The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division and began play during the league's 2021–22 season. [1] Throughout their history, Kraken games have been televised primarily on Root Sports Northwest and radio broadcast primarily on KJR-FM.
Former Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes broadcaster John Forslund serves as the team's television play-by-play announcer. [2] [3] J. T. Brown is the Kraken's primary television color analyst. [4] In August 2022, the team hired Eddie Olczyk to be a television analyst alongside Forslund and Brown. Olczyk maintained his job at TNT as the lead color commentator and called the Kraken's games as his schedule allowed. [5] Alison Lukan is a studio analyst for Root Sports Northwest who filled in for Brown for a few games during the 2021–22 season and did the same for Olczyk and fellow analyst Piper Shaw for the 2022–23 season onward. Nick Olczyk joined her as a TV, radio, and mobile app contributor for the 2022–23 season. [6] Everett Fitzhugh serves as the team's primary radio play-by-play announcer. He is the first Black full-time play-by-play announcer in NHL history. [7] [2] Former NHL player and Vancouver Canucks broadcaster Dave Tomlinson served as Fitzhugh's color analyst for the Kraken's first two seasons, [8] before resigning in August 2023 to take a new broadcasting job in Canada. [9] The Kraken then hired former Seattle Thunderbirds commentator Al Kinisky to replace him. [10] In 2021, Fitzhugh tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the Kraken's first-ever regular season road trip; on radio broadcasts, John Forslund and veteran KJR broadcaster Ian Furness filled in on play-by-play duties. [11] The telecast for the Kraken's February 17, 2022, game against the Winnipeg Jets had Fitzhugh on play-by-play and Brown on color commentary, comprising the first all-Black broadcast booth in NHL history. [12]
Kraken games were televised regionally on Root Sports Northwest for the team's first three seasons. On April 25, 2024, the Kraken signed a deal with Tegna, owners of Seattle NBC affiliate KING-TV and independent KONG, to air their games throughout their territory, with streaming handled by Prime Video. [13] For radio, Kraken games are broadcast on KJR-FM 93.3 and KJR 950 AM, the flagship stations of the Kraken Audio Network. During a schedule conflict, some games may be heard on 96.5 KJAQ. [14] [15]
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In their first season, the Kraken averaged a 0.96 Nielsen rating for games broadcast on Root Sports Northwest. By comparison, the Vegas Golden Knights averaged a 1.87 rating in their first season for games broadcast locally on AT&T SportsNet. [16]
From the beginning of their second season through mid-January 2023, the Kraken averaged a 0.68 rating, in the lowest third of the 23 United States NHL markets for which Nielsen ratings were available, despite a much better record than their first season at the same point. [17] The team launched a new show, entitled What's Kraken?, on the over-the-air station KCPQ, to broaden fan support during the 2022–23 season. [18] Seattle's high percentage of "broadband only" homes, without cable or satellite TV service, and the unavailability of Root Sports Northwest on most over-the-top media services, contributed to the low ratings. [19]
During their second and third seasons, the Kraken averaged a 0.7 rating for their October games on Root Sports Northwest. Shortly before the 2022–23 season, Comcast moved Root Sports Northwest to a higher-priced tier of service, due to the high cost and low demand for the channel. [20]
| Year | Channel | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) | Ice level reporter | Studio host |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Root Sports Northwest [21] | John Forslund [2] |
J. T. Brown (most games)
[4] Eddie Olczyk (select games) [5] Nick Olczyk (select games) [6] |
Piper Shaw (most games)
[22] Alison Lukan (select games) [6] |
Ross Fletcher [23] |
| 2022–23 | |||||
| 2021–22 |
John Forslund (most games)
[12]
[2] Everett Fitzhugh (select games) [12] |
J. T. Brown
[12]
[4] Alison Lukan (Replaced Brown during a March game against the Washington Capitals) [6] |
| Year | Flagship Station | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | KJR-FM [15] | Everett Fitzhugh [7] | Al Kinisky [10] |
| 2022–23 | Dave Tomlinson [8] | ||
| 2021–22 |
Everett Fitzhugh (most games)
[11]
[7] John Forslund (Games when Fitzhugh was sick with COVID-19) [11] Ian Furness (Games when Fitzhugh was sick with COVID-19) [11] |
