It's Official: WMGC/Detroit Flips To Sports

On The Air

As expected (NET NEWS 7/15, 8/1, and 8/9), GREATER MEDIA is flipping AC WMGC (TODAY'S 105.1)/DETROIT to Sports as DETROIT SPORTS 105.1 and bringing DREW LANE back to the local airwaves as afternoon host, beginning TODAY (8/12).

The change was formally announced at a press conference this morning.  CAPITOL BROADCASTING Sports WCMC (9.9 THE FAN)/RALEIGH PD JASON DIXON was officially introduced as PD and said that the station will be "a little hipper" than the competition (CBS RADIO Sports WXYT (97.1 THE TICKET)).

The station will be an ESPN RADIO affiliate, airing the network's MIKE AND MIKE morning show and COLIN COWHERD's midday show, with a local show hosted by market veteran RICO BEARD and FOX affiliate WJBK-TV (FOX 2) sports reporter and former crosstown CLEAR CHANNEL Sports WDFN-A host RYAN ERMANNI for "RYAN AND RICO" noon-3p; the show was characterized as interim in a press release, which indicated that a "permanent" host will be named later.  LANE will be joined by producer MARC FELLHAUER for the afternoon show.

In a press release issued after the press conference, Market Manager STEVE CHESSARE said, “We are thrilled to be able to offer DETROIT a new alternative that will be designed with our loyal and dedicated sports fans in mind.  We look forward to providing the very best local and national talent on the airwaves for our listeners. We will have more announcements surrounding the new station in the near future.”

“We are excited about expanding our relationship with GREATER MEDIA by providing ESPN RADIO programming to the 12th largest media market in the country on DETROIT SPORTS 105.1,” said PATRICK POLKING, ESPN Senior Director, Distribution and Business Development, in the press release. “This move provides DETROIT’s passionate fans the best of our national and their local coverage and analysis while extending our goal of moving our content to the FM dial. This addition becomes our 148th FM affiliate (roughly 40%) for ESPN RADIO.”  ESPN RADIO also airs on GREATER MEDIA sister Sports WPEN (97.5 THE FANATIC)/PHILADELPHIA; in the DETROIT market, the network was previously heard on crosstown BIRACH Sports WCAR-A.

The station has already established Facebook and Twitter accounts.

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