Memphis Radio: Revamped WKIM To Air Memphis Athletics

Memphis Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, Tiger Sports Properties, announced Tuesday that Cumulus-owned WKIM-FM, News Talk 98.9 “THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS,” will be the Tigers’ new radio home for the next five years, reports localmemphis.com.

Starting in August, fans can tune to THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS to hear every football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball game. The new flagship agreement with the 100,000-watt station also includes the weekly one-hour football and men’s basketball coaches shows with Ryan Silverfield and Penny Hardaway, respectively.

“We are very much looking forward to our radio partnership with THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS,” Memphis Director of Athletics Laird Veatch said. “It is committed to providing a great outlet throughout the region for our fans to hear the action, and we are especially pleased Tiger Nation will be able to listen to women’s basketball games as we head into Katrina Merriweather’s first season as head coach. Cumulus will be a great ambassador of our Tiger brand and bring great local support for our events and overall community presence.”

"At Cumulus, we believe strongly that ‘what’s good for Memphis is good for us,’ and that commitment to our community drives all that we do,” VP/Market Manager of Cumulus Media Memphis Morgan Bohannon said. “One of our most important priorities and responsibilities as a local broadcaster is to help make Memphis a better place. Becoming the flagship radio partner of Memphis Tiger Athletics, an entity that is so beloved by our city and its residents, is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Cumulus Memphis has the largest live, local and homegrown team in the radio industry – all of whom are incredibly excited about becoming the radio home of the Memphis Tigers. We are thrilled to put the full power of four 100,000-watt stations behind the partnership. KIX-106, 98.1 The Max, 103.5 WRBO and the all-new News Talk 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS will work in concert to raise the level of awareness and celebrate all that is Memphis Tiger Athletics.

“Rebranding 98.9 The Bridge and changing the format of the station is just one more step to showcase Tiger Athletics and all that it means to Memphis. We are excited and eager to begin a new and long-lasting partnership with the University of Memphis, Learfield IMG College and Tiger Sports Properties.”

The multi-year agreement with Cumulus was overseen by Learfield IMG College and its locally based Tiger Sports Properties team as part of the university’s comprehensive athletics rights relationship.