Originally published Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Mariners moving to KIRO?

In what's shaping up as a year of big change for the Seattle Mariners, the team's radio rights could also be in flux. A source told The...

By Bob Condotta

Seattle Times staff reporter

In what's shaping up as a year of big change for the Seattle Mariners, the team's radio rights could also be in flux.

A source told The Times on Friday that Fisher Broadcasting, the parent company of KOMO-AM, has dropped out of the bidding for the Mariners' radio broadcast rights, possibly leaving KIRO-AM as the lone remaining pursuer. KJR-AM, an all-sports station that holds the rights to the Washington Huskies, is not thought to be involved.

KOMO's rights to broadcast the games expire after this season.

Fisher paid $10 million a year before the 2003 season to lure the Mariners away from KIRO, a figure that at the time was thought to be the highest rights fee in baseball history. KOMO used the acquisition of the Mariners to change the identity of the station from primarily nonsports talk shows to 24-hour news.

Changing stations does not typically result in changes among the game announcing crew, which is hired by the team. However, pre- and postgame personnel and formats typically change.

At the time Fisher acquired the rights, the Mariners were in the midst of four straight winning seasons (2000-2003). But they have had just one winning season and no postseason appearances since then and are off to one of the worst starts in team history.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com

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