OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 7, 2011 – The Oklahoma City Thunder announced today that its exclusive TV partner, FOX Sports Oklahoma, will carry 58 of the Thunder’s 66 regular-season games. All of the games will be broadcast in HD. The remaining eight games will be NBA national exclusives carried only on ABC or TNT.
The regular-season broadcast schedule on FOX Sports Oklahoma begins on Christmas night, Dec. 25, when the Thunder hosts the Orlando Magic at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City as part of the NBA’s opening day schedule. In addition, one of the Thunder’s preseason games, Tuesday, Dec. 20 at home against Dallas, will be carried on FOX Sports Oklahoma.
The entire regular-season schedule can also be heard statewide on the Thunder Radio Network and the Sports Animal, led by WWLS (98.1 FM, 640 AM) in Oklahoma City. WKY (930 AM La Indomable) will again broadcast all Thunder home games in Spanish. Both of the Thunder’s preseason games will be carried on the Thunder Radio Network.
Thunder broadcasters Brian Davis (TV play-by-play), Grant Long (TV analyst), Kelly Crull (TV/web reporter), Matt Pinto (radio play-by-play) and Eleno Ornelas (Spanish radio play-by-play) all return for the new season. They join members of FOX Sports Oklahoma’s “Thunder Live” pregame and postgame studio crew of John Rhadigan, Dana Larson and former NBA player, Stephen Howard.
“We are extremely proud of our relationship with our broadcast partners,” said Thunder Vice President of Corporate Communications Dan Mahoney. “Thunder fans across the state and region are able to connect with our team via these TV and radio broadcasts, and we will work harder than ever to provide top-quality, informative and exciting presentations.” Thunder TV broadcasts reach nearly all cable and satellite homes in Oklahoma, as well as portions of Arkansas and Kansas.
“We look forward to another exciting season of televising Thunder games,” said FOX Sports Oklahoma Senior Vice President/General Manager Jon Heidtke. “We’re thrilled to showcase their energetic brand of basketball to a dynamic fan base throughout Oklahoma. We’re excited to be the local television home for Thunder Basketball.”
Along with the 58-game Thunder schedule, FOX Sports Oklahoma will again carry the weekly “Thunder Insider” show. Presented by INTEGRIS Health, “Thunder Insider” offers an array of Thunder features, player profiles and community reports. It is hosted by Kelly Crull and features the entire Thunder broadcast team. In addition to appearing on FOX Sports Oklahoma, “Thunder Insider” is streamed live each week on THUNDER.NBA.COM, NewsOK.com and thesportsanimal.com.
FOX Sports Oklahoma can be seen on COX Oklahoma City on channels 37 and 722 (HD) and channels 27 and 722 (HD) in Tulsa. DirecTV subscribers can catch Thunder games on channels 679 and 679-1 (HD). Subscribers to Dish Network and other cable outlets throughout the state and region are asked to check their program guides.
The 11-station Thunder Radio Network includes Sports Animal Network stations in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Muskogee, Elk City and Woodward. Other stations carrying Thunder games on the radio include KFXY (1640 AM) in Enid, KXCA (1380 AM) in Lawton and the newest Thunder Radio affiliate, KQTZ (105.9 FM) in Altus/Hobart.