Detroit Lions Radio Network Explained

The Detroit Lions Radio Network is a radio network in Michigan and Toledo, Ohio that broadcasts all of the NFL's Detroit Lions games and related programming.^[1] All preseason, regular season, and postseason games are aired live throughout the network. The announcers are WJBK (Fox 2) sports director Dan Miller with play-by-play, former Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown with color commentary, and former Lions guard T. J. Lang serving as sideline reporter.^{[2] [3]} Network coverage begins two hours before game time and ends one hour after the game's conclusion. Games are also aired on Sirius XM Radio and online with a subscription to NFL Game Pass or TuneIn Premium. The Lions' flagship station returned to WXYT-FM starting with the 2021 season, after a five-year stint at WJR.^[4] As of the 2023 season, the network consists of 50 stations in 40 markets in Michigan and one in Ohio.^[1]

Station list

Callsign	Frequency	Band	City	State	Network status
WXYT-FM	97.1	FM		Michigan	Flagship
WLEN-HD2	data-sort-value=103920	103.9-2	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
W243AD	data-sort-value=096590	96.5	FM		Michigan	WLEN-HD2 relay
WFYC	1280	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
WRGZ	96.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WTKA	1050	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
WFAT	930	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W274AQ	102.7	FM		Michigan	WFAT relay
WBRN	1460	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W243EN	data-sort-value=096591	96.5	FM		Michigan	WBRN relay
WKAD	93.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WIDL	92.1	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WWCS	95.3	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WYKX	104.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WRSR	data-sort-value=103900	103.9	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WGFN	98.1	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WGHN	1370	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W235CM	94.9	FM		Michigan	WGHN relay
WLAV-FM	96.9	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WJRW	1340	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W291DJ	106.1	FM		Michigan	WJRW relay
WQON	100.3	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WGLI	98.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WCSR	1340	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
WCSR-FM	92.1	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
W258DE	99.5	FM		Michigan	WCSR relay
WHTC	1450	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W259CO	99.7	FM		Michigan	WHTC relay
WCCY	1400	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W257CZ	99.3	FM		Michigan	WCCY relay
WIMK	93.1	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WJMS	590	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W221EH	92.1	FM		Michigan	WJMS relay
WKHM-HD2	105.3-2	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
W270CJ	101.9	FM		Michigan	WKHM-HD2 relay
WKZO	590	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W295CL	data-sort-value=106991	106.9	FM		Michigan	WKZO relay
WJIM	1240	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W295BP	data-sort-value=106990	106.9	FM		Michigan	WJIM relay
WCMM	102.5	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WUPT	100.3	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WLCS	98.3	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WNBY-FM	93.9	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WUPY	101.1	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WWTH	100.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WMBN	1340	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W284DF	104.7	FM		Michigan	WMBN relay
WPHM	1380	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
WHLS	1450	AM		Michigan	Conflicting games
W288BT	105.5	FM		Michigan	WHLS relay
WKQZ	93.3	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WTGV-FM	97.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WCSY	103.7	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WSJM-FM	94.9	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WBET-FM	99.3	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WQQO-HD2	data-sort-value=105520	105.5-2	FM		Ohio	Affiliate
W264AK	100.7	FM		Ohio	WQQO-HD2 relay
WLDR-FM	101.9	FM		Michigan	Affiliate
WLAW	1490	AM		Michigan	Affiliate
W256DM	99.1	FM		Michigan	WLAW relay

Blue background indicates low-power FM translator.Gray background indicates station is a simulcast of another station.

History

See main article: List of Detroit Lions broadcasters.

• Dan Miller has been the radio play-by-play voice of the Lions since 2005.^[1] Miller succeeded Mark Champion, who had called play-by-play for the team from 1989-2004.^[5]
• Van Patrick called play-by-play from 1950 until his death in 1974.^[6]
• Other past announcers for Lions radio include Frank Beckmann, Bob Reynolds, Dave Diles and Ray Lane.
• Jim Brandstatter was the Lions' radio color commentator from 1987–2017.^{[7] [2]}
• Tony Ortiz provided Lions sideline reports from 2001 until 2016.^[8] He produced Lions games broadcasts from 1991-1994.^[9]
• WXYT (AM) was the sole flagship station of the network from 1998-2004.
• In 2005, the Lions' flagship became an FM station for the first time in their history, when a long term agreement was signed with WKRK (now WXYT-FM).
• Detroit's WWJ was the team's flagship station prior to 1998, and continued to simulcast WXYT's broadcasts prior to the team's move to WKRK. Prior to 1989, WJR had served as the Lions' radio flagship.
• Former names of the network include "The WXYT 1270 Detroit Lions Radio Network", "The WKRK Detroit Lions Radio Network", and "The Live 97.1 Detroit Lions Radio Network" (WKRK-FM is WXYT-FM's former callsign, and Live 97.1 is one of its former brandings).
• WXYT-FM was the Lions' flagship from 2004–2015.
• On November 20, 2015, it was announced that the Detroit Lions would move to WJR beginning in the 2016 NFL season, ending the team's 20-year relationship with CBS Radio. Officials stated that CBS had dropped the team over demands that it censor on-air content that was critical of the team. In particular, the Lions specifically demanded that flagship station WXYT-FM fire popular on-air personality Mike Valenti as a condition of any extension to its broadcast rights since Valenti has had a history of making remarks critical of the Lions and their poor performance. WXYT-FM refused to do so, and he remains at the station.^{[8] [3]}

See also

• List of XM Satellite Radio channels
• List of Sirius Satellite Radio stations
• NFL on Westwood One
• Detroit Lions Television Network

Notes and References

1. https://www.detroitlions.com/tunein/lions-radio-network Detroit Lions Official Site: Detroit Lions Radio Network Affiliates
2. https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/07/10/detroit-lions-radio-jim-brandstatter-wjr-fired/771225002/ Detroit Lions radio: Jim Brandstatter out, Lomas Brown in on WJR-AM
3. Web site: Want to listen to the Lions in 2016? Tune in to WJR-AM. Detroit Free Press. 20 November 2015.
4. https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/12/18/detroit-lions-radio-flagship-97-1-the-ticket/3954327001/ Detroit Lions changing radio homes in 2021, back to 97.1 The Ticket
5. http://www.nba.com/pistons/multimedia/radio_television_announcers.html Detroit Pistons Official Site - Announcers
6. Web site: Van Patrick On The Air . 2010-12-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110716214203/http://www.hal.state.mi.us/mhc/museum/explore/museums/hismus/special/ontheair/famewall/patrick.html . 2011-07-16 . dead .
7. https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-statement-re-jim-brandstatter RE: Jim Brandstatter
8. News: CBS Detroit: Lions censorship demands caused split. 20 November 2015. The Detroit News.
9. http://www.wwj.com/pages/118694.php?contentType=4&contentId=233934 WWJ Radio - Our Staff