The Kraken Audio Network also includes the following stations outside Seattle: [24]
- KTZN AM 550 Anchorage
- KPUG AM 1170 / FM 97.9 Bellingham [25]
- KBDB-FM 96.7 Forks
- KTKU FM 105.1 HD2 Juneau
- KAPS AM 660 Mount Vernon
- KONP AM 1450 Port Angeles [26]
- KPOJ AM 620 Portland
- KALE AM 960 Richland
- K257FX FM 99.3 Spokane
- KUTI AM 1460 Yakima
- KCRX FM 102.3 Astoria
- KOFE AM 1240 St. Maries
- KVOK FM 98.7 Kodiak Island
- KIFW AM 1230 Sitka
- ^ "Seattle Kraken hockey team statistics and history at HockeyDB.com". HockeyDB. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Clark, Ryan S. (January 26, 2021). "Seattle Kraken hire John Forslund and announce TV broadcast deal". The Athletic. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ McIntosh, Andrew (January 26, 2021). "NHL's Seattle Kraken signs multiyear TV broadcast rights deal". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c Wyshynski, Greg (June 21, 2021). "Brown to retire, join Kraken as television analyst". ESPN. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ a b "Eddie Olczyk joining Kraken's TV broadcast team". The Seattle Times. July 18, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Morse, Dan (August 16, 2022). "Alison Lukan & Nick Olczyk to join Kraken broadcast team this season". Davy Jones' Locker Room. Vox Media. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c Douglas, William (August 7, 2020). "Kraken set to have first Black full-time NHL team play-by-play announcer". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Johnston, Patrick (October 23, 2021). "From the Canucks to the Kraken: Dave Tomlinson jumps back into radio". The Province. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (August 17, 2023). "Search for new Kraken radio analyst gears up in wake of Dave Tomlinson departure". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Al Kinisky Named Kraken Radio Color Analyst". National Hockey League. September 26, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Stone, Larry (October 15, 2021). "KJR's Ian Furness savors long-awaited opportunity during broadcast of Kraken's first victory". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Clark, Ryan S. (February 9, 2022). "How J.T. Brown and Everett Fitzhugh became the NHL's first all-Black broadcast duo". The Athletic. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Kraken leaving ROOT Sports for new TV and streaming deals". The Seattle Times. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena Announce Regional Partnership with iHeartMedia Seattle". PR Newswire (Press release). March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Baker, Geoff (March 3, 2021). "Sports Radio KJR named Kraken flagship station". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Ourand, John (May 9, 2022). "Sports Media: NHL sees local ratings dip in return to full season". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ "Kraken ticket demand and fan experience on the rise". The Seattle Times. February 4, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Kraken and FOX 13 announce new media partnership". FOX 13 Seattle. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (January 24, 2023). "Exploring why Kraken's TV ratings haven't caught up to improved play". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (December 5, 2023). "To grow fan base, Kraken should ditch ROOT Sports and show TV games for free". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Seattle Kraken Increases Broadcast and Streaming Access Through Partnerships With TEGNA and Prime Video". National Hockey League. April 25, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Beg, Zaiem (June 27, 2024). "Piper Shaw to remain with Kraken broadcast". Davy Jones' Locker room. Vox Media. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Condor, Bob (September 26, 2021). "Stars of Spokane". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ "Kraken Affiliate List". iheartradio.com. April 12, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ @KPUG (July 20, 2022). "We're officially an affiliate of the @SeattleKraken! KPUG will be your one stop shop for all Kraken news, broadcast…" ( Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "KONP to air Seattle Kraken NHL games". MYClallamCounty.com. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division and began play during the league's 2021–22 season. [1] Throughout their history, Kraken games have been televised primarily on Root Sports Northwest and radio broadcast primarily on KJR-FM.
Former Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes broadcaster John Forslund serves as the team's television play-by-play announcer. [2] [3] J. T. Brown is the Kraken's primary television color analyst. [4] In August 2022, the team hired Eddie Olczyk to be a television analyst alongside Forslund and Brown. Olczyk maintained his job at TNT as the lead color commentator and called the Kraken's games as his schedule allowed. [5] Alison Lukan is a studio analyst for Root Sports Northwest who filled in for Brown for a few games during the 2021–22 season and did the same for Olczyk and fellow analyst Piper Shaw for the 2022–23 season onward. Nick Olczyk joined her as a TV, radio, and mobile app contributor for the 2022–23 season. [6] Everett Fitzhugh serves as the team's primary radio play-by-play announcer. He is the first Black full-time play-by-play announcer in NHL history. [7] [2] Former NHL player and Vancouver Canucks broadcaster Dave Tomlinson served as Fitzhugh's color analyst for the Kraken's first two seasons, [8] before resigning in August 2023 to take a new broadcasting job in Canada. [9] The Kraken then hired former Seattle Thunderbirds commentator Al Kinisky to replace him. [10] In 2021, Fitzhugh tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the Kraken's first-ever regular season road trip; on radio broadcasts, John Forslund and veteran KJR broadcaster Ian Furness filled in on play-by-play duties. [11] The telecast for the Kraken's February 17, 2022, game against the Winnipeg Jets had Fitzhugh on play-by-play and Brown on color commentary, comprising the first all-Black broadcast booth in NHL history. [12]
Kraken games were televised regionally on Root Sports Northwest for the team's first three seasons. On April 25, 2024, the Kraken signed a deal with Tegna, owners of Seattle NBC affiliate KING-TV and independent KONG, to air their games throughout their territory, with streaming handled by Prime Video. [13] For radio, Kraken games are broadcast on KJR-FM 93.3 and KJR 950 AM, the flagship stations of the Kraken Audio Network. During a schedule conflict, some games may be heard on 96.5 KJAQ. [14] [15]
In their first season, the Kraken averaged a 0.96 Nielsen rating for games broadcast on Root Sports Northwest. By comparison, the Vegas Golden Knights averaged a 1.87 rating in their first season for games broadcast locally on AT&T SportsNet. [16]
From the beginning of their second season through mid-January 2023, the Kraken averaged a 0.68 rating, in the lowest third of the 23 United States NHL markets for which Nielsen ratings were available, despite a much better record than their first season at the same point. [17] The team launched a new show, entitled What's Kraken?, on the over-the-air station KCPQ, to broaden fan support during the 2022–23 season. [18] Seattle's high percentage of "broadband only" homes, without cable or satellite TV service, and the unavailability of Root Sports Northwest on most over-the-top media services, contributed to the low ratings. [19]
During their second and third seasons, the Kraken averaged a 0.7 rating for their October games on Root Sports Northwest. Shortly before the 2022–23 season, Comcast moved Root Sports Northwest to a higher-priced tier of service, due to the high cost and low demand for the channel. [20]
| Year | Channel | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) | Ice level reporter | Studio host |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Root Sports Northwest [21] | John Forslund [2] |
J. T. Brown (most games)
[4] Eddie Olczyk (select games) [5] Nick Olczyk (select games) [6] |
Piper Shaw (most games)
[22] Alison Lukan (select games) [6] |
Ross Fletcher [23] |
| 2022–23 | |||||
| 2021–22 |
John Forslund (most games)
[12]
[2] Everett Fitzhugh (select games) [12] |
J. T. Brown
[12]
[4] Alison Lukan (Replaced Brown during a March game against the Washington Capitals) [6] |
| Year | Flagship Station | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | KJR-FM [15] | Everett Fitzhugh [7] | Al Kinisky [10] |
| 2022–23 | Dave Tomlinson [8] | ||
| 2021–22 |
Everett Fitzhugh (most games)
[11]
[7] John Forslund (Games when Fitzhugh was sick with COVID-19) [11] Ian Furness (Games when Fitzhugh was sick with COVID-19) [11] |
The Kraken Audio Network also includes the following stations outside Seattle: [24]
- KTZN AM 550 Anchorage
- KPUG AM 1170 / FM 97.9 Bellingham [25]
- KBDB-FM 96.7 Forks
- KTKU FM 105.1 HD2 Juneau
- KAPS AM 660 Mount Vernon
- KONP AM 1450 Port Angeles [26]
- KPOJ AM 620 Portland
- KALE AM 960 Richland
- K257FX FM 99.3 Spokane
- KUTI AM 1460 Yakima
- KCRX FM 102.3 Astoria
- KOFE AM 1240 St. Maries
- KVOK FM 98.7 Kodiak Island
- KIFW AM 1230 Sitka
- ^ "Seattle Kraken hockey team statistics and history at HockeyDB.com". HockeyDB. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Clark, Ryan S. (January 26, 2021). "Seattle Kraken hire John Forslund and announce TV broadcast deal". The Athletic. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ^ McIntosh, Andrew (January 26, 2021). "NHL's Seattle Kraken signs multiyear TV broadcast rights deal". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
- ^ a b c Wyshynski, Greg (June 21, 2021). "Brown to retire, join Kraken as television analyst". ESPN. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ a b "Eddie Olczyk joining Kraken's TV broadcast team". The Seattle Times. July 18, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Morse, Dan (August 16, 2022). "Alison Lukan & Nick Olczyk to join Kraken broadcast team this season". Davy Jones' Locker Room. Vox Media. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c Douglas, William (August 7, 2020). "Kraken set to have first Black full-time NHL team play-by-play announcer". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Johnston, Patrick (October 23, 2021). "From the Canucks to the Kraken: Dave Tomlinson jumps back into radio". The Province. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (August 17, 2023). "Search for new Kraken radio analyst gears up in wake of Dave Tomlinson departure". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Al Kinisky Named Kraken Radio Color Analyst". National Hockey League. September 26, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Stone, Larry (October 15, 2021). "KJR's Ian Furness savors long-awaited opportunity during broadcast of Kraken's first victory". The Seattle Times. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Clark, Ryan S. (February 9, 2022). "How J.T. Brown and Everett Fitzhugh became the NHL's first all-Black broadcast duo". The Athletic. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
- ^ "Kraken leaving ROOT Sports for new TV and streaming deals". The Seattle Times. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena Announce Regional Partnership with iHeartMedia Seattle". PR Newswire (Press release). March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Baker, Geoff (March 3, 2021). "Sports Radio KJR named Kraken flagship station". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ Ourand, John (May 9, 2022). "Sports Media: NHL sees local ratings dip in return to full season". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ "Kraken ticket demand and fan experience on the rise". The Seattle Times. February 4, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Kraken and FOX 13 announce new media partnership". FOX 13 Seattle. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (January 24, 2023). "Exploring why Kraken's TV ratings haven't caught up to improved play". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ Baker, Geoff (December 5, 2023). "To grow fan base, Kraken should ditch ROOT Sports and show TV games for free". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Seattle Kraken Increases Broadcast and Streaming Access Through Partnerships With TEGNA and Prime Video". National Hockey League. April 25, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Beg, Zaiem (June 27, 2024). "Piper Shaw to remain with Kraken broadcast". Davy Jones' Locker room. Vox Media. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Condor, Bob (September 26, 2021). "Stars of Spokane". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ "Kraken Affiliate List". iheartradio.com. April 12, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ @KPUG (July 20, 2022). "We're officially an affiliate of the @SeattleKraken! KPUG will be your one stop shop for all Kraken news, broadcast…" ( Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "KONP to air Seattle Kraken NHL games". MYClallamCounty.com. October 6, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.