Michigan athletic department announces 5-year radio deal with CBS less than month before football opener
The University of Michigan athletic department announced today it has reached a five-year contract extension with CBS Radio.
Detroit’s WWJ-AM (950) will serve as the flagship station for football and men’s basketball. The Wolverines also will be heard on WTKA-AM (1050) and WWWW-FM (102.9) out of Ann Arbor.
The agreement comes less than a month before the Wolverines will face Western Michigan in its football opener Sept. 3.
Michigan’s previous five-year deal with CBS, which was signed in 2006, had been allowed to expire.
“The move to WWJ Radio for football and men’s basketball provides a consistent signal for our two largest radio properties,” Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said in a press release. “Staying with the CBS Radio family is a win-win for our fans. We are looking to add additional radio affiliates to cover the state of Michigan and the Midwest.”
All football and men’s basketball games will air on WWJ-AM (950). There will be a 150-minute pregame show and a 60-minute postgame show for all home football games, and a 30-minute pregame and postgame show for men’s basketball games, according to the release.
The new deal with CBS also includes 15 ice hockey game and six women’s basketball games that will air on WXYT-AM (1270).
Football coach Brady Hoke will participate in a weekly show that airs at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. The first installment is scheduled for Aug. 31.
Basketball coach John Beilein will have a show on Mondays.
2011 Michigan Radio Network affiliates:
Alma WQBX-FM (104.9)
Alpena WATZ-AM (1450)
Ann Arbor WTKA-AM (1050)
Ann Arbor WWWW-FM (102.9)
Battle Creek WBXX-FM (104.9)
Benton Harbor WSJM-AM (1400)
Big Rapids WBRN-AM (1460)
Big Rapids WBRN-FM (107.7)
Cadillac WATT-AM (1240)
Cassopolis WGTO-AM (910)
Charlevoix WMKT-AM (1270)
Detroit WWJ-AM (950)
Escanaba WDBC-AM (680)
Flint WTRX-AM (1330)
Grand Haven WGHN-AM (1370)
Grand Rapids WOOD-AM (1300)
Jackson WKHM-AM (970)
Kalamazoo WNWN-AM (1560)
Kalamazoo WQLR-AM (1660)
Lansing WQTX-FM (92.1)
Ludington WKZC-FM (94.9)
Marine City WHLX-AM (1590)
Marquette WIAN-AM (1240)
Muskegon WOOD-FM (106.9)
Niles WNIL-AM (1290)
Oscoda WWTH-FM (100.7)
Petoskey WMKT-FM (92.1)
Port Huron WHLS-AM (1450)
Reed City WBRN-FM (95.1)
Rogers City WHAK-FM (99.9)
Rogers City WHAK-AM (980)
Saginaw WSGW-AM (790)
Sault Ste. Marie WKNW-AM (1400)
Toledo, Ohio WXKR-FM (100.7)
Traverse City WTCM-AM (580)
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
10dz
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 12:50 a.m.
If Beckman is in, I am out!!!!!!!!!!
TcFlint
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Glad Michigan has got this resolved. However, as long as Tea Party and Right Wing fanatic Frank Beckman is doing the games, I say thank goodness for television!!!
Fredric
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
Is Beckman still in the picture or have they finally replaced him ? I hope he is gone. He is not a good nor fair announcer!
Cash
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 10:42 p.m.
He's bad. Very bad.
heartbreakM
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
Kyle: Do you know if Brandy and Beckmann are still the announcers? Also, do you know if there is any thought to have eastern stations (such as New York, PA, DC where there are a lot of alums)? Finally, any news whether Hoke is going to restart Michigan Replay?
Fredric
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
I hope Beckman is out!! Can not stand the guy!!
Haran Rashes
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 8:37 p.m.
Does anyone know if the agreement allows the local radio stations, such as WWJ and WTKA, to stream the games and associated broadcasts over the Internet? I know that in the past they were not permitted to do so and for streaming you had to go to the MGoBlue.com site.
Ace Ventura
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
<a href="http://tunein.com/" rel='nofollow'>http://tunein.com/</a>
Tru2Blu76
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.
Well, good luck with this radio thing. For my part, I can't get decent radio reception on ANY station. IMO, it's a travesty just like the TV rights travesty. Too many people over-focused on making a big profit on MEDIOCRE product. Communications technology: same story across the board - we get crap and pay more for less. Who (with brains) thinks that "digital TV" has brought improvement? More expensive television sets playing lots of junk in which a few bits of real value are buried. And of course this Congress mandated "idea" enhances the monopolies of companies like Comcast. Big Ten Network has spent lots of $$$ to "achieve the largest area coverage" for BIG TEN sports: they are still only providing partial coverage of every member school's football games. I have had "better luck" subscribing to online services to see Michigan football games. My computer, though one of the most expensive, serves double purpose that way. If it wouldn't hurt Michigan Football, I'd say it's time to boycott ALL college sports games for a few months - until all the "players" in the TV and radio industry realize we're not suckers and can't be manipulated (as is happening right now).
johnnya2
Tue, Aug 9, 2011 : 1:40 a.m.
"I can't get decent radio reception on ANY station" - nothing to do with the station, it has to do with what you are buying as a receiver. I have great reception for multiple stations that carry UM Football "we get crap and pay more for less." Really? What have you paid for WWJs signal? If you are unhappy with that,. there is always satellite radio which also carries the UM home and away team feeds. You can pay more for that "expensive television sets playing lots of junk " You are not forced to buy a television. If you are unhappy with the so-called junk, dont watch it " I'd say it's time to boycott ALL college sports games for a few months" Sorry, it is YOU who is being manipulated into believing you have any idea what you are talking about
Cash
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 7:47 p.m.
I wish they'd push some deals to broadcast in NW Ohio. If you want to recruit Ohio it doesn't hurt to have some fans there...an NW Ohio isn't completely OSU territory. You see a lot of UM apparel and car decals etc. I would think the Napoleon and Lima area would be good place to start. As long as we are taking their recruits lets win some fans!
David Briegel
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 7:04 p.m.
I totally agree with Craig. Who would want to listen to WJR OR WAAM? Can't we find a MICHIGAN Man to do play by play? That right wing flake can keep his opinions to the ONCE great, now not so great, voice of the Great Lakes! You know, Spartan Radio.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Our personal dislike aside, he's really only an average announcer. Guys like him are a dime a dozen. If anyone doesn't believe it one can, through the magic of the internet, hear a live stream of just about any major college football PBP announcer every weekend.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
Do I have to continue to put up with that far right wing ideologue pbp announcer? The one who rants against anyone less right wing than Rush Limbaugh 15 hours a week on the Spartan Radio station?
semperveritas
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
the gasbag beckmann SHOULD HAVE BEEN dumped long ago----certainly when he attacked jalen rose. this would be the great time for the new broom to sweep clean, however, he and brandon are comrades.
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
thankfully we have 1050 am and 102.9 FM here locally because WWJ's signal isn't the best when the sun goes down
T-bird
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 5:47 p.m.
WJR left U of M. U of M had no choice in the matter. WJR only has the Spartans now, no other sports at all. I say good riddance to bad radio.
deb
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
should have never left wjr
a2zoo
Mon, Aug 8, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.
They didn't, WJR left them....