The Pistons have "no immediate plans to change" radio homes after flagship station WMGC-FM dropped its all-sports format last night, according to Tony Paul of the DETROIT NEWS. Around 6:00pm ET, oldies started to "play on WMGC and the station's website, app and Facebook page were deactivated or replaced with other content." The news comes after WMGC-FM failed to take any "significant chunk" of WXYT-FM's audience since launching in August '13. Officials have said that the sports format would be a "long-term play of at least five years, but decided to change in recent weeks after firing" Program Dir David Shore in May. The Pistons have completed their second season on WMGC-FM after making the switch from WXYT-FM. The team can "opt out of the final guaranteed year of the contract and the two option years because of the change in formats." Jake Chapman "will continue" hosting "Pistons Weekly," while Mark Champion and Rick Mahorn "will continue to host" the weekly "Courtside Show." Station owner Greater Media "wanted more than the Pistons to build around, and went after the Tigers rights after last season." However, the Tigers and Red Wings, a "package deal" under owners the Ilitches, stuck with WXYT-FM (DETROIT NEWS, 6/30). In Detroit, Bill Shea notes it is not clear what the Pistons "will do for a radio broadcaster" after the '16-17 season. Under the deal, the Pistons "retain all radio advertising revenue from the live broadcasts of the 82 regular season games an all preseason and playoff games." The station earns "incremental revenue based on broadcast and other metrics, which were never publicly disclosed" (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 6/29).
