Manhattan ? The Mid America Sports Network has sold the radio broadcast rights to Kansas State University athletic events to Learfield Communications, Kansas State athletics director Tim Weiser said Monday.

Learfield, based in Jefferson City, Mo., was among bidders for the Kansas State rights when Wichita-based Mid America won a five-year contract in 2002.

Learfield has sports broadcast rights for 18 other NCAA Division I universities, including Oklahoma, Missouri and Colorado in the Big 12.

The sale is effective immediately, but Mid America will continue to broadcast Wildcats sports events for the rest of this season. Learfield’s acquisition guarantees Kansas State annual payments of $1.1 million for the remaining two years of the contract.

The sale to Learfield was part of a deal in which Larry Steckline, founder of Mid America Ag Network, sold controlling interest in the company to his son, Greg. The younger Steckline will continue to operate the company’s agricultural and news networks and also start a new all-sports radio station May 1 in Wichita.