Two-year extension keeps Twins on 1500 ESPN through 2012 season

The Minnesota Twins are staying on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.

The team on Tuesday announced a two-year extension of its metropolitan area radio affiliate agreement with Hubbard Broadcasting Inc. that will keep Twins games on 1500 ESPN through the 2012 season.

"The Pohlad family and Minnesota Twins organization are proud of the partnership established four years ago with locally-owned Hubbard Broadcasting," Twins president Dave St. Peter said in a statement. "Over the years, the Hubbard family has demonstrated great vision, passion and commitment for our community. As a true hometown sports talk station, 1500 ESPN remains uniquely positioned to provide the Twin Cities best coverage of Twins baseball."

The agreement calls for 1500 ESPN to carry all regular-season and postseason games, at least 25 spring-training games and several ancillary shows, including "The Ron Gardenhire Show," "Inside Twins," "Extra Innings" and an offseason program.

"With the introduction of the new 1500 ESPN last April, we think our partnership with the Minnesota Twins has never been stronger," Dan Seeman, 1500 ESPN's vice president/operations manager, said in the statement. "We are excited to extend the partnership two more seasons. It just makes sense that two great local owners like the Hubbards and Pohlads work together."

Programming also is carried across the Treasure Island Baseball Network, which is managed by the Twins and includes 85 stations across the Upper Midwest. The team produces the game broadcasts, including pregame and postgame shows.

Hubbard Broadcasting Inc. owns and operates 1500 ESPN Twin Cities and 1500ESPN.com.

Tom Pelissero is Senior Editor and columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He hosts from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights and co-hosts from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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