This time around they have finally ripped off the Band-Aid and will move to a Major League Baseball-produced network. The model is new for the franchise, and it left many from the former infrastructure wondering what their roles would be, or if they’d have roles at all.

Familiar faces return for Minnesota Twins broadcasts

Although the most straightforward plan for Major League Baseball was to keep the Twins’ broadcast infrastructure in place, that wasn’t a guarantee. Roy Smalley recently announced his retirement, and others were worried about their job status. Publicly, that was cleared up on Thursday, when the Twins released their first Twins.TV lineup.

Introducing our first ever https://t.co/CiYJfeXoMN lineup!

For more info go to https://t.co/7owDbqKTsI pic.twitter.com/jBjBfhHStf

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 16, 2025

Related: “Full-Go” Brooks Lee Preparing for Unknown Role with Twins…but Back Injury Still Lingers

Last season was the first for Cory Provus, who took over as play-by-play man for Dick Bremer. He was paraded to talk about the disappearance of blackouts, but this year that will become reality. Provus is again joined by former Minnesota Twins great Justin Morneau as his main analyst in the booth.

The rotating cast of former players brings back plenty of familiar faces. LaTroy Hawkins and Glen Perkins have become mainstays on Minnesota television. Trevor Plouffe, whose rise to success through Jomboy Media has been well documented, began to sprinkle in a few years ago.

Love when @trevorplouffe gives us a research project pic.twitter.com/Yu7OVS0iJK

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 16, 2024

Denard Span appeared on broadcasts last year and offered interesting insight as a former big leaguer. The former Twins outfielder rounds out the group of five analysts.

Arguably, the most worrisome positions were held by the pre- and post-game talent. There was uncertainty as to how Major League Baseball would handle that segment of the programming. Both Audra Martin and Katie Storm are back, though.

Related: Multiple Minnesota Twins Jersey Number Changes for 2025

It’s a great thing that the sizable change in dissemination model doesn’t include a significant amount of employee turnover. Twins fans will have greater access to games than ever before, and they’ll be met with plenty of familiar faces who do a great job.

KARE 11 picking up the Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota sports fans have been crushed the past handful of months thanks to the ugly company that is Diamond Sports Group. Bally Sports Network, previously Fox Sports North, has now become FanDuel Sports Network North. You must pay for premium cable packages to utilize the channel over the air. That’s where the Minnesota Timberwolves call home. Thankfully local NBC affiliate KARE 11 is bringing some joy to the holidays.

NEWS: @Timberwolves Return to Free Over-The-Air Television on KARE 11

Full release:https://t.co/xRvOIyGnQY

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) December 11, 2024

“KARE 11 is proud to bring this slate of Timberwolves games to fans in Minnesota and NW Wisconsin. Local sports are in our DNA, and we’re thrilled to offer these games for free to more Wolves fans in more homes than ever before.” 

Doug Wieder (KARE 11 President and General Manager) on the announcement (Release)

Five games are scheduled to be aired locally. The Timberwolves last aired on local television during the 2012 season. They have not been on KARE 11 since the 2000-01 season. The games will be simulcast as part of a partnership with FanDuel Sports Network.

Fans can expect to hear familiar voices such as Marney Gellner, Rebekkah Brunson, and Kevin Lynch for “Wolves Live” pregame. The game action will feature Michael Grady and Jim Petersen on the call.

Related: Karl-Anthony Towns for NBA MVP…?

Through 23 games the Minnesota Timberwolves are 12-11 this season. They sit 9th in the Western Conference, but have won four of their last five games. Anthony Edwards is averaging a career-best 26.4 points per game during a season in which he hopes to improve upon his 7th place MVP finish last year.

Related: Report: NBA Teams View Discontent Minnesota Timberwolves Guard as Possible Trade Candidate

Although the first of these locally televised games is before Christmas, the bulk take place down the stretch of the season. The regular season finale against the Jazz rounds out the action.

Earlier this year, when Diamond Sports Group — the parent company of Bally Sports — filed for bankruptcy it threw the future of many sports franchise’s television rights into limbo.

One of those teams was the Minnesota Twins and the lack of a major TV partner heading into 2024 meant the organization was expected to lose a huge amount of revenue for next season.

Related: Minnesota Twins Sign Relief Pitcher Josh Staumont

The contract Minnesota had with Bally Sports reportedly put $54 million in the Twins cophers for 2023. Without that money, the organization would be unable to improve on a roster that won the American League Central this season. However, that unfortunate financial situation could change soon.

Minnesota Twins in talks with Bally Sports for 2024 season

Late last week, the Star Tribune reported that Bally Sports North and the Twins have been negotiating over broadcast rights for the 2024 season, keeping their long-standing relationship together for at least one more summer.

Bally Sports’ parent company has a “strong and sincere interest” in renewing their ties for one more season, according to the Strib’s sources. The Twins organization and BSN were negotiating on a deal as recently as last week and rumor has it an offer was made by Bally.

Bally Sports North and Diamond Sports Group have expressed “strong and sincere interest” in renewing their ties for one more year, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks. Discussions took place this past week, though neither source would confirm published reports that the network made a formal offer, nor reveal the funding being proposed.

Phil Miller – Star Tribune

Related: TV Blackouts Will Not Exist in Minnesota Twins New Broadcasting Age

A new deal is far from assured, however. Bally’s offer to the Twins is expected to be substantially lower than the $54 million they were contracted to pay for the same job just one summer ago, due to the dire financial situation of its parent company.

The Minnesota Twins must make a decision soon, with Spring Training only seven weeks away. Fans need to know where they can watch the team next season, and I’m sure the front office would be better suited for the rest of this offseason if ownership can get a firm number on how much payroll they plan to shed from their $154 million total this past season.

Minnesota Twins hire Cory Provus as new TV play-by-play voice

But once the shock wore off, Dick’s replacement seemed as obvious as what was for dinner at the beef lady’s house, back in the 80’s. The Twins needed to hire Cory Provus, who has done radio play-by-play for the club since 2011, when John Gordon retired.

Carlos Correa had his biggest game as a Twin. Pablo Lopez pitched like an ace, and we have a series. Plus, I had a hunch that Correa would make the game ending play, so I hit record. @TwinsRadio #WeBelieveinTC pic.twitter.com/gKAdjpbXno

— Cory Provus (@CoryProvus) October 9, 2023

Related: Twins and Bally Sports North are Done; Wolves and Wild are Next

And this time, decision makers didn’t overthink or hire for any reason other than finding the best voice for the job. On Friday morning, the Star Tribune’s Phil Miller got the exclusive scoop that Provus has been chosen as the new TV voice of the Minnesota Twins.

Cory Provus, who has called Twins games on radio since 2012, will inherit Bremer’s spot in the TV booth next season, multiple sources have confirmed. And the Twins will stay in-house to replace Provus on radio as well, by promoting studio host and fill-in play-by-play voice Kris Atteberry to the everyday job.

Phil Miller – Star Tribune

Kris Atteberry takes over radio play-by-play

Longtime radio voice, Kris Atteberry will take over play-by-play calling duties on Twins radio calls. Atteberry has been a part of Twins radio broadcasts since 2007, working pre and post-games and filling in when needed. Another good decision.

Related: Derek Falvey Admits Twins Plan to Cut Payroll Next Season

Provus isn’t hamstrung to baseball broadcasting. He is one of Big Ten Network’s premier play-by-play voices for both football and basketball. He’s one of the best young voices in the business and the Twins are very lucky to have him around.

Had they not promoted Provus, I can’t imagine he would have stuck around tag-teaming radio calls with Dan Gladden for much longer.

