A major radio format change in Milwaukee has impacted several other Wisconsin markets with a change in sports talk programming.
Audacy has launched the “Wisconsin Sports Radio Network,” syndicating the daytime lineup of “105.7 The Fan” (W289CB and WSSP/1250 Milwaukee), after iHeartMedia dropped “The Game Sports Network” from its flagship station.
Midwest Communications has flipped stations in three markets to the new network:
- WNFL/1440 and W270AJ/101.9 (Green Bay) and new simulcast partner WDKF/99.7 (Sturgeon Bay-Green Bay), which launched Monday.
- WRIG/1390 (Schofield-Wausau) and W230BU/93.9 (Rothschild-Wausau)
- WDSM/710 (Superior)
The new affiliates were announced at the beginning of the Oct. 14 “Nine2Noon” show.
“The Wisconsin Sports Radio Network brings our state’s passion for sports under one roof,” said Jason Bjorson, Senior Vice President and Market Manager, Audacy Wisconsin, in an Oct. 20 news release.
“With The Fan leading the charge and these powerhouse affiliates joining forces, fans from Green Bay to Duluth can now experience the best local sports conversation anywhere in Wisconsin.”
The Midwest Communications stations had previously carried iHeartMedia’s “The Game Sports Network,” which lost its flagship station Oct. 13 when WRNW (Milwaukee) became “B97.3.”
“The Game Sports Network” continues to be heard on iHeart’s WTSO/1070 (Madison) and WBIZ/1400 (Eau Claire) but is not being carried by iHeart’s remaining Sports station in Milwaukee, WOKY/920.
The daily lineup of the new “Wisconsin Sports Radio Network” starts with “Inside Wisconsin Sports” with Trevor Thomas and Josh Albrecht from 6 to 9 followed by “Nine2Noon” with John Kuhn and Ramie Makhlouf, Mason Crosby from 12 to 2 p.m., “Wisconsin Sports Daily” with Steve “Sparky” Fifer from 2 to 5 p.m., and “Wisconsin Sports Wrap Up” with Tommy Wortz from 5 to 6 p.m.
The launch of the new network comes less than a month after WSSP added “Inside Wisconsin Sports” and “Nine2Noon” to its lineup.
This item was first posted Oct. 14 and was updated Oct. 21 with information from Audacy’s news release.