Michigan Sports Network Explained

Type:Radio network
Country:United States
Headquarters:Ann Arbor, Michigan
Broadcast Area:Michigan
Ohio (limited)
Owner:Learfield IMG College
Affiliation:
CBS Radio
Affiliates:46 (including 1 flagship)
Website:football affiliates}}

The Michigan Wolverines Sports Network is an American radio network consisting of 46 radio stations which carry coverage of Michigan Wolverines football and men's basketball. WXYT-FM (97.1 FM) and WWJ (950 AM), both in Metro Detroit, serve as the network's flagship stations. The network also includes 44 affiliates in the U.S. states of Michigan and Ohio: 27 AM stations, four of which extend their signals with low-power FM translators; and 17 full-power FM stations (Toledo generally only broadcasts Michigan content over its HD Radio digital subchannel).[1] [2] [3] Games are also available on Sirius XM satellite radio and online via TuneIn.

Announcers

Football

Doug Karsch does play-by-play and Jon Jansen does color commentary for football.[4]

Basketball

Brian Boesch currently serves as play-by-play announcer for men's basketball, joined by color analyst Terry Mills.[5]

History

Michigan's relationship with IMG College dates back to March 2001 when the school signed a five-year deal with Host Communications, Inc., a sports marketing firm based in Lexington, Kentucky; the deal was predicated to generate $7.5 million in advertising revenue from Michigan football and men's basketball radio broadcasts through 2005 - 06 (this partnership with Host would ultimately remain in place for the next seven years). In 2007, IMG College purchased Host Communications; in August 2008, IMG announced a new 12-year media rights deal with Michigan reportedly worth $86 million, including gameday radio broadcasts.[6] [7]

WJR/Detroit had served as the network flagship station for Michigan football since 1976 (with sister station CKLW serving as backup for those times when Detroit Tigers baseball games took precedence) and men's basketball since 1997. In October 2005, WJR announced a new deal to broadcast rival Michigan State football and men's basketball, while simultaneously dropping its long partnership with Michigan. The news came as a surprise to the Michigan athletic department, including director Bill Martin, who claimed the school had acted "in good faith" throughout months of negotiations with the station. Michigan soon signed a new five-year deal with CBS Radio and CHUM Limited (later CTVglobemedia), owners of WOMC/Detroit and CKLW/Windsor, respectively. In August 2011, new Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon announced a five-year contract extension with CBS Radio, with the majority of network flagship coverage shifting to WOMC AM sister station WWJ.[8] [9] [10]

Play-by-play announcer Jim Brandstatter and analyst Dan Dierdorf both announced their retirements prior to the commencement of the season-opening Michigan Wolverines Football game on September 4, 2021. The Duo sat side-by-side in the Michigan booth for 7 seasons.[11]

