Sacramento Kings End 32-Year Radio Era on KHTK
The Sacramento Kings are shaking up their broadcast strategy by ending their historic 32-year radio partnership with Sactown Sports 1140. Starting next season, local fans will need to tune their dials to a new home to catch live game action, analysis, and team coverage. This transition marks one of the most significant shifts in the Northern California sports media landscape in decades.
A Historic Partnership Comes to an End
Since 1994, Sactown Sports 1140 (KHTK) has served as the exclusive radio home of the Sacramento Kings. This partnership spanned the legendary playoff runs of the early 2000s, the challenging postseason drought, and the recent resurgence of the “Light the Beam” era. Generations of local residents grew up listening to the iconic play-by-play calls of Gary Gerould on this station, making 1140 AM synonymous with evening basketball in the valley.
The decision to split from Bonneville International represents a major pivot for the franchise. While the partnership was highly successful and deeply rooted in local culture, the Kings front office is looking to modernize their media footprint. This shift allows the team to transition to a broader, multi-platform distribution model designed to capture younger, digitally-focused audiences across Northern California.
The New Radio Home for Kings Basketball
The Sacramento Kings have officially signed a multi-year broadcast agreement with iHeartMedia Sacramento. Moving forward, KSTE Talk 650 AM will serve as the flagship radio home for all Kings games. This move is designed to leverage iHeartMedia’s massive regional reach. Fans will be able to listen to games on the traditional AM dial and gain access to digital streaming via the free iHeartRadio application.
The change also aims to resolve signal range issues that some rural Northern California listeners experienced at night. KSTE 650 AM features a strong signal that extends deep into the valley and surrounding foothill communities. Additionally, the integration with the iHeartRadio app ensures that fans who have migrated away from traditional AM receivers can easily stream high-quality game audio on their smartphones or smart home devices.
| Feature | Sactown Sports (KHTK) | New Flagship (KSTE) |
|---|---|---|
| Dial Position | 1140 AM | 650 AM |
| Parent Company | Bonneville International | iHeartMedia |
| Digital Stream | SactownSports.com | iHeartRadio App |
| Signal Strength | Directional at night | Broad regional coverage |
What This Means for Sacramento Fans
This broadcasting shift will trigger immediate changes in the local sports talk environment. For decades, Sactown Sports 1140 built its daily programming around the Kings, hosting pre-game shows, post-game call-in hours, and daily team-focused talk shows. While 1140 AM will continue to cover local sports, the loss of live play-by-play rights means their weekday hosts will no longer have exclusive, direct access to players and coaches for live game-day segments.
Conversely, iHeartMedia plans to integrate Kings content across its portfolio of local stations. This means promotional events, player interviews, and team updates will now be heard on popular local music and news stations, including KFBK and V101. This cross-promotional strategy is intended to introduce the team to broader demographics who might not regularly tune into dedicated sports talk radio.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why did the Kings change radio stations?
The Kings transitioned to iHeartMedia to leverage a stronger regional signal on KSTE 650 AM and utilize the robust digital streaming capabilities of the iHeartRadio platform. - Will Gary Gerould continue as the play-by-play announcer?
Yes, the legendary voice of the Kings, Gary “The G-Man” Gerould, is expected to continue calling the action, ensuring continuity for long-time fans. - How can I stream the games online for free?
You can stream live game broadcasts for free via the iHeartRadio app, the Sacramento Kings official app, or by using smart assistant devices. - When does this new radio contract begin?
The new partnership with iHeartMedia Sacramento officially begins with the start of the next NBA preseason schedule.
To prepare for the upcoming NBA season, local fans should update their car radio presets to 650 AM and download the iHeartRadio app to ensure they do not miss a single moment of live Kings coverage.
Sacramento Kings End Radio Era on KHTK
