The official flagship radio station for the New England Patriots won’t be changing anytime soon.
98.5 The Sports Hub’s Beasley Media Group and the Patriots on Wednesday announced that 98.5 will continue to broadcast Pats games through the 2033 season.
98.5 — which has been the home for Patriots games since its inception in 2009 — is the most listened to sports station in Boston.
“Patriots fans throughout New England have come to rely on the sound quality, reach and overall coverage that 98.5 The Sports Hub has delivered since they launched 15 years ago,” said Murray Kohl, the Patriots’ VP of corporate sponsorship sales.
“Bob Socci and Scott Zolak are perfectly paired to deliver all the action to Patriots fans throughout the region,” Kohl added. “We are happy to extend this partnership for another 10 years and hope it will continue for decades to come.”
The Patriots pregame show “Patriots Preview” will continue to run for three hours before each kickoff. “Felger and Mazz” co-host Jim Murray will once again serve as the main pregame host, with Marc Bertrand of “Zolak and Bertrand” also hosting some games.
Christopher Gasper, a Boston Globe columnist and co-host of “Gasper and Murray,” will return for his 10th season as the pregame co-host.
“Patriots Postgame” will air for three hours after every game. Joe Murray will continue to be on the postgame show, he wrote on social media.
“The Patriots are a religion in New England,” said Mary Menna, Beasley Media Group Boston’s VP and market manager. “We are honored to continue broadcasting the games to our fans for at least the next decade! The Kraft family, the Patriots staff and the entire team are such amazing partners.”
“The Patriots have been a cornerstone of our programming since we launched the Sports Hub,” added Rick Radzik, the station’s program director. “As the team enters this new era, I’m thrilled that 98.5 The Sports Hub will be the home of the game broadcasts for the next decade, while also continuing to provide an outlet for Pats fans to talk football year-round.”
Jim Murray on Wednesday reacted to the news of the 10-year broadcast extension.
His first thought after hearing it was, “Radio’s still gonna be around here,” Murray said on the Facebook Live “Off-Air Show with (Mike) Felger.”
“I think that means we at least got another 10 years,” Felger added.
“I hope, fingers crossed,” Murray said.
“We gotta keep the lights on just to air the Patriots games, if nothing else,” Felger said. “So I like the sound of that, for sure.”