The Sacramento Kings have ended their 32-year radio partnership with Sactown Sports 1140 KHTK-AM. The team is launching its own in-house broadcast service, Kings Radio, starting with the preseason opener on October 5. This major shift comes as the Kings look to the future.
KHTK-AM had been the radio home for Kings games since 1994. Their contract expired after the 2025-26 NBA season and the two sides could not reach a new agreement following months of talks. That ends one of the longest local broadcast partnerships in the league. The Kings announced the change on Thursday, deciding to bring all production and distribution of their radio broadcasts internally.
Kings games will not air on KHTK during the 2026-27 season. Instead, the team unveiled Kings Radio, a new multi-platform audio service. John Rinehart, the team's president of business operations, called it an investment in fans. He said it gives the organization more ability to innovate and expand access to Kings basketball.
Kings Radio will provide free access to game broadcasts across several audio platforms. Fans can tune in via Kings.com, the official Kings mobile app, and SiriusXM. The new service launches on October 5 when the Kings host the Los Angeles Lakers in a preseason game at Golden 1 Center.
This move complements Kings+, the team's existing free streaming platform. It's part of a broader strategy to make team content more accessible. The familiar broadcast team of Gary Gerould, Henry Turner, and Jason Ross will continue calling the English-language games. The Kings are also adding a new Spanish-language broadcast featuring Armando Botello.
Ending a three-decade partnership signals a significant shift in how the Kings connect with their audience. Controlling their broadcast destiny allows the team to experiment with content and reach fans directly without a middleman. It also happens as the team builds on the court.
Taking broadcasts in-house provides more flexibility for future digital offerings. Fans wanting to follow the team's progress can check the upcoming schedule as the new season approaches. The change reflects a modern NBA trend where teams seek deeper, direct relationships with their fanbase through owned media channels.
The immediate focus is a smooth rollout for Kings Radio in October. The technical and production teams will work to ensure high-quality audio for every game. Long-term, this could pave the way for expanded podcast networks, behind-the-scenes audio, and other digital content tied to the radio platform.
On the court, the Kings will look to improve from a season that saw highs like the April win over Golden State but also tough losses. The new broadcast era begins as the team prepares for another campaign, aiming to make noise in the Western Conference. The in-house radio model could become a blueprint for how NBA teams manage their media rights in the digital age.
