The Kansas City Wizards announced Monday that local station KCWE Channel 29 will be the team's broadcast partner for the 2010 season. As part of the deal, all 27 Wizards games not on national television will be broadcast live and in high definition with 30-minute pregame and postgame shows on KCWE. As the network will be an over-the-air broadcast partner, the deal will allow the team the potential to reach every household in Kansas City.
"KCWE is excited to be associated with the Kansas City Wizards, one of the most popular professional sports franchises in this city," said Wayne Godsey, KMBC/KCWE President and General Manager. "As America's number one CW affiliate, we understand what it takes to put together a winning team. We're confident that our new television partnership with the Wizards will deliver wholesome family entertainment valued by our viewing audience."
Like the Wizards, KCWE launched in 1996. Today, KCWE is the number one CW affiliate in the nation, known regionally for airing shows like "The Vampire Diaries," "Gossip Girl," "America's Next Top Model," "90210," "One Tree Hill," "The Office," "Two and a Half Men," and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
As a CW affiliate, KCWE falls under the umbrella of Hearst Television, owner of 29 television stations nationwide, including local ABC affiliate and sister station KMBC Channel 9.
"This deal with Hearst Television will enable us to reach all the homes in the metro area in high definition for every game," OnGoal CEO and Kansas City Wizards President Robb Heineman said. "This new partnership will provide a great broadcast to our supporters and will help generate interest for the Wizards and soccer throughout Kansas City."
KCWE can be seen over the air in Kansas City on channel 29 and is also available on Time Warner Cable channel 7, Comcast Cable Missouri channel 2, Comcast Cable Kansas channel 13, Sure West cable channel 16, Sunflower Broadband channel 17, Dish Network channel 8435, Direct TV channel 948, AT&T channel 29 and channel 2 on Charter Cablevision in Warrensburg and Sedalia.
Play-by-play broadcaster Dave Borchardt will anchor the games on KCWE, with color commentary from former Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine.
Since joining the Wizards in February of 2008, Borchardt has contributed to the team's broadcasts as a host for Wizards pregame and postgame television shows, a radio play-by-play man, a radio talk-show host and a sideline reporter, in addition to frequently providing content on the Wizards team website and blog.
Prior to joining the Wizards, Borchardt worked at Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City from 2000-2008. While at 810, he hosted "The Late Show" as well as the station's Kansas City Chiefs pregame and postgame shows. He was also a reporter for the station, frequently covering the Missouri Tigers, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals.
Sasha Victorine rejoins the Kansas City Wizards after concluding a successful 10-year MLS career that saw him play for the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Wizards and Chivas USA.
The Kansas City Wizards will begin their season on KCWE on March 27th at CommunityAmerica Ballpark when they take on D.C. United at 7:30 p.m.
