BANGOR (AP) – Bruised feelings from the transfer of radio broadcast rights for University of Maine sports prompted the school’s president to acknowledge that it owes an apology to two of its top benefactors: Stephen and Tabitha King.

Black Bear Sports Properties announced earlier this month it had awarded the rights to WVOM, Bangor, and Clear Channel for five years, severing the university’s ties to WZON, Bangor. WZON, owned by the Kings, had been UMaine’s flagship station since 1997.

“The Kings deserve better treatment than we afforded them,” said Robert Kennedy, university president. “I recognize as all of us at UMaine do that they are among the most important alumni and supporters UMaine has ever had.”

Kennedy’s remarks Thursday were in response to an e-mail from Stephen King, the best-selling horror writer and Bangor resident, to WABI-TV.

“It would be very Grinch-y to say, You (UMaine) took away our coverage of UM sports, so were taking our financial ball and going home,” King said in the e-mail to reporter Amy Ericson. “Tabby and I feel we were treated shabbily by the Athletic Department, and have serious questions about whether or not the negotiations were done in good faith. We feel the community was treated even more shabbily.”

The broadcast rights agreement, negotiated by a subsidiary of the Missouri-based media and advertising firm Learfield Communications, caused a public outcry.

“We have learned important lessons, and we will do better in the future,” Kennedy said. “We will also make every attempt to demonstrate to Stephen and Tabitha that UMaine continues to be worthy of their support.”

Nearly a year ago, UMaine received $450,000 for signing over to Black Bear Sports Properties the exclusive rights to negotiate the bidding and make decisions in awarding radio and TV rights for UMaine athletics.

The Kings, longtime financial supporters of UMaine athletics and academics, apparently thought they deserved to retain the rights, or have better negotiations, based on their affiliation with the university.

Even so, Stephen King indicated the incident wouldn’t prevent him and his wife from continuing their financial support of university programs.

“Our decision on giving will still be made on a case-by-case basis,” King said. “We are, however, human and that means we are hurt and angry over this decision.”

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com