HOUSTON– The Houston Rockets and Clear Channel Media & Entertainment Houston announced today a multi-year rights agreement that establishes SportsTalk 790 as the new flagship radio home of the Rockets. Under the new agreement, SportsTalk 790 will air all Rockets games with a number of contests being simulcast on NewsTalk 740 KTRH or SUNNY 99.1 FM.
“We are very excited about our partnership with SportsTalk 790 and the Clear Channel family to bring Rockets games, as well as a broad range of shoulder programming, to fans throughout Houston and beyond,” said Rockets CEO Tad Brown. “With a great draft coming up, NBA All-Star ‘13 at ToyotaCenter and a talented young team looking to take the next step, the future is very bright for Rockets fans everywhere. We greatly appreciate the partnership with Clear Channel to deliver unique, compelling programming to our fans.”
The new era of Rockets basketball on SportsTalk 790 launches on Thursday, June 28, with live coverage of the 2012 NBA Draft. The special live broadcast fromToyota Center airs from 6:00-10:00 p.m. and will feature SportsTalk 790 hosts joined by members of the Rockets broadcast team.
“I’m elated with our new partnership with the Houston Rockets,” said Eddie Martiny, President/Market Manager, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment Houston. “Clear Channel Media & Entertainment and the Houston Rockets both have track records of striving for excellence. The excitement will start Thursday with one of the most anticipated drafts in Rockets history. We look forward to providing Rockets fans with the highest quality game broadcasts, as well as an incredible environment to voice their opinions on Houston’s new ‘Home of the Rockets’ SportsTalk 790.”
Craig Ackerman will return for his fifth season of calling play-by-play on all Rockets radio broadcasts. He will be joined on SportsTalk 790 broadcasts by Joel Blank, who enters his fourth season as analyst and studio host. Game broadcasts will continue to feature pre- and post-game shows, as well as a fan feedback segment following each Rockets outing. In addition to airing games, SportsTalk 790 will carry a number of ancillary Rockets radio programs, including a weekly Rockets show, a weekly Rockets personnel show and a weekly coach’s mid-day program that will all run during the season.
Fans can listen to SportsTalk 790 on the station’s website, sports790.com, as well as on iHeartRadio.com and the iHeartRadio mobile app, Clear Channel’s best-in-class customizable digital listening service, that delivers everything listeners want in one free, fully-integrated service: instant access to more than 1,000 of the nation’s most popular live broadcast and digital-only radio stations from 150 cities, plus user-created Custom Stations inspired by favorite artists and songs.