broadcasters

Last updated

The following is a synopsis of radio and television broadcast outlets for the Kansas City Chiefs, a franchise from the National Football League.

Contents

Radio

Kansas City Chiefs radio play-by-play announcers [1]
1960–1962 Charlie Jones
1963 Merle Harmon
1964–1970Tom Hedrick [2]
1971–1973 Dick Carlson
1974–1975 Ray Scott
1976Al Wisk
1977Tom Hopkins
1978–1984 Wayne Larrivee
1985–1993 Kevin Harlan
1994–present Mitch Holthus

From 1989 until the end of the 2019 season, Cumulus Media's KCFX (101.1), a.k.a. "101 The Fox", broadcast all Chiefs games on FM radio under the moniker of The Chiefs Fox Football Radio Network, one of the earliest deals where an FM station served as the flagship station of a team radio network. Since 1994, Mitch Holthus has served as play-by-play announcer. [1] Former Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson served alongside Holthus for color commentary but starting in the 2016 season, Dawson's role was slowly minimized as he announced his retirement from broadcasting. [3] The Chiefs and KCFX was the longest FM radio broadcast partnering tenure in the NFL. [1] [4]

With the start of the 2020 season, WDAF-FM (106.5 FM) became the flagship of the Chiefs network, with sister station KCSP (610 AM) carrying surrounding analysis and team interview programming as well as selected simulcasts of live games, and the Audacy app streaming coverage of all games online on desktops/laptops only. Games are available via the app, but only within the Chiefs' market which is western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Games are also available outside of the team market, as with all 32 teams, through a subscription to NFL+. The network's personnel, outside those exclusively contracted to Cumulus, were expected to be retained with the new Entercom contract. [5] Beginning with the 2024 season, Chiefs games will be broadcast on KFNZ-FM, also known as 96.5 The Fan. [6] WDAF-FM will continue to simulcast Chiefs games during the 2024 season. [7]

Radio affiliates

Chiefs games are primarily broadcast in Missouri and Kansas, where most of the team's fans are located. Games are broadcast in a total of 13 states, including Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico, Arkansas, Texas, and South Dakota. In total, 63 cities outside of Missouri and Kansas broadcast games. In accordance with NFL exclusivity rules surrounding Westwood One broadcasts, all AFC Championship and Super Bowl broadcasts are not syndicated outside of KCSP and WDAF-FM. [8] Stations in major cities are listed below.

CityCall signFrequency
Kansas City, Missouri KFNZ-FM 95.5 FM
Jefferson City, Missouri KCMQ 96.7 FM
Springfield, Missouri KKLH104.7 FM
KGMY 1400 AM
Joplin, Missouri / Pittsburg, Kansas KKOW 860 AM
Manhattan, Kansas KMAN 1350 AM
Salina, Kansas KINA 910 AM/107.5 FM
KSKG 99.9 FM
Topeka, Kansas WIBW 580 AM/104.9 FM
Wichita, Kansas KNSS 98.7 FM
Emporia, Kansas KVOE-FM 101.7 FM
Des Moines, Iowa KBGG 1700 AM
Omaha, Nebraska KXSP 590 AM
Lubbock, Texas KKCL-FM 98.1 FM
St. Louis, Missouri KMOX 1120 AM/98.7 FM

Television

The Chiefs hosting the Browns in the 2021 season opener. The NFL on CBS banner hangs in view of the broadcast cameras, on the sideline. Mahomes cadence - Browns at Chiefs, 2021.jpg
The Chiefs hosting the Browns in the 2021 season opener. The NFL on CBS banner hangs in view of the broadcast cameras, on the sideline.

CBS and Fox are the main stations that broadcast Chiefs games that aren't primetime. The team's primary markets outside of Kansas City include the metropolitan areas of Wichita and Omaha.

Prior to the 1994 season, WDAF was the primary station for the Chiefs as an NBC affiliate (they aired on KMBC when ABC had the AFL package through 1964), since NBC had the AFC package. The inter-conference home games aired on KCTV starting in 1973 (when the NFL allowed local telecasts of home games). After week one of the 1994 season, WDAF switched to Fox (which got the NFC package), and has aired the Chiefs' inter-conference home games since. The bulk of the team's games moved to KSHB through the end of the 1997 season. Since that time, they have aired on KCTV, save for the 2015 Week 17 game vs. the Oakland Raiders, which aired on WDAF when the NFL cross-flexed the game from CBS to FOX.

