Live radio broadcasts of Pistons games will move to WMGC-FM beginning in '15, marking the station's "first foray into Detroit's pro sports" and breaking WXYT-FM's "monopoly" in the market, according to Steve Schrader of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. WXYT is the home of the Lions, Red Wings and Tigers, "which frequently
causes scheduling conflicts." This past season, 79 regular-season
Pistons games were broadcast on WXYT and three were carried on WWJ-AM (FREEP.com, 4/22). In Detroit, Bill Shea notes WMGC Owner Greater Media has scheduled a press conference for 3:00pm ET today. Greater Media said it will make a “major announcement.” Pistons games for five years have been on CBS Radio-owned WXYT. CBS Radio Detroit Market Manager Deb Kenyon said that "not having Pistons play-by-play broadcasts frees up the broadcaster’s stations for flexibility." She added, "We did look into it. But after really looking at what they wanted and what we wanted, it didn’t make sense for our (station) cluster." Shea notes a "significant number of Pistons games" ended up on"CBS Radio-owned WWJ-AM due to "overlapping schedules" this past season. WMGC last year "changed formats to sports talk from adult contemporary music" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 4/21).
WELCOME BACK: The Rams announced a multiyear renewal with ESPN Radio 101 St. Louis. Current play-by-play announcer Steve Savard and analyst D'Marco Farr will continue in their respective roles. The Rams have been with ESPN Radio 101 St. Louis since the station launched in '09 (ESPN).
