The relationship between sports and radio began in September 1920, when Detroit radio station WWJ
broadcasted the results of the Heavyweight Championship fight between Jack Dempsey and Billy Miske. In the early years of sports radio, Boxing, Baseball, and College Football were the most popular, with the World Series being the most listened to sporting event for years. Another breakthrough in sports radio occurred in July, 1987, when WFAN-AM in New York City became the first all-sports radio station. The all-sports format quickly gained popularity, and within a decade of its existence, WFAN-AM was the first radio station to top the $50 million mark in advertising billing. Soon after, many other cities had their own all-sports radio stations, and the sports radio industry took off (Source).
Radio is a good medium for sports because sportscasters paint a picture of the action for the viewers and because radio can be heard at home, work, and on the road. Sports radio gets many listeners to tune in to listen to live broadcasts of games, but also gains many listeners through daily sports talk shows, which allow listeners to speak to the anchors live on air through the phone. In the vast world of sports, discussion and debate is constant and listeners want to hear the latest news and opinions of the experts on the air. ESPN radio executives Pete Gianesini and Bruce Gilbert believe that sports talk topics are like records and that you have to keep finding the next hot topic (Source).
The two preeminent sports radio stations in the Washington D.C. market are WTEM, which is known as ESPN 980, and WJFK-FM, which is known as 106.7 The Fan. Washington D.C. is a very large market and covers many sports teams. In addition to the four major professional teams in D.C., many college sports from the surrounding area are also covered.
WTEM became ESPN 980 on July 21, 2008. ESPN 980 is the Flagship radio station for Washington Redskins play-by-play with Larry Michael, Rick "Doc" Walker and Hall of Famers Sonny Jurgensen and Sam Huff. ESPN 980 is also the exclusive home of the Play-by-Play broadcasts for Maryland Terrapins Basketball and Football, Georgetown Hoyas Basketball, University of Virginia Football, George Mason Basketball, MLB and World Series, NBA and NBA Finals, NFL and Super Bowl, NCAA Football and BCS, and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. ESPN 980 is also the home of the Baltimore Orioles in Washington D.C. ESPN 980 also carries many sports talk shows, such as The Mike and Mike Show, The Tony Kornheiser Show, The Sports Fix, The John Thompson Show, and more. ESPN 980’s website can be found here.
On July 20, 2009, WJFK-FM assumed its all-sports format, naming itself 106.7 The Fan. The Fan differs from ESPN 980 because it is more locally geared in its programming. While ESPN 980 offers syndicated, nationally-aired shows, The Fan broadcasts local sports talk shows. These shows include The Lavar Arrington Show with Chad Dukes, The Brian Mitchell Show, The Sports Junkies, The Mike Wise Show, and more. 106.7 The fan is the flagship station of the Washington Wizards and Washington Nationals, and is an affiliate station for Virginia Tech Basketball and Football. 106.7 The Fan’s website can be found here.
In recent years, sports radio has become even more popular with satellite radio offering hundreds of stations dedicated to sports. It's safe to say sports radio is here to stay.
I really enjoyed reading through this post mainly as it showed me how sports only radio is such a new thing and yet today there are all sports channels on tv as well as a raft of sport radio stations. I think it is a well laid out and argued piece that backs up a lot of what it says with different websites, and if not then facts. Good one.
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