Denver Radio: Buffaloes, KOA Extend Radio Contract

The University of Colorado and iHeartMedia/Denver have announced a four-year extension of its broadcast agreement that will keep the Buffaloes football and basketball programs on KOA 850 aM / 94.1 T-FM.

KOA-Radio has been the home to CU football for all but three years dating back to 1940, with the station originating basketball broadcasts in the mid-1970s. The new agreement extends the broadcasts on KOA with select games airing on sister-station Real Talk KKZN 760 AM through the 2019-20 athletic season.

In addition, the weekly coaches’ show, Buffs PrimeTime, will continue to air during the football and basketball seasons.

The relationship was secured by Learfield Sports' Buffalo Sports Properties, the exclusive multimedia rights holder for CU Athletics. In addition to Colorado, Learfield oversees rights for nearly 120 collegiate properties nationwide. The Boulder-based team oversees all aspects of the CU Radio Network.

Mark Johnson, Larry Zimmer

“We’re thrilled that our relationship with KOA will continue through the end of this decade. It has been our ‘radio home’ spanning eight decades in all; that’s almost as long as sporting events have been broadcast in all of history,” said CU athletic director Rick George. “It’s been a great partnership between KOA and the Buffs and we’re pleased we’ll be together for at least four more years.”

KOA’s Mark Johnson will continue as the play-by-play voice for both football and men’s basketball, a role he has occupied since the fall of 2004. Johnson also serves as KOA NewsRadio’s sports director and sports anchor during Colorado’s Morning News. Larry Zimmer is completing his 42nd and final season as the “Voice of the Buffaloes,” as he announced his retirement earlier this summer.

He handled the play-by-play duties for 30 seasons (1971-81, 1985-2003) before shifting into the analyst role in 2004. His final game at Folsom Field is Friday night when the Buffaloes host Southern California, and the school will honor him after the first quarter. Former CU football coach Gary Barnett will replace him in the booth next season.

KOA 850 AM (50 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

“KOA NewsRadio and the Buffs have a long-standing partnership,” said Tim Hager, Market President of iHeartMedia Denver. “We’re excited to extend our agreement with the University of Colorado, and reach more fans with KOA NewsRadio’s recently-launched 94.1 FM signal.”