Preseason game affiliates

Preseason games are broadcast throughout the majority of the states of Missouri and Kansas, as well as portions of Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Nearby major cities besides Kansas City with broadcasts include Wichita, Des Moines, Tulsa, and Lincoln.

Metro areaCall signAffiliation
Kansas City metro KSHB-TV NBC
Columbia, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri 		KMIZ / KQFX / KZOU ABC / FOX / MyTV
Des Moines, Iowa
Ames, Iowa 		KDSM FOX
Ft. Smith, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Springdale, Arkansas
Rogers, Arkansas 		KNWA / KFTA NBC / FOX
Joplin, Missouri
Pittsburg, Kansas 		KODE / KSNF ABC / NBC
Lincoln, Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska
Kearney, Nebraska 		KFXL / KHGI FOX / ABC
Ottumwa, Iowa
Kirksville, Missouri 		KTVO / KTVO 3.2CBS / ABC
Springfield, Missouri KOLR / KOZL CBS / Indy
St. Joseph, Missouri KQTV ABC
Topeka, Kansas WIBW / EIBWCBS / MyTV
Tulsa, Oklahoma KOTV / KQCW CBS / CW
Wichita metro
Ensign, Kansas
Hays, Kansas
Goodland, Kansas 		KWCH / KSCW-DT / KDCU CBS / CW / Univision

Related Research Articles

KFNZ-FM is a sports radio station, licensed to Kansas City, Missouri, and serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc., with studios located in Mission, Kansas and a transmitter site in Kansas City's East Side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Media in Kansas City, Missouri</span> Overview of mass media in Kansas City

The following media outlets serve Kansas City, Missouri and the surrounding Kansas City metropolitan area.

KCMO is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kansas City, Missouri. Owned by Cumulus Media, the station airs a talk radio format. The studios and offices are on Indian Creek Parkway in Overland Park, Kansas. KCMO is also heard on KCHZ in Ottawa, Kansas, FM translator K279BI (103.7) in Kansas City, Missouri, and on the second HD Radio channel of co-owned KCFX (101.1) in Harrisonville, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCTV</span> CBS affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri

KCTV is a television station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KSMO-TV. The two stations share studios on Shawnee Mission Parkway in Fairway, Kansas; KCTV's transmitter facility, the KCTV Broadcast Tower, is located in the Union Hill section of Kansas City, Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMBC-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri

KMBC-TV is a television station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside CW affiliate KCWE. The two stations share studios on Winchester Avenue in the Ridge-Winchester section of Kansas City, Missouri; KMBC-TV's transmitter is located in the city's Blue Valley section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSHB-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri

KSHB-TV is a television station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside Lawrence, Kansas–licensed independent station KMCI-TV. The two stations share studios on Oak Street in southern Kansas City, Missouri; KSHB-TV's transmitter is located at the Blue River Greenway in the city's Hillcrest section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCWE</span> CW affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri

KCWE is a television station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, affiliated with The CW. It is owned by Hearst Television alongside ABC affiliate KMBC-TV. The two stations share studios on Winchester Avenue in the Ridge-Winchester section of Kansas City, Missouri; KCWE's transmitter is located in the city's Blue Valley section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMCI-TV</span> Independent TV station in Lawrence, Kansas

KMCI-TV is an independent television station licensed to Lawrence, Kansas, United States, serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is owned by the E. W. Scripps Company alongside NBC affiliate KSHB-TV. The two stations share studios on Oak Street in Kansas City, Missouri; KMCI-TV's transmitter is located at the Blue River Greenway in the city's Hillcrest section. Despite Lawrence being KMCI-TV's city of license, the station maintains no physical presence there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDAF-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Kansas City, Missouri

WDAF-TV is a television station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group, and maintains studios and transmitter facilities on Summit Street in the Signal Hill section of Kansas City, Missouri.

KFNZ is a commercial AM radio station licensed to Kansas City, Missouri. The Audacy, Inc.-owned station broadcasts a sports radio format. Its studios and offices are located on Squibb Road in Mission, Kansas. KFNZ is one of the oldest radio stations in the Kansas City metropolitan area, going on the air in 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WHB</span> Radio station in Kansas City, Missouri

WHB is a commercial radio station in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The station is owned by Union Broadcasting and it airs an all-sports radio format. For most of the 1950s through the 1970s, while it was broadcasting at 710 AM, WHB was one of the nation's most influential Top 40 outlets.

