Expansion Sounders sign multi-year TV deal

• by Ridge Mahoney  @ridgemax, Jul 22, 2008

[MLS] Seattle's preparations for a spectacular launch in 2009 took another step forward with the announcement of a multi-year local TV deal, nearly nine months before it plays an official league match.

KONG-6/16 and KING-5 will be the team's local broadcast partners for games produced by the Sounders and their partner BELO, a media holdings company. All games, unless they are televised nationally, will be shown, and the team will also produce pre-game and post-game shows as well as a weekly show, something most teams still haven't put together after more than a decade of existence.

"The Sounders FC adds two broadcast icons to our family today," said Vulcan Sports & Entertainment CEO Tod Leiweke. "This partnership teams one of the most recognizable voices in sports with the number-one rated station in Western Washington."

Icon number two is play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Calabro, who worked 21 years as for the NBA Sonics, which recently moved to Oklahoma City. He has extensive experience with basketball for TNT, TBS and ESPN Radio, and also called basketball and football games for Purdue University. His career began at WIBC radio in Indianapolis with minor league hockey, and started his major league experience with the NBA Kansas City Kings in 1983.