Station list

CallsignFrequencyBandCityStateNetwork status
WXYT-FM97.1FMDetroitMichiganFlagship (Football only)
WWJ950AMDetroitMichiganFlagship
WQBX104.9FMAlmaMichiganNetwork affiliate
WFYC1280AMAlmaMichiganNetwork affiliate
WZTK105.7FMAlpenaMichiganNetwork affiliate
WTKA1050AMAnn ArborMichiganNetwork affiliate
WWWW-FM102.9FMAnn ArborMichiganNetwork affiliate
WBXX104.9FMBattle CreekMichiganNetwork affiliate
WFAT930AMBattle CreekMichiganNetwork affiliate
W274AQ102.7FMBattle CreekMichigann/a (simulcasts WFAT)
WSJM-FM94.9FMBenton HarborMichiganNetwork affiliate
WQON99.3FMBeulahMichigann/a (simulcasts WQON)
WKAD93.7FMCadillacMichiganNetwork affiliate
WKYO1360AMCaroMichiganNetwork affiliate
WIDL92.1FMCass CityMichiganNetwork affiliate
WGTO910AMCassopolisMichiganNetwork affiliate
W266BS101.1FMCassopolisMichigann/a (simulcasts WGTO)
WMKT1270AMCharlevoixMichiganNetwork affiliate
W272CR102.3FMPetoskeyMichigann/a (simulcasts WMKT)
WHKW1220AMClevelandOhioNetwork affiliate
WXYT-HD2
WXYT-HD3		97.1 HD2
97.1 HD3		FMDetroitMichiganNetwork affiliate
WDBC680AMEscanabaMichiganNetwork affiliate
WTRX1330AMFlintMichiganNetwork affiliate
WBNZ92.3FMFrankfortMichiganNetwork affiliate
WGHN1370AMGrand HavenMichiganNetwork affiliate
WOOD1300AMGrand RapidsMichiganNetwork affiliate
WQON100.3FMGraylingMichiganNetwork affiliate
WKHM970AMJacksonMichiganNetwork affiliate
WQLR1660AMKalamazooMichiganNetwork affiliate
WQTX92.1FMLansingMichiganNetwork affiliate
WKZC94.9FMLudingtonMichiganNetwork affiliate
WMIM98.3FMLuna PierMichiganNetwork affiliate
WDMJ1320AMMarquetteMichiganNetwork affiliate
WOOD-FM106.9FMMuskegonMichiganNetwork affiliate
WNBY1450AMNewberryMichiganNetwork affiliate
WNIL1290AMNilesMichiganNetwork affiliate
WWTH100.7FMOscodaMichiganNetwork affiliate
WMBN1340AMPetoskeyMichiganNetwork affiliate
WHLS1450AMPort HuronMichiganFootball only
W288BT105.5FMSt. ClairMichigann/a (simulcasts WHLS)
WPHM1380AMPort HuronMichiganBasketball only[12]
WHAK980AMRogers CityMichiganNetwork affiliate
WHAK-FM99.9FMRogers CityMichiganNetwork affiliate
WSGW790AMSaginawMichiganBasketball only[13]
WSGW-FM100.5FMSaginawMichiganFootball only[14]
WKNW1400AMSault Ste. MarieMichiganNetwork affiliate
WBET1230AMSturgisMichiganNetwork affiliate
WTCM580AMTraverse CityMichiganNetwork affiliate
WCCW1310AMTraverse CityMichiganNetwork affiliate
WHKZ1440AMYoungstownOhioNetwork affiliate
Gray background indicates low-power translator

