Red Zebra Unveils ESPN 980/D.C.

New Era

With the purchase of CLEAR CHANNEL's three WASHINGTON AMs, RED ZEBRA RADIO is officially merging the programming of its trimulcast WWXT-WWXX-WXTR-A (REDSKINS RADIO/TRIPLE X ESPN RADIO)/WASHINGTON into the lineup of Sports WTEM-A (SPORTSTALK 980), resulting in the new ESPN 980, to be simulcast on all four freqencies and online at espn980.com starting MONDAY (7/21).

The new lineup includes ESPN RADIO's MIKE GREENBERG and MIKE GOLIC 6-10a and COLIN COWHERD 10a-Noon. WTEM middayer and former REDSKINS player RICK "DOC" WALKER is paired with REDSKINS RADIO's "JOHN RIGGINS SHOW" co-host KEVIN SHEEHAN for "THE LOCKER ROOM," noon-2p, followed by WTEM holdovers JOHN THOMPSON (the former GEORGETOWN basketball coach, accompanied by incumbent co-hosts former REDSKINS return specialist BRIAN MITCHELL and AL KOKEN) 2-4p and "THE SPORTS REPORTERS" (STEVE CZABAN and ANDY POLLIN) 4-7p.

Former REDSKINS Hall of Famer JOHN RIGGINS, who did afternoons on REDSKINS RADIO, moves to the role of expert analyst and commentator, featured on REDSKINS game day coverage, REDSKINS MONDAY programming, and on other ESPN 980 shows. THe combined station will serve as flagship for REDSKINS game coverage with LARRY MICHAEL handling play-by-play and the inimitable Hall of Fame duo of SONNY JURGENSEN and SAM HUFF chiming in with color commentary and whatever else comes up. WALKER will join the crew as sideline reporter. The station will also carry WASHINGTON WIZARDS NBA basketball, BALTIMORE ORIOLES baseball, VIRGINIA TECH football and basketball, and ESPN network play-by-play coverage.

"With the acquisition of the legendary WTEM, we are blessed with a plethora of terrific sports talk talent," said RED ZEBRA VP of Operations DENNIS GLASGOW. "Our diverse and talented hosts will deliver hot sports opinions throughout the day designed to provoke, entertain and enlighten DC radio listeners. This is going to be a very fun and very active radio station that caters to sports fans in MARYLAND, VIRGINIA and D.C."

The changes mean the dropping of FOX SPORTS RADIO programming, including CZABAN's national "THE FIRST TEAM" show, from the lineup.

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