The 36-year marriage between the Golden State Warriors and KNBR might be coming to an end, a source told BASG. Citing irreconcilable differences, the Warriors are flirting with a move to 95.7 The Game, KNBR’s rival station.
According to the source, the Warriors are “highly pissed” at KNBR for “having Brian Sabean on doing a live interview when the Warriors were making their pick last Thursday, not having the ability to take calls after the draft, (and) having games on KNBR-1050 most of the time.”
The Warriors’ contract with KNBR expired in June, but KNBR has still been operating as the Warriors’ flagship station while the Warriors contemplate their next move. The team is expected a decision within a week or two.
Of course, landing the Warriors would be a great boon to 95.7 The Game, who have been desperately trying to gain market share. As of last May, The Game was still trailing KNBR’s sister station, KNBR-1050, in listeners.
This wouldn’t be the first time The Game scored a victory over KNBR. In March, The Game secured the rights to air the NCAA’s March Madness, while also securing exclusive Bay Area rights to NFL Games in 2012 and beyond.
Whether or not securing rights to the Warriors would move the needle for The Game is yet to be seen. But KNBR has weathered a number of storms in the past few months, including the firing their most beloved host, Ralph Barbieri.
