The Seattle Kraken are staying loud and clear on Seattle radio. The team announced Thursday a multi-year extension with iHeartMedia’s Sports Radio 93.3 KJR FM.
What We Know: KJR has served as the Kraken’s flagship station since before their 2021 inaugural season. The deal keeps play-by-play voice Everett Fitzhugh and analyst Al Kinisky in the booth. Host Mike Benton continues pre- and postgame shows, interviews, and podcast coverage. iHeartMedia Seattle also remains a key promotional partner for concerts at Climate Pledge Arena.
What They Said: Rich Moore, SVP of Programming for iHeartMedia Seattle: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the Seattle Kraken and remain the radio home for Kraken fans across the Pacific Northwest. Over the past five seasons, we’ve worked together to deliver fans incredible access to the team, from live game broadcasts to daily coverage and original content. We look forward to building on that momentum and bringing fans closer to the team across our platforms.”
What Remains Unclear: Neither side disclosed financial terms or the exact length of the extension.
What It Means: The extension signals the Kraken’s belief that radio still drives fan connection, especially where TV coverage doesn’t reach. The Kraken are a five-year-old franchise still building its base. Doubling down on a proven medium is a strategy about loyalty over trend-chasing. The deal also reenforces KJR as the destination for all things hockey in the Pacific Northwest meaning added brand equity within the marketplace.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.