KWOD is a sports gambling radio station that broadcasts in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. KWOD is owned by Audacy, Inc. Its transmitter is in Westwood, Kansas, and studios are located in Mission, Kansas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCKC</span> Adult contemporary radio station in Kansas City

KCKC is an adult contemporary radio station based in Kansas City, Missouri that operates with an ERP of 100 kW. The station is licensed to and operated by Steel City Media. The station's studios are located at Westport Center in Midtown Kansas City, and its transmitter is located in Independence, Missouri.

The NFL on Westwood One Sports is the branding for Cumulus Broadcasting subsidiary Westwood One's radio coverage of the National Football League. These games are distributed throughout the United States and Canada. The broadcasts were previously branded with the CBS Radio and Dial Global marques; CBS Radio was the original Westwood One's parent company and Dial Global purchased the company in 2011. Dial Global has since reverted its name to Westwood One after merging with Cumulus Media Networks.

KCFX is a radio station broadcasting a classic rock format. Licensed to the suburb of Harrisonville, Missouri, it serves the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The station is currently owned by Cumulus Media. The station's studios are located in Overland Park, Kansas, and the transmitter is in Kansas City’s East Side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WDAF-FM</span> Radio station in Liberty, Missouri

WDAF-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to Liberty, Missouri, and serving the Kansas City metropolitan area. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station airs a country music radio format, branded as "106.5 The Wolf". Studios and offices are located on Squibb Road in Mission, Kansas.

WIBW is a commercial AM radio station in Topeka, Kansas. It is owned by Alpha Media and airs a talk and sports radio format. The studios and offices are on SW Executive Drive in Topeka. The transmitter is off NW Landon Road in Silver Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Holthus</span> American sportscaster (born 1957)

Mitchell G. Holthus, is the play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network. Holthus is fondly nicknamed "the voice of the Chiefs", and he hosts various programs and events for the Chiefs organization's 65TPT production arm for broadcast as well as Chiefs Radio Network and the NFL team's YouTube channel. He was on call for Super Bowls LIV, LVII, and LVIII when the Chiefs won the second, third, and fourth NFL national championships in Chiefs franchise history. Holthus also hosts the Chiefs Insider program, Defending the Kingdom podcast, Chiefs Rewind and is a contributor with the Chiefs Senior Team Reporter Matt McMullen on Chiefs Field Pass. He also hosts the award-winning "Minute With Mitch" television and radio series that is seen and heard in five states.

Zakk Tyler or Zakk is an American Multi-Media Manager, Sports, News and Talk Show Personality.

The Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network is an American radio network consisting of 37 radio stations which carry coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals, a professional football team in the NFL. Three Cincinnati radio stations—WCKY (1530 AM), WEBN (102.7 FM), and WLW (700 AM)—serve as the network's flagship stations; WLW also simulcasts over a low-power FM translator. The network also includes 39 affiliates in the U.S. states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia: 27 AM stations, 18 of which extend their signals with one or more low-power FM translators; and 12 full-power FM stations. Dan Hoard is the current play-by-play announcer, while Dave Lapham serves as color commentator. In addition to traditional over-the-air AM and FM broadcasts, the Bengals are available on SiriusXM satellite radio, and online with NFL Audio Pass.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Herb, Kuhbander, Looney, and Moris, p. 51
  2. ↑ Martinez, Marlon (January 26, 2024). "'One of the best highlights of my life': Former voice of the Chiefs reflects on his time with the team". KSHB. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Hall Of Famer Len Dawson Reducing Role With Chiefs Radio Network". SunFlowerRadio.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  4. ↑ "101 The Fox extends Kansas City Chiefs radio broadcast rights through 2009 season". Kansas City Chiefs. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ Kerkhoff, Blair (5 December 2019). "Chiefs flagship radio station and broadcast partner moving on the dial in 2020". Kansas City Star . Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Sports Comes to FM in Kansas City with Launch of 96.5 The Fan
  7. ↑ Grathoff, Pete (August 8, 2024). "Kansas City Chiefs and Royals games will have a new radio home starting next week". The Kansas City Star . Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network affiliate stations". ArrowheadPride.com. 9 September 2020.
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