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KSTC continues to stockpile local sports rights.
Nearly a month after all but securing the rights to the various Minnesota State High School League tournaments, the Hubbard-owned independent station signed a deal with the Timberwolves on Thursdayto air the team's over-the-air (OTA) games. The contract calls for 35 telecasts per season and could run up to six years; both sides have the ability to opt out at certain points.
The Wolves, who buy the air time for their OTA games and handle the production and commercial sales, had been on WFTC (Ch. 29) the past three seasons. Timberwolves President Rob Moor refused to get into financial specifics but acknowledged the asking price by KSTC (Ch. 45) was more favorable than WFTC or KMWB (Ch. 23) offered.
Moor, who said KSTC pulled ahead of the pack about three weeks ago, also felt having a long-term deal in place was key. The Wolves and Fox Sports Net agreed to a six-year cable deal in August 2002.
"We have been wanting to do this for a long time," Moor said. "It's such a key thing for our fans to build up the knowledge of where our games are. We are happy now looking at the next four years...