Red Rock Radio, UMD Agree to Contract Extension

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- Some in-house news of sorts, something you may have seen on my Twitter feed, but I didn't have time to post a blog on it until I got to Bemidji.

My employers at Red Rock Radio and UMD have negotiated a two-year extension of their radio rights agreement. Here is the press release.

Red Rock Radio and the University of Minnesota Duluth have signed a two-year extension to their radio rights contract. The extension takes Red Rock’s exclusive rights for UMD football and men’s hockey through the 2014-15 season.

“We are delighted to again partner with UMD to provide exclusive radio play by play for fans in the Northland area,” said Shawn Skramstad, Vice President and General Manager for Red Rock Radio.

UMD football will continue to air on KQDS-AM (“The Fan 1490”) while men’s hockey is on KZIO-FM (“94X”). All football and men’s hockey games air throughout northeastern Minnesota on KBAJ-FM out of Deer River/Grand Rapids (“KQ 105.5”) and KAOD-FM in the Ely/Babbitt area (“KQ 106.7”).

“We're thrilled that Red Rock will continue to be the voice of the Bulldogs for the next years,” commented UMD interim athletic director Karen Stromme. “We're very happy that the games will continue to air throughout northeastern Minnesota, so our fans on the Iron Range can hear Bulldog football and hockey.”

“Keeping the UMD football and hockey teams here is a big win for our stations,” said Red Rock Radio Sports Director Bruce Ciskie, who is the voice of UMD men’s hockey. “It’s great to know that we’ll continue to broadcast Bulldog games to all our listeners throughout northeast Minnesota.”

Red Rock Radio has held the broadcast rights for UMD football and men’s hockey since the 2009-2010 season.

Obviously good news for the people I work for, and something I'm excited about. I think it's a good partnership for the radio group, the university, and the fans, so it's a win-win for everyone involved.