Audacy Sports “105.3 The Fan” KRLD-FM Dallas and MLB’s Texas Rangers have agreed to a four year contract extension through the 2027 season.
KRLD-FM has carried Rangers games since 2015 with overflow broadcasts on News 1080 KRLD. 1080 KRLD served as their flagship from 1995 through 2010 with weekday games in 2009 and 2010 airing on KRLD-FM following its flip to Sports. Broadcasts are produced by the Rangers, who also manage their 70+ station network.
The Texas Rangers and Audacy announced Tuesday that they have extended their broadcast agreement to keep 105.3 The Fan as the club’s flagship station through 2027.
“The Texas Rangers are very pleased to extend our English radio rights agreement with Audacy through 2027,” said the club’s Executive Vice President of Public Affairs John Blake. “We have an outstanding partnership with 105.3 The FAN that provides unmatched coverage of the Rangers in North Texas. The Rangers are proud to share in the celebration of our 2023 World Series championship with The FAN and look forward to continuing our relationship.”
As part of the agreement, the station will continue providing play-by-play coverage of all regular and postseason games broadcast, as well as select Spring Training games. The station will also continue to air live pregame and postgame shows. Sister station NewsRadio 1080 will continue to carry any games that conflict with previously scheduled programming on 105.3 The Fan.
Play-by-play announcer Eric Nadel will return for his 46th season of broadcasting Rangers baseball this season. The 2014 Ford C. Frick Award recipient will join Matt Hicks, who is returning for his 12th full year to call the majority of the games. Jared Sandler will return for his 10th year as host of the station’s pregame and postgame coverage, as well as play-by-play announcer for select broadcasts.
In addition to game broadcasts, 105.3 The Fan will also continue to air daily Rangers-themed programming featuring interviews with players, coaches and front office personnel.
“We’re incredibly excited to extend our terrific partnership with the 2023 World Champion Texas Rangers,” said Audacy Regional President Brian Purdy. “We’re thrilled to continue bringing fans the best in class Ranger play by play calls, along with the audio gold of our General Manager, Manager and Player shows. Spring Training is just around the corner and we can’t wait to get started with this season and years to come across North Texas.”
105.3 The Fan has served as the radio home of the Rangers since 2015 and for 26 of the last 30 years beginning in 1995. From 1995 to 2008, all games were broadcast on NewsRadio 1080. After its launch in 2008, 105.3 The Fan became the first FM station to broadcast Rangers games by airing the team’s 2009-10 season weekday games.
The Texas Rangers Radio Network provides broadcasts of Rangers baseball games to more than 70 stations throughout Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Rangers will continue to oversee all radio production and network elements of the broadcasts.
This story first appeared on radioinsight.com