April 19, 2005
The Portland Trail Blazers and KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8 announced today that they have renewed their 13-year partnership with a four-year television contract. The current agreement between the franchise and the network expires at the conclusion of this basketball season on April 20. This season, 26 Trail Blazers games are scheduled to air on NewsChannel 8, while the new deal will ensure that a minimum of 26 games will be broadcast on the network each season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“We are very pleased to be extending our broadcast relationship with the Trail Blazers,” said Paul Fry, Vice President and General Manager of KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8. “They are the premiere sports franchise in the community. We know that President Steve Patterson and his management team are dedicated to recapturing the team’s prominent position, not just in the NBA but also in the hearts of fans. We believe the future is bright and NewsChannel 8 is thrilled to be a part of it moving forward.”
The Trail Blazers are one of only five NBA teams (San Antonio, Sacramento, Dallas and Memphis being the others) that have their over-the-air schedule carried by a major broadcast affiliate (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX). In addition, no team in the league televises as many games (26) over a major broadcast affiliate as the Trail Blazers.
“The Trail Blazers organization takes great pride in extending our partnership with NewsChannel 8,” said Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson. “They are the proven leader in Portland which is demonstrated by the fact that they have dominated the marketplace by winning the past 21 ratings periods over a span of five years. As we continue to reshape this franchise, it is a pleasure to continue to align ourselves with a community leader like NewsChannel 8.”
“We have had a very rewarding partnership with the Trail Blazers in the past and we are extremely confident that our two organizations will continue to have one of the premier relationships not only in this market, but throughout the NBA as a whole,” said Fry.
Blazers Broadcasting
