In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes WFAN-AM dropping the Mets in favor of the Yankees beginning next season presents a "rare opportunity" for ESPN Radio 98.7 N.Y., as it is "not often when one of the local baseball teams' rights come on the open market." To let the Mets "slip away to another radio outlet, especially in this baseball town, would provide evidence that when it comes to the New York radio market, ESPN is not in it to win it." ESPN execs have "shown a willingness to make aggressive moves," and obtaining the Mets "must be their next." Allowing another station to land the rights "would be a major mistake" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/13). Also in N.Y., Phil Mushnick notes WABC-AM and WOR-AM "are options, but at no more than FAN’s expiring deal" of $6-7M annually. ESPN Radio N.Y., which is "loaded with date conflicts -- Knicks, Rangers, national MLB and NBA, et al. -- is a long shot, unless it makes a shared-station agreement" (N.Y. POST, 9/13).
RAISING ARIZONA: The Coyotes have signed a new agreement with Bonneville Phoenix Media & Marketing to broadcast all preseason, regular-season and playoff games on KTAR-AM, KTAR-FM and KMVP-AM. Play-by-play man Bob Heethuis and color analyst Tyson Nash will call all games (Coyotes).
SPANISH FLARE: ESPN Radio 760 West Palm Beach on Tuesday "began carrying 24 hours of ESPN Deportes Radio." The new station is called ESPN Deportes 760. Good Karma Broadcasting, which put ESPN Radio WPB on the air in '03, bought WVVB-FM in August '12. Since its "February launch, 106.3 had run the same content as 760" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/13).
