The Sound of the Sounders

The Seattle Sounders have reached a multi-year TV partnership with Dallas-based media giant BELO to broadcast all Sounder FC home and away games, minus those televised nationally. The games will be shown on both King 5 and King 6/16.

The programing will also include and extensive pre and post game shows in addition to the live broadcast.

Furthermore, a familiar voice will do the play-by-play. The “Voice of the Sonics,” Kevin Calabro. For those of you not familiar, Calabro began his career as the youngest broadcaster in NBA history at the age of 26 and then spent 21 years with the Sonics. The emmy-award winning broadcaster will be doing the color commentary for all matches broadcast on the station.

The team statement made no mention of Calabro’s experience or familiarity with soccer.

Many, such as Drake, had predicted this and it seems to be a good move. I am sure the Sounders are glad to have a familiar voice for the public.

Here is a copy of the original email:

Sounders FC and BELO Announce Landmark
Television Partnership

The Seattle Sounders FC and BELO have reached a multi-year television partnership to broadcast Sounders FC games on KONG-6/16 and KING-5, the team announced today.

“Everyone at KING5 the Home Team is very excited to begin this special partnership with another great home team – the Sounders FC,” said BELO president and general manger Ray Heacox. “The incredible support from the community in welcoming Major League Soccer in Seattle is proof that this will become the most successful launch for MLS. We look forward to many winning years together.”

Every home and away Sounders FC match will be broadcast live on KONG-6/16 or KING-5, except those broadcast nationally. Each broadcast will feature an exclusive pregame show and a postgame wrap-up. BELO will also produce a weekly show.

“The Sounders FC adds two broadcast icons to our family today,” said Vulcan Sports & Entertainment CEO Tod Leiweke. “This partnership teams one of the most recognizable voices in sports with the number-one rated station in Western Washington.”

Former “Voice of the Sonics,” Kevin Calabro, will serve as club’s play-by-play announcer for all Sounders FC matches. Calabro spent 21 seasons with the Sonics where he was part of several regional Emmy Award-winning broadcasts.

“I’m thrilled to be part of Sounders FC soccer in a city that I know will embrace it,” said Calabro. “Seattle is blessed to have devoted ownership as well and I know people will be excited about the possibilities.”

During his career, Calabro has also been a play-by-play contributor for TNT, TBS and ESPN Radio broadcasts of the NBA. During the summer of 2000, he was selected by The Westwood One Radio Network to be the voice of the United States Men’s 2000 Olympic Basketball Team. He was named “Sportscaster of the Year” for the state of Washington in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association of America.

Calabro began his professional-basketball broadcast career as one of the youngest play-by-play announcers in NBA history when he was hired at age 26 by the Kansas City Kings during the 1983-84 season. While in the Midwest, he worked at SportsTime, a regional cable outlet, and also took on the role of play-by-play announcer for the University of Missouri football and basketball teams. Calabro started his career at WIBC radio in Indianapolis where he did play-by-play for minor league hockey. During that time, Calabro also called basketball and football games for Purdue University.

He and his wife, Susan, are the parents of Anthony, Nick, Lauren and Joe.

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