Kansas City Chiefs Partner with DTS and Cumulus Media to Air Games in Surround Technology

NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network have partnered with DTS, Inc, a leader in high-definition audio, and Cumulus Media to broadcast all of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs home and away games with DTS Neural Surround technology.

As a result of this partnership, fans will enjoy a fully-immersive and engaging listening experience—marking football’s first surround sound broadcast delivery across radio. This announcement builds upon an existing collaboration between DTS and Cumulus Media, which enabled the integration of DTS technology to deliver surround sound broadcasts of the Atlanta Braves games.

“At Cumulus, we set the standard for the next-generation radio broadcasting enterprise and we are very proud to deliver what we consider the best sounding football broadcast in America,” said Gary Kline, senior vice president of engineering and IT, Cumulus Media. “Working with DTS technology raises our listeners’ experiences by enveloping them with the sounds of the action and stadium, giving them the best seats in the house.”

The DTS Neural Surround gear is built by DTS licensee DaySequerra and integrated both on-site at Arrowhead Stadium and with the Chiefs Radio Network mobile package. The DTS-based set-up allows the audio team to broadcast immersive 5.1 surround sound over a stereo transmission path. Using the stereo format at the highest resolution possible, DTS Neural Surround enables the Chiefs’ broadcast production team to preserve the integrity of the surround mix for a realistic, multi-dimensional audio experience. For football enthusiasts, every play will feature crisp, clear frequencies that transport listeners to the 50-yard line.

“Football is a visceral sport where audio plays an important role in defining the fan experience, especially for remote audiences,” added Jon Kirchner, CEO of DTS, Inc. “The sounds of the game—helmets colliding, quarterback audibles, referee calls, the cheers and chants of the crowd—are what sports fans are hungry for, whether they experience the action in person, on TV or on the radio.”

Joe D’Angelo, senior vice president of broadcast programs and advanced services at iBiquity Digital, stated, “We are very pleased that Cumulus and DTS have expanded their surround sound from the Major League Baseball to the NFL. The combination of the DTS system and HD Radio technology provides the listener with crystal clear digital audio with the enhancement of a surround sound experience.”

The Chiefs Radio Network comprises more than 50 stations and joins DTS’ content partner roster alongside American Public Media, JazzSet and others. More than 1,000 radio stations in the U.S. are now broadcasting in DTS Neural Surround to elevate the audio quality and enhance the entertainment experience for listeners.