Redskins Reach Deal With WBIG-FM To Air Games

Snyder Reaches Deal With WBIG-FM

The Redskins have reached a deal to air their games on WBIG-FM, in addition to the three local radio stations, called Triple X ESPN Radio, that are owned by team Owner Daniel Snyder, according to Paul Farhi of the WASHINGTON POST. WBIG, which is owned by Clear Channel, will become an affiliate in the Redskins’ network of stations, “carrying game broadcasts along with game-day programming.”  The Triple X stations will remain the team’s flagships. But while the Triple X stations have “relatively weak signals,” WBIG’s 36,000-watt signal is “one of the most powerful in the area, reaching well into Baltimore, Frederick, Fredericksburg and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”  WBIG will receive an “undisclosed fee from the Redskins for carrying advertising and game broadcasts originated by Triple X.”  Triple X is in a “fierce battle for sports listeners with another Clear Channel-owned station,” WTEM-AM, but WTEM will have “no part of the Redskins’ broadcasts” (WASHINGTON POST, 6/8),

SOUTHERN APPEAL: In Richmond, John Markon writes DC’s five pro sports teams all “would like to be extracting thousands of dollars from the Richmond market, but only the … Redskins appear to be doing it.” The Redskins are "the most aggressive in increasing their market penetration," as stations in Richmond and Norfolk are part of the team's radio network.  Redskins Senior VP Karl Swanson said, “The Redskins were once the team of the entire South, at least until Atlanta and (Charlotte) got involved. Over time, we’ve lost some of our more distant fans as the new teams got established, but Virginia and Richmond are still very important areas for us.” Swanson "estimated that 3,000 of the Redskins’ current season-ticket subscribers" live in the Richmond area (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 6/8).