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Posted on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 1:17 p.m.

University of Michigan works to have radio deal in place before football season

By Kyle Meinke

CHICAGO — The University of Michigan is without a radio contract with little more than a month remaining before the start of football season.

BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS

AnnArbor.com’s Kyle Meinke is covering the Big Ten media days in Chicago. See a compilation of his stories below and follow him on Twitter @kmeinke.

School spokesman Dave Ablauf confirmed Thursday at the Big Ten media days the athletic department is working on a new deal after its five-year contract with CBS Radio was allowed to expire.

Further details — including possible suitors — were not available because of the ongoing negotiations.

Ablauf said he expects a new deal to be reached within a week.

Michigan signed its deal with CBS in 2006. The Wolverines open the season Sept. 3 with a 3:30 p.m. home game against Western Michigan.

Comments

10dz

Sat, Jul 30, 2011 : 3:10 a.m.

Frank Beckman should be canned for his Fab 5 comments. If is back doing U of M games, I will not listen.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.

The fact that they are this close to the star of the season without a contract suggests to me CBS wasn't bowled over by the previous 5 years. Losing the WJR relationship caught them by surprise in 2005 when it was announced. MSU and WJR have extended their deal through 2020 I believe. The major players in SE Michigan radio are CBS, Cumulas, Citadel (which is being acquired by Cumulas) and Clear channel.

Kyle Meinke

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 12:19 a.m.

Craig, thanks for the background on this. Good info. University officials seem real confident a deal will be reached within a matter of days, a week at the most, so I'll more info as this thing plays out. Stay tuned. (No pun intended.)

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 9:25 p.m.

Here is a link to further reading.. <a href="http://www.michiguide.com/archives2011/2011/07/where-will-u-m-play-ball-on-th.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.michiguide.com/archives2011/2011/07/where-will-u-m-play-ball-on-th.html</a>

Wally the Wolverine

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 8:13 p.m.

Do they have any verbal commitments from any networks?

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.

Frank may not be the play by play guy anymore. Thats not a prediction but a distinct possibility.

barnz378

Thu, Jul 28, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.

Yes, 5 Star Frank Beckmann is interested along with George Blaha (who is unranked)