FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State Athletics announced a two-year extension of their partnership with iHeartMedia, the official broadcast home of Fresno State Athletics via the Bulldogs Sports Network.
Since its inception in 2021, this partnership has yielded an impressive impact with 7.5 million impressions garnered during Fresno State football games and coaches shows on the terrestrial dial and over 54,000 total listening hours of Fresno State Athletics through iHeartRadio, GoBulldogs.com and The Varsity Network apps. The two dynamic brands will continue to expand their existing coverage across iHeartMedia's network spanning from Sacramento to Bakersfield, anchored by Fresno as the heart of the Central Valley.
"Thank you to our partners Learfield and iHeartMedia for continuing to deliver high quality professional broadcasts of Bulldog games and exclusive content throughout the Valley on the radio and across the country on our digital platforms," said Frank Pucher, Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations. "Whether it's Paul and Pat calling the game winning throw from Mikey Keene or breaking down the game plan with Coach Tedford, this partnership has allowed us to connect the most defining Fresno State moments and memories with a robust audience of fans and prospective fans as we continue to plant our flag as the Pride of Valley."
Live games are carried on the radio for football, men's and women's basketball, softball and baseball. In addition to live game action, the Bulldog Sports Network hosts regular coaches and highlight shows throughout the year, which are aired live on select channels and carried on a podcast channel accessible through both the iHeartRadio and Fresno State Bulldogs apps. Stations in Bulldog Sports Network include: PowerTalk 96.7 FM/AM 1400 and Fox Sports 1340 in Fresno-Visalia, Fox Sports 970 Bakersfield, PowerTalk 1360 and The Big Dog 92.9 in Modesto and Fox Sports 1280 Stockton.
"We're excited to continue the relationship between iHeartMedia and Fresno State Athletics for Bulldog fans up and down the Valley," said Steve Darnell, iHeartMedia Area President. "In addition to airing live game action, our iHeartMedia influencers create exciting audio, digital, social, and podcast content to enhance the Bulldog Sports Network across all of our Central California iHeartMedia station brands."
The relationship with iHeartMedia is managed by Fresno State Athletics' exclusive multimedia rights holder, Bulldog Sports Properties; the locally based team of Learfield, the media and technology company powering college athletics. Along with traditional commercials, corporate partners are able to integrate their brand across the entire Bulldog Sports experience – including signage, a robust digital reach outside the stadium, hospitality and experiential opportunities.
"We've broadcast more games, reaching more Bulldog fans, across more sports, up and down the Central Valley than has ever been done in the history of Fresno State Athletics," said Zachary Fraser, General Manager of Bulldog Sports Properties. "We're proud to represent the Red Wave in partnership with our friends at iHeartMedia - it has elevated our fan and broadcast experience."
About iHeartMedia
iHeartMedia (NASDAQ: IHRT) is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month. With its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, the iHeartMedia Multiplatform Group has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. Its leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms, including more than 860 live broadcast stations in over 160 markets nationwide; its National Sales organization; and the company's live and virtual events business. It also includes Premiere Networks, the industry's largest Networks business, with its Total Traffic and Weather Network (TTWN); and BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24/7 national and local all news audio service for the Black community. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics, targeting and attribution for its marketing partners with its SmartAudio suite of data targeting and attribution products using data from its massive consumer base.
About Learfield
Learfield is a diversified and influential media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.