The Raptors are switching radio stations after signing
a three-year deal with Canada's all-sports station The Fan,
according to Chris Zelkovich of the TORONTO STAR. The deal
comes "even though" CFRB-AM, which carried Raptors' games
for the team's first three years, "still had a year left on
its contract" with the team. Zelkovich writes that the
team, which wanted to be part of an all-sports format, and
The Fan "worked out a deal" with CFRB, which is owned by
former Raptors Owner Allan Slaight, and now wants "to
concentrate on its news-talk format" (TORONTO STAR, 7/10).
In Toronto, Rob Longley writes that CFRB "did little to
promote the Raptors through pre- and post-game programming,"
and once tape-delayed a weekday afternoon game "so as not to
interrupt key drive-time programming" (TORONTO SUN, 7/10).
FLYERS ON UPN: The Flyers agreed to a multiyear deal
with WPSG-UPN to broadcast the team's games next season,
according to Jerry Brewer of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The
station will televise three preseason games, "at least" 20
regular-season games and "certain playoff road games"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/10). Comcast SportsNet will
continue as the Flyers' cable TV home. WPSG-UPN Program Dir
Mark Cooper said the station will "work the games around UPN
programming" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/10).
