Pistons Sign Five-Year Deal To Move To WXYT-FM Next Season
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Pistons To Join Tigers, Red Wings,
Lions On WXYT-FM Next Season |
The Pistons Thursday signed a five-year deal to join WXYT-FM, which also broadcasts the Tigers, Red Wings and Lions, in what is "likely the first time all four teams have joined the same station," according to Krista Jahnke of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. The team was "three years into their second five-year deal" with WDFN-AM, and they had an "opt-out clause at the end of this season and took the opportunity to make the switch." Pistons play-by-play announcers George Blaha and Mark Champion will join the team at WXYT. The move leaves WDFN, the city's other full-time sports radio station, with "only this season's remaining Pistons games and related shows and Detroit Mercy basketball games in the way of local programming." WDFN's recent move to a "full lineup of syndicated programs might have been a factor, but it wasn't the key reason the Pistons switched teams." The Pistons have been "exploring a possible move from WDFN long before Clear Channel gouged the local on-air talent at the station last month," as the Pistons have "wanted to move to a stronger, FM signal for years." Palace Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Tom Wilson said that the Pistons "had asked about simulcasting on FM, especially in the playoffs, but WDFN wasn't interested." But Wilson did say that the layoffs at WDFN "served as the final push." Jahnke notes WDFN's future in local sports is "unknown." The WNBA Shock for now will "continue to broadcast on WDTW-AM," a sister-station of WDFN (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/6). Pistons Exec VP/Corporate Marketing Dan Hauser said WXYT's "leadership position in the sports radio market as well as their strong FM signal will make Pistons basketball easily accessible for all Pistons fans in the Metro Detroit area" (DETROIT NEWS, 2/6).
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