The Browns are changing radio homes in Cleveland and it will include unprecedented triple coverage on game days, reported The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Multiple sources have told the paper that the Browns are entering into a long-term deal to have their games broadcast on Good Karma Broadcasting’s WKNR-AM, CBS Radio’s WKRK-FM and WNCX-FM. The franchise’s games had been aired on Clear Channel stations since they returned in 1999.
The Browns, who declined comment, are expected to make an announcement on Thursday. Browns play-by-play voice Jim Donovan, along with analyst Doug Dieken, will continue in their roles on the team’s new radio homes.
The most unusual aspect of the agreement is that WKNR (ESPN) and WKRK are rival sports talk stations. They entered into negotiations with the Browns bidding against each other, a source told the paper, but at some point decided to join forces against Clear Channel, which had broadcast Browns games on flagship (Clear Channel) WMMS-FM and simulcast on WTAM-AM (also Clear Channel).
Negotiations for the deal began to heat up in January, a source said, not long after the Browns hired new team president Alec Scheiner. The agreement allows the Browns to be aired on AM and FM stations without worries of a conflict with Indians games. That occasionally was a problem on WTAM.
As part of the agreement, the Browns are expected to double their auxiliary programming hours from 500 to 1,000 annually, a source said. There will be a Rob Chudzinski coach’s show and the Cleveland Browns Daily Show will expