Astros change radio stations, prepare to introduce announce team

The Astros announced today that they have signed a multi-year contract with Clear Channel and will begin broadcasting games on KBME 790 A.M.

Clear Channel has chosen to air the games on their all sports radio station rather than continuing to broadcast them on KTRH. The down side to the move is the fact that KBME utilizes a less powerful transmitter than KTRH and, consequently, the coverage area is smaller.

More bad news for Astros fans. Some of us who don’t have Comcast are now being squeezed out of radio broadcasts. You can check to see if you are affected by looking at this handy coverage map courtesy of Astros County.

The Astros have yet to assemble their radio broadcast team and the season is rapidly approaching. Team President and CEO George Postolos promises an announcement will be made soon. Steve Sparks has long been rumored to be in line for the position of color analyst and Jim Crane hinted that a big name play-by-play announcer would be brought in.

It’s beginning to look like that big name is never going to materialize. Rumor has it that K.C. Royals pre and post-game commentator Robert Ford will get the gig. Ford, who also works college basketball and is an on-air personality at 610 Sports KC, has yet to respond to my attempts to reach him (via twitter) for comment.