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"News Talk 560 WIND is a strong station
in the Chicago marketplace; it offers excellent signal coverage for
our fans throughout the entire listening area, and it will provide
clearances for all of our football and men's basketball games, along
with our statewide coaches' call-in shows," said Ron Guenther,
director of athletics. "WIND-AM provides an excellent,
family-oriented format for Illinois fans and alumni in the Chicago
market, and we're excited about our new partnership."
"This new relationship with the
Illini Sports Radio Network offers benefits to both parties," said
David Santrella, general manager of Salem Communications radio
stations in Chicago and Milwaukee. "The Illini gain full clearance
for all football and men's basketball games. For our part, News Talk
560 WIND strengthens its position through this premier association
and gives alumni another reason to tune in to our station."
The Illini Sports Network produces
all football and men's basketball broadcasts, including postseason
games, with former Anaheim Angels announcer Brian Barnhart providing
play-by-play for both sports. Hall of Fame running back Jim
Grabowski provides color analysis during football season, and former
Flyin' Illini point guard Stephen Bardo of WBBM-TV adds expert
analysis during the men's basketball broadcasts. Longtime
Champaign-Urbana News Gazette sports editor Loren Tate and veteran
radio and television broadcaster Steve Kelly also provide analysis,
pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage.
"We have many dedicated Illinois
alumni in Chicago," said Lou Margaglione, president-elect of the
Chicago Illini Club. "To have a reliable station that will carry all
of our games and statewide coaches' shows is great news for our
Chicago alumni, and we're excited about WIND and its commitment to
Illinois."
Illini Sports Network programming
previously had been heard in Chicago on WSCR-AM 670 and its sister
station, WCKG-FM 105.9. During the past decade, Illini Sports
Network broadcasts have been heard on WSCR-AM 670, WJJD-AM 1160 or
ESPN-AM 1000.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 "We've had a wonderful relationship
with WSCR-AM 670, especially the station management team of Paul
Agase, Drew Hayes and Mitch Rosen," said Dave Johnson, assistant
athletic director and executive producer of the Illini Sports
Network. "We've been a part of WSCR-AM 670 programming for nearly
the entire lifespan of the station. However, WIND-AM 560 produced a
more comprehensive bid in terms of clearances of our games and
coaches' shows, and we are delighted to move on to a new
partnership."
The Illini Sports Network is owned
and operated internally by the UI Division of Intercollegiate
Athletics, and WIND-AM 560 was granted the broadcast rights in the
Chicago market by the UI Purchasing Division. Illinois will make its
Chicagoland debut on News Talk 560 WIND with the "Ron Zook Show"
during the last week of August and the football season opener Sept.
3 versus Rutgers at Memorial Stadium.
WIND-AM 560 is owned and operated by
Salem Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: SALM), the leading U.S.
radio broadcaster focused on Christian and family-themed
programming. Upon the close of all announced transactions, the
company will own 105 radio stations, including 67 stations in 24 of
the top 25 markets. In addition to its radio properties, Salem owns
Salem Radio Network®, which
syndicates talk, news and music programming to approximately 1,900
affiliates; Salem Radio Representatives™,
a national radio advertising sales force; Salem Web Network™,
a leading Internet provider of Christian content and online
streaming; and Salem Publishing™,
a leading publisher of Christian-themed magazines. Additional
information is available online at
www.salem.cc.
[Kent Brown, assistant athletics
director,
sports information director,
University of Illinois] |
