Key Points
- Washington State Athletics and Bonneville Seattle Media Group have announced a new multi-year partnership.
- Seattle Sports 710-AM is returning as the Seattle flagship station for Cougar football and men’s basketball.
- The deal includes pre-game and post-game coverage for Washington State broadcasts.
- When programming conflicts arise with Seattle Mariners or Seahawks coverage, WSU games will move to 770 KTTH-AM.
- The Cougar Sports Network, operated by Playfly Sports, remains Washington State Athletics’ official broadcast network.
- WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow said the partnership helps the school connect with fans across Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
- Seattle Sports program director Kyle Brown said the station wants to expand coverage through on-air programming, original video content and its app.
- The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Washington (Evening Washington News) July 10, 2026 – State University Athletics has agreed a new multi-year broadcasting partnership that brings Seattle Sports 710-AM back as the Seattle flagship station for Cougar football and men’s basketball. The arrangement also includes pre-game and post-game programming, strengthening the school’s radio presence in one of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest media markets. The announcement was reported by John Mamola of Barrett Media, who said the deal was made with Bonneville Seattle Media Group.
As reported by John Mamola of Barrett Media, the move marks Washington State’s return to a familiar radio home in Seattle and forms part of a broader effort to expand the reach of Cougar athletics.
The arrangement keeps the Cougar Sports Network, managed by Playfly Sports, in place as the official network for Washington State Athletics.
Why does the deal matter?
The agreement gives Washington State a larger platform for football and men’s basketball broadcasts in Western Washington, while also supporting year-round visibility through digital channels.
According to the report, the station will also extend coverage through its app and original video content, which suggests the partnership is not limited to traditional radio alone.
As reported by John Mamola of Barrett Media, the deal also arrives at a significant moment for the broader college sports landscape, with Seattle Sports’ Kyle Brown referencing the new Pac-12 taking shape and the Kirby Moore era beginning.
The station said it aims to be more than a radio outlet, positioning itself as a wider media partner for Cougar fans.
What did the officials say?
WSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Jon Haarlow said Seattle Sports offers
“an incredible opportunity to connect with Cougs across Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest.”
He added that the station’s reach gives the university a strong platform to share the stories of its student-athletes, coaches and programmes.
Seattle Sports program director Kyle Brown said the station was “thrilled” to partner with Washington State University Athletics at what he described as an important time for the programme.
He said the renewed and expanded partnership would allow the station to provide more coverage for Cougar fans through enhanced on-air programming, original video content and the Seattle Sports app.
How will broadcasts work?
The report says Washington State games will air on Seattle Sports 710-AM, but broadcasts will move to 770 KTTH-AM when there are scheduling conflicts with Seattle Mariners or Seahawks programming.
That makes the arrangement flexible while still keeping the games available on radio in the Seattle market.
The Cougar Sports Network remains the official broadcast network for Washington State Athletics under Playfly Sports, so this deal appears to complement rather than replace the university’s wider distribution structure.
In practical terms, that means the Seattle flagship role is changing, but the broader network architecture stays intact.
What is not known?
The financial terms of the new multi-year agreement were not disclosed. That means the size of the deal, any rights fees, and the commercial structure remain unclear at this stage.
The report also does not provide further detail on how long the partnership will run beyond describing it as multi-year.
No additional contractual conditions were made public in the information cited by Barrett Media.
How does this fit the bigger picture?
Washington State’s radio deal reflects how college athletics programmes are increasingly blending traditional broadcast with digital reach.
The mention of app-based coverage and original video content shows how schools and media partners are trying to keep fans engaged beyond live radio windows.
The partnership also reinforces the importance of regional media in college sports, especially for a programme seeking to maintain visibility across Washington and the wider Pacific Northwest.
As reported by John Mamola of Barrett Media, the move continues an existing relationship while giving Washington State a stronger presence as the conference landscape changes.
Background of the development
Washington State has long relied on broadcast partners to extend the reach of its athletic programmes beyond Pullman.
Radio flagships have traditionally played a central role in carrying football and men’s basketball to alumni, supporters and casual listeners across the region.
In this case, the announcement shows a renewed emphasis on Seattle as a market for Cougar athletics, while the Cougar Sports Network remains the official umbrella for distribution.
The report’s references to expanded digital coverage also fit a wider trend in college sports media, where schools and stations are combining radio, streaming and video to reach audiences in more ways than before.
Prediction
For Cougar fans, this development is likely to make it easier to follow Washington State football and men’s basketball across Seattle and the wider Pacific Northwest.
A stronger flagship presence may also help the programme stay visible during a period of conference change, which could matter for alumni, travelling supporters and casual listeners who follow the team through local sports media.
The broader effect may be a steadier, more accessible broadcast identity for Washington State athletics, particularly if the promised digital coverage is delivered consistently.
For audiences outside Pullman, that could mean more chances to hear games, pre-game shows and post-game analysis across radio and app-based platforms.