* football only

** men's basketball only

Network map(s)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Press release. August 8, 2011. Michigan Signs Five-Year Extension With CBS Radio. MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 5, 2014. WWJ Newsradio 950 AM will serve as the flagship station for football and men's basketball starting this season.. https://web.archive.org/web/20110919112603/http://www.mgoblue.com/genrel/080811aab.html. September 19, 2011.
  2. Web site: Quinn, Brendan F. . August 30, 2014 . It's Gameday! Michigan opens against Appalachian State, with 2007 still a fresh memory . . MLive Media Group . November 4, 2014 . Radio: Michigan IMG Sports Network, WTKA-AM (1050) in Ann Arbor, WWJ-AM (950) in Detroit... . https://web.archive.org/web/20140904082429/http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2014/08/its_gameday_michigan_opens_aga.html . September 4, 2014 . dead .
    • Web site: Helfand, Zach . October 16, 2013 . For first time in Hoke's tenure, a week under siege . MichiganDaily.com . . November 4, 2014 . 'Why are we talking about it?' he asked Jim Brandstatter on Hoke's weekly radio show on the Michigan IMG Sports Network. . https://web.archive.org/web/20131019055706/http://www.michigandaily.com/sports/10-first-time-hokes-tenure-week-under-seige-17 . October 19, 2013 . dead .
    • Web site: April 17, 2014 . Dan Dierdorf joins Jim Brandstatter to call Michigan Football . AllAccess.com . All Access Media Group . November 4, 2014 . IMG College VP of Broadcasting Chris Ferris said, 'We are more than excited to have two great Michigan men who are great broadcasters... for the fans listening each week to the Michigan IMG Sports Network.' . https://web.archive.org/web/20141105092822/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/128872/dan-dierdorf-joins-jim-brandstatter-to-call-michig . November 5, 2014 . dead .
  3. Web site: Vuolo, Art Jr.. October 7, 2011. Michigan Football returning to Detroit FM via HD. Michiguide.com. November 5, 2014. ... WXYT-FM, which already has WWJ-AM (950) on their HD-2 channel, has now fired up a HD-3 channel with a simulcast of WXYT-AM (1270) which recently flipped to all-talk... but when the University of Michigan is playing football the pre-game, the game itself, and the post-game show will all be on WXYT-FM HD-3!. https://web.archive.org/web/20111129011246/http://www.michiguide.com/archives2011/2011/10/michigan-football-returning-to.html. November 29, 2011.
  4. https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/football-broadcast-information.aspx 2022 Football Broadcast Information
  5. https://mgoblue.com/sports/2017/6/16/mens-basketball-broadcast-information.aspx 2022-23 Men's Basketball Broadcast Information
  6. News: Blade wire reports. March 21, 2001. UM Guaranteed $7.5M. The Toledo Blade. Block Communications. C4 - City. The University of Michigan said yesterday that it has signed a deal guaranteeing the school $7.4 million in advertising revenue for its football and men's basketball radio broadcasts. The deal with Host Communications Inc. of Lexington, Ky., would pay the university a minimum of $1.3 million for the 2001-2 season, rising to $1.6 million for 2005-6, Michigan said in a news release..
  7. Web site: Heuser, John. August 5, 2008. University of Michigan inks $86 million deal with IMG College to manage sports marketing. MLive.com. MLive Media Group. November 5, 2014. The University of Michigan athletic department has struck a marketing and media rights deal with IMG College that will bring the department at least $86 million during the 12-year length of the contract. ... Last fall, IMG College purchased Host Communications, which has controlled Michigan's radio broadcast rights the past seven years. In addition to the game day radio broadcasts, IMG College will manage and market rights associated with.... https://web.archive.org/web/20100618064613/http://blog.mlive.com/annarbornews/2008/08/university_of_michigan_inks_86.html. June 18, 2010.
  8. News: Blade staff. October 16, 2005. Coyotes' Hull puts end to career - Scored 741 goals in 19-plus seasons. The Toledo Blade. Block Communications. C3 - Sports. Detroit radio station WJR (760 AM) has announced a five-year deal to broadcast Michigan State football and basketball games beginning in 2006. WJR's announcement apparently took University of Michigan officials by surprise. The radio station has broadcast Michigan football games since 1976 and UM basketball games since 1997..
  9. Web site: May 25, 2006. CKLW, WOMC Ink Michigan Football Deal, Beckmann Remains Voice. AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. November 6, 2014. ... despite the team's move from WJR to crosstown Chum Ltd. Talk CKLW-A and CBS Oldies WOMC for the 2006 season.. https://web.archive.org/web/20141106065831/http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/10120/cklw-womc-ink-michigan-football-deal-beckmann-rema. November 6, 2014.
  10. Web site: Meinke, Kyle. August 8, 2011. Michigan athletic department announces 5-year radio deal with CBS less than month before football opener. The Ann Arbor News. MLive Media Group. November 6, 2014. The University of Michigan athletic department announced today it has reached a five-year contract extension with CBS Radio. ... The agreement comes less than a month before the Wolverines will face Western Michigan in its football opener Sept. 3. Michigan's previous five-year deal with CBS, which was signed in 2006, had been allowed to expire.. https://web.archive.org/web/20141106071751/http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigan-athletic-department-announces-5-year-radio-deal-with-cbs-less-than-month-before-football-op/. November 6, 2014.
  11. Web site: 2022-01-31 . Jim Brandstatter and Dan Dierdorf retire - . 2023-11-06 . whatradiostation.com . en-US.
  12. Web site: WPHM Schedule .
  13. Web site: U of M Basketball .
  14. Web site: U of M Football Schedule .

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