Fresno Pacific University Athletics has entered into an agreement with local radio station AM 1680 The Answer to provide a broadcast home for the Sunbirds, beginning with the 2015-16 men's basketball season. The station will also air a weekly Sunbird Sports Show covering all 14 of FPU's athletics teams.
AM 1680 The Answer (KGED) will broadcast all 14 men's basketball home games, beginning with the home opener vs. Cal Maritime on November 21.
"I like the fit," said Skip Essick, managing partner of Compass Broadcasting, which owns the station. "Our programming strategies are very well aligned with Fresno Pacific University and we're excited to partner with them as they move up to the NCAA Division II level. By becoming the Voice of the Sunbirds, AM 1680 The Answer will have an opportunity to reach new listeners and offer an exceptional sports program to thousands up and down the Valley."
While the partnership will begin with men's basketball and select women's games, it will likely expand to other sports in the future. "As we moved into active NCAA membership status, we felt it was important to secure a radio home for our teams," said Aaron Henderson, FPU director of athletics. "Skip Essick has a great reputation both in the Valley and in his work with high-major college basketball programs in the Midwest, and we're confident that AM 1680 The Answer will provide the high quality programming we're looking for. New head men's basketball coach Tim Kisner and his staff have done a great job of creating a positive buzz around the program in the community and we're looking forward to an exciting season."
Fans from all over the world will also have an opportunity to tune in as all games and shows will be broadcast live online.
The partnership is structured so that businesses that choose to advertise as official sponsors during the season will see their support make a direct financial benefit to FPU Athletics through a revenue share. Interested sponsors can reach out to Jessi Wallace at 559-453-5694 or at jessi.wallace@fresno.edu.
The full men's basketball schedule can be viewed here: fpuathletics.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&tab=mensbasketball
More about the station, which describes itself as having a "conservative talk" format, at my1680.com/