All eyes on Vikings vs Chiefs on Sunday

But no matter how things unfold at U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend, one thing is sure to be true. A lot of people will be watching. 506Sports.com releases a broadcast map leading up to every Sunday and, in week 5, most of the country (about 3/4) will see Vikings vs Chiefs on their local CBS affiliate starting at 3:25 p.m. CDT.

When most of the nation is watching, you get the big money broadcast crew. That will be the case on Sunday, as well, when CBS sends Tony Romo ($18M/YR) and Jim Nantz ($6.5M/YR) to the US Bank Stadium TV booth.

Kansas City Chiefs first time at U.S. Bank Stadium

According to the Vikings weekly media guide, this will be the first time the Kansas City Chiefs have played at U.S. Bank Stadium. They are the last NFL team to play a road game at the 7-year-old state of the art facility.

Related: Vikings Defense Saves Season vs Panthers; Offense Finds Rushing Attack

The Minnesota Vikings enter week 5 ranked (YPG) 9th in offense and 20th in defense. Kansas City ranks 5th in offense and 8th in defense. The Vikings have been one of the most prolific passing attacks in the NFL but have struggled, outside of week 4, to establish the run.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, rank near the top of the league in both passing and rushing offense. Not only that, but their defense has been one of the most dominant out there, early in the season. They’ve forced 4 lost fumbles, through four games. That’s good for 7th in the league.

Minnesota Vikings must fix turnover problems to stand a chance

I don’t have to remind anyone reading this blog how fumble heavy the Minnesota Vikings have been early this season. They will need to fix that in week 5.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Threatens to Bench Vikings Players Who Can’t Hold onto the Football

The Vikings kept games close in the first three weeks, despite their turnover problems, and they even pulled a win out in Carolina, after an early Kirk Cousins interceptions went 99 yards the other way for a Panthers score. Minnesota will not hang with Kansas City this weekend, if they cough up the football.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

What other attributes were the Wolves looking for in their next PBP voice? They specifically told media that they wanted somebody whose skin color isn’t white. Well, they checked one of those boxes today when they announced the hiring of YES Network’s sideline reporter and part-time play-by-play commentator, Michael Grady.

YES Network (New York) is, undoubtedly, a larger and better funded local network than Bally Sports North, but Michael Grady isn’t a well-known voice, like some of those who have been floated.

Michael Grady has been named our TV play-by-play announcer with @BallySportsNOR!

Welcome to MN, @Grady! pic.twitter.com/on0jS8GntU

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) August 18, 2022

Grady has spent the last five seasons with the YES Network, working sideline duty with the Brooklyn Nets. There’s a funny video of an interview he did with D’Angelo Russell in 2019, where he informs DLo after a win that they clinched a playoff spot.

There’s no doubt Grady has a bright future in broadcasting. He has a great voice and, for a youngster, he has really good flow in his commentating. All and all, fans will be happy with Grady as the new voice of the Wolves. Here he is calling the Nets @ Magic last season, when Kyrie Irving went off for 60 points.

Questionable Hiring Practices

But this hire has to call into question the firing of Dave Benz. Not only did the Timberwolves fail in their search for a well-known basketball voice, like Gus Johnson or Kevin Harlan. But they ended up hiring a young sideline reporter who has very little experience announcing NBA games.

In other words, the Wolves fired a 10-year veteran, who NOBODY was complaining about. A guy who the fans loved and had grown with. Afterward, the team told reporters that being a different color than Benz was an important part of the search criteria, when finding his replacement.

As Jon said, this is very much a Wolves decision. I’ve heard aim is someone who also does national work — like Mark Jones with SAC and Mike Breen with NYK. Have also heard they’d like to hire a person of color. Haven’t heard anything on Gus Johnson specifically, but makes sense.

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) August 1, 2022

If hiring a Minnesota Timberwolves play-by-play voice and you compared the resumes and fan excitement for Dave Benz vs Michael Grady, Benz would get the job in a landslide. Unless, of course, you’re making the decision strictly based on a candidate’s skin color. Which, I’m pretty sure is illegal.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan