Detroit Radio: WXYT-FM Lands Extended Wings, Tigers Deal

CBS RADIO’s WXYT 97.1 FM The Ticket in association with Olympia Entertainment, announced today a long-term sports and entertainment alliance with the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings.

The comprehensive multi-year agreement is an extension of a partnership that first began in 2001, and includes play-by-play rights to both teams, as well as marketing and promotional activities across the company’s portfolio of local stations in Detroit.  CBS RADIO owns and operates Talk WWJ 950 AM, Sports WXYT 1270 AM, top40 WDZH 98.7 FM, Classic Hits WOMC 104.3 FM, and Country WYCD 99.5 FM, offering the most 24/7 live and local sports, news and music programming in the market.

Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice President/Market Manager, CBS RADIO Detroit said, “97.1 The Ticket and all of CBS RADIO are thrilled to continue our relationship with the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and Olympia Entertainment.  We truly believe the Tigers and Red Wings are the best partners in sports.  It’s an exciting time for Detroit, largely because of the Ilitch family and the work their organizations are doing to bring new life to downtown.”

Highlights of the agreement include:

• Play-by-play announcer, Dan Dickerson, will continue to host the Detroit Tigers pre- and post-game shows, as well as “Hot Stove,” an off season show airing weekly to keep listeners up to date on the Detroit Tigers.
• Detroit Red Wings announcer Ken Kal will host “Inside Hockeytown” weekly throughout the hockey season.
• WWJ-AM will add three new one hour shows including “Inside The Arena,” to keep fans up-to-date on the development of the new Detroit Red Wings hockey stadium; “Inside The Ballpark,” which will include the latest news and information about the Detroit Tigers upcoming season, and “Inside District Detroit” focusing on all things related to the expansion of “The District.”

WXYT 97.1 FM (15 Kw) Red=Local Coverage Area

Additionally, the new partnership includes CBS RADIO’s Detroit stations assisting Olympia Entertainment in the production and marketing of select concert and entertainment events.  WYCD-FM’s “Downtown Hoedown” is currently produced in partnership with Olympia Entertainment and the “Opening Day Block Party” at Grand Circus Park in Detroit, is produced by WXYT-FM with the assistance of the Detroit Tigers.  Both the Downtown Hoedown and the Opening Day Block Party have successfully drawn more than 100,000 people to the city of Detroit annually.