NYC Radio: WEPN, Michael Kaye Ink New Deal

Michael Kaye

ESPN New York WEPN 98.7 FM has signed veteran New York City broadcaster Michael Kay to a three-year contract extension that will keep the longtime radio voice with the station through 2018.

The successful team of Kay, host of The Michael Kay Show, and partner Don LaGreca has been an afternoon drive mainstay for New York sports fans since 2002.

The duo will continue to interact with listeners during afternoon drive, as they have for the past 14 years, discussing the latest sports news and previewing upcoming events in an entertaining manner, infused with opinion, analysis and humor. The Michael Kay Show is broadcast weekdays from 3 – 7 p.m. ET and will continue to be simulcast on the YES Network, as it has been since February 2014.

“Mike has been the cornerstone of ESPN Radio New York for the past 14 years and his audience is growing,” said Tim McCarthy, General Manager, ESPN New York 98.7FM. “He is a familiar and friendly voice for the New York sports fan.  His credibility and passion each day provide New York Metro listeners an entertaining and informative choice for their commute home.  He is one of the best in the sports business and I am proud he will remain part of the 98.7FM team.”

ESPN New York 98.7FM Signs Michael Kay to 3-Year Extension http://t.co/fMHoLTVwP3

— Michael Kay Show YES (@TMKSonYES) July 20, 2015

Kay added, “After 14 years, I am l thrilled to remain with 98.7FM and seized this opportunity to continue doing sports talk radio in a fun and entertaining way. Don and I don’t take our positions or the loyalty of our listeners who spend their afternoons with us for granted. They are part of our family. And we treat them that way!  I am really excited about 98.7FM’s future and am very happy to remain with such a great company, ESPN.”

Kay graduated from Fordham University in 1982 with a B.A. in Communications.  That same year, the Bronx native became a general assignment writer for the New York Post and later covered college basketball, the New Jersey Nets and, ultimately, the Yankees for the paper.

While there, Kay got his first television job, with MSG Network in 1989 as host of the Hot Stove League segment of MSG’s SportsNight and as Yankees reporter. In 1992, he added Knicks locker room reporter to his responsibilities, and continued in that role until the 1998-99 season. Kay won three Emmys and accumulated numerous Emmy nominations while at MSG.

WEPN 98.7 FM (6 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

In 1989, Kay moved from the Post to the Daily News, where he was the Yankees beat reporter, before taking the job as a Yankees broadcaster on WABC Radio in 1992.  Kay worked as the Yankees play-by-play commentator and analyst on WABC Radio’s Yankees broadcasts from 1992 through the 2001 season, and then became YES’ Yankees play-by-play man when the network launched in 2002. In 2015, Kay won the coveted “Best Play- by-Play Voice in NY.