Connect with us
blank

Sports Radio News

Cavs Extend Radio Deal With iHeart Cleveland

“WTAM 1100 is entering their third decade as the Cavaliers flagship radio partner which began in the 1990-91 season.”

Brandon Contes

Published

on

blank

iHeartMedia announced a new multi-year broadcast agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal sees News/Talk WTAM 1100/106.9 and WMMS 100.7 FM continue as the flagship stations for Cleveland’s NBA franchise. 

WTAM 1100 is entering their third decade as the Cavaliers flagship radio partner which began in the 1990-91 season. 

Returning for his second season as the team’s radio play-by-play voice is Tim Alcorn. Joining Alcorn will be former Cavs center Jim Chones, who returns for his 11th season on the call. Mike Snyder continues his long tenure with the Cavs radio team, having been part of the broadcast for nearly their entire tenure on WTAM. For the 29th straight year Snyder will anchor the pregame, halftime postgame coverage. Former NBA player Brad Sellers is back for his 11th year, contributing as a postgame studio analyst. 

Alcorn was hired by the Cavaliers just one month before the season began last year, following 27 years as sports director and station manager of News/Talk 930 WEOL in Elyria, Ohio. The Cavs radio play-by-play position was previously held by John Michael who moved over to their TV coverage, taking over for the late Fred McLeod. 

In addition to the Cavs, iHeart’s media partnership includes the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Canton Charge of the NBA G League. All three teams are owned by Dan Gilbert. FOX Sports 1350 AM “The Gambler” will be the radio home for Monsters Hockey and 99.7 FM Canton’s New Country will be the Canton Charge’s flagship. 

Sports Radio News

Dan Patrick: NBC Created ‘Something That Was Brilliant’ With Flex Scheduling

“Networks were so upset that NBC would go ‘Hey, you know what? We’re gonna take that game and we’re gonna have it on Sunday night.’ Then FOX and CBS would be scrambling there.”

blank

Published

on

blank

Roger Goodell wants flex scheduling to come to Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football package. It could happen this season, but we won’t know for sure until May after league owners decided to table a vote on the proposal. On Wednesday, FOX Sports Radio’s Dan Patrick joined the chorus of critics calling it a bad idea.

Patrick said that the league always prioritizes revenue. If it were thinking about the fans, this isn’t something that would even be discussed.

The idea of flex scheduling was first introduced for NBC’s Sunday Night Football package in 2006. The goal was to make sure the prime time TV package could deliver high quality games every week.

“NBC did something that was brilliant where they were able to flex Sunday night games,” Patrick said. “Everyone wanted it.”

While the fate of flex scheduling for Thursdays remains up in the air, we do know that flex scheduling is coming to Monday Night Football on ESPN this season. Patrick, who worked for NBC when the practice was introduced, said that it always took care of one broadcast partner by screwing others.

“Networks were so upset that NBC would go ‘Hey, you know what? We’re gonna take that game and we’re gonna have it on Sunday night.’ Then FOX and CBS would be scrambling there.”

Dan Patrick suggested that perhaps Amazon’s Prime Video doesn’t deserve the same treatment as NBC or ESPN. Far fewer people watch the Thursday night game than any other primetime NFL contest.

Whether or not flex scheduling comes to Thursday Night Football, Patrick says it does not guarantee to change the package’s reputation for delivering largely unappealing games.

“I’ve long said it’s crazy to say you have to play Sunday and then turn around and play Thursday and we’d always go ‘Man, these Thursday games aren’t good,’” he concluded. “Well, was it the matchup or just the quality of play?”

Continue Reading

Sports Radio News

106.7 The Fan Extends Deal to Remain Washington Nationals Flagship

“We’re looking forward to continuing to serve as the home for everything Nats for the foreseeable future…”

blank

Published

on

blank

106.7 The Fan has announced it has reached a multi-year extension with the Washington Nationals to remain as the MLB club’s radio flagship.

Nationals fans will continue to hear game broadcasts on the station, and those living inside the club’s broadcast territory will be able to stream the radio broadcasts on the Audacy app.

“Opening Day is finally here and we’re thrilled to celebrate the return of baseball season by extending our partnership with the Washington Nationals,” said Audacy Washington D.C. Senior Vice President and Market Manager Ivy Savoy-Smith. “We’re looking forward to continuing to serve as the home for everything Nats for the foreseeable future and give the team’s fans a front row seat to the action on the field and top storylines throughout the year.”

The Nationals have called 106.7 The Fan home since the 2011 season. Beyond game broadcasts, the station will welcome Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo to The Sports Junkies every Wednesday at 9:00 AM throughout the season. The station will also air segments titled “Nats Insider”, hosted by broadcaster Dan Kolko that feature player interviews and features. Those segments will air all along the Nationals Radio Network.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with Audacy in bringing Nationals fans even more of the interviews and exclusive access they love,” said Lerner Sports Group COO Alan H. Gottlieb. “From in-depth interviews with execs and top players, to off-the-field profiles and more Spanish and English bilingual content than ever before, Audacy offers a comprehensive look at our ball club from all angles.”

Continue Reading

Sports Radio News

Todd Markiewicz Departing 97.1 The Fan

“He has left an indelible mark in the Columbus market and within the sports/talk radio world by building The Fan with excellent programming, dominant ratings, and overall market share.”

Avatar photo

Published

on

blank

Longtime 97.1 The Fan Vice President and Market Manager Todd Markiewicz has announced he is leaving the sports radio station.

Markiewicz has been named the President of the 1870 Society, a Name, Image, and Likeness collective working with Ohio State athletics and Learfield to devise NIL strategy, fundraising, and logistics.

In an internal memo, Tegna Columbus President and General Manager John Cardenas credited Markiewicz for helping to establish the brand as “the powerhouse sports station in the country. He has left an indelible mark in the Columbus market and within the sports/talk radio world by building The Fan with excellent programming, dominant ratings, and overall market share.”

Markiewicz joined the station in 2010. Under his leadership, 97.1 The Fan has routinely ranked as the highest-rated station in the Columbus market.

His final day with the station will be Friday, May 26th.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

blank

Barrett Media Writers

Copyright © 2023 Barrett Media.