The Mid America Sports Network, radio rights-holder for Kansas State Athletics, announced a new affiliate agreement with KQTP, 102.9 FM, in Topeka on Wednesday.

KQTP will become the new broadcast home for K-State athletics in Northeast Kansas effective Feb. 2, 2005, replacing current affiliate KTPK, which was recently sold to a new ownership group.

"Kansas State sports will now be heard exclusively on 102.9 FM," said Mid America Network General Manager Rick Betzen. "KQTP is a great radio station with a great coverage signal. It‚s one of the top-rated station‚s in the Topeka area and Kansas State fans can be assured that the Wildcats have a very good home in the capital city."

KQTP is owned and operated by Cumulus Media Inc./Cumulus Broadcasting Inc., based in Atlanta, Ga. According to Betzen, the Mid America Network already had a strong partnership with Cumulus in Topeka, which helped to pave the way for the new affiliate agreement.

"Cumulus Broadcasting has been a part of both our Ag and News Networks for several years now," Betzen added. "With the ownership change at KTPK, Cumulus was a natural choice to become our broadcast partner with K-State sports."

KTPK, 106.9 FM, was one of the first stations to become part of the Mid America Sports Network when the company was awarded rights to Kansas State Sports in 2002.

"We appreciate the support and promotion that KTPK provided for the Mid America Sports Network, Kansas State University and Wildcat fans throughout Northeast Kansas," Betzen said. "I would like to thank General Manager Jim Allan and his entire staff for all their hard work over the past three years."

The first Kansas State broadcast on KQTP will be Feb. 2, when the Wildcat men‚s basketball team travels to Oklahoma State for a Big 12 Conference road game in Stillwater.