CEDAR CITY, Utah -- The Southern Utah University Athletic Department and Van Wagner, the exclusive representative of corporate partner and sponsorship program for Southern Utah University, has announced changes regarding the program's radio rights ahead of the 2020-21 season along with naming the new voice of the Thunderbirds.
"Van Wagner has a great vision for improving and expanding the radio footprint for SUU Athletics, which has been tried and proven at other institutions in similar demographic areas," Southern Utah Director of Athletics Debbie Corum said. "They have shared this vision with us and we are excited about the possibilities of increased exposure for our student-athletes and coaches."
KSUB 107.7 FM and 590 AM in Cedar City will be the flagship stations for Southern Utah football and men's basketball moving forward. KDXU News Radio 890 AM and 94.9 FM in St. George will also be picking up the Southern Utah Athletics broadcasts when there is no prior conflict.
For the 2020-21 season, they will be broadcasting SUU's 14 home men's basketball games and six spring football contests. Each football game will have a 30-minute pre-game show, and each basketball game will have a 15-minute pre-game show.
Additionally, Chris Holmes will be taking over play-by-play responsibilities for the Thunderbirds moving forward. Holmes is a sports and news radio host with a Master's of Professional Communication degree from Southern Utah University. He lives in Cedar City with his wife Marie and five children.
Holmes will be taking the torch from legendary Southern Utah University broadcaster Art Challis, who had been the voice of the Thunderbirds for the past 45 years. Challis is a member of the Southern Utah Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Art Challis is a legend and our hope is that he will still be involved with our programming as his historical knowledge of players, coaches and all things athletics is invaluable," Corum. "It is really difficult to express our appreciation adequately, but we look forward to the day when we can honor him for his many years of being the voice that T-Bird Nation relied on game after game. We all know that replacing a legend is a challenge but we are excited to work with Chris as we move into the next phases of radio and television in the digital world."
Holmes will also be the voice Thunderbird fans can expect to hear on all home PlutoTV broadcasts for football and men's basketball, as the radio feed is simulcast.
"The partnership with local sports is a critical one for Cherry Creek Media and we are again proud to be a part of T-Bird Athletics," said Cherry Creek Media VP-Market Manager/GM James English. "Fans identify with the stations and voices carrying their favorite teams. Art Challis is a legend and has done a phenomenal job and we are excited to pass the torch to new play-by-play man Chris Holmes."
Track Southern Utah Athletics 24/7 by following @SUUThunderbirds on Twitter and Instagram, and by liking the Southern Utah Athletics page on Facebook.
Considering supporting SUU Athletics? Visit www.helpsuu.com to find out how.
