NYC Radio: CBS Radio, Yankees Ink Long-Term Deal

The New York Yankees reached a multiyear agreement Wednesday for their games to be broadcast on WFAN-660 AM 101.9 FM, the station that pioneered 24-hour sports radio programming 26 years ago.

The deal, according to mlb.com, calls for the games to be simulcast on WFAN-FM beginning next season, with both stations carrying all Yanks regular-season and postseason games, as well as pregame and postgame shows and select Spring Training games. CBS Radio also acquired rights to the Spanish-language broadcasts on a multiyear basis.

The agreement ends the Yankees' run on News WCBS 880 AM that began in 2002.

WFAN, which is also the flagship station for the NFL's New York Giants, NHL's New Jersey Devils and NBA's Brooklyn Nets, had aired Mets games since its inception in 1987.

Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon confirmed on Tuesday that his team would be seeking a new radio home.

John Sterling has done play-by-play of the Yanks' games since 1989, when they were aired on WABC. Color commentator Suzyn Waldman joined Sterling in the booth in 2005. There has been no indication given concerning a change for the 2014 season.

“We are extremely excited to have reached an agreement with CBS RADIO,” said Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. “The paramount consideration was how our fans would best be able to hear our games. Having the Yankees on WFAN-AM/FM provides listeners in the New York metropolitan area and beyond with superior broadcast quality and vast territorial signal strength.”

“We are privileged to welcome the New York Yankees to WFAN,” said Dan Mason, CBS RADIO President and CEO. “There is no bigger name in baseball than the Yankees, nor an organization so steeped in tradition. As the nation’s premier sports radio station we look forward to capturing all the excitement surrounding the team, and bringing it to millions of fans for many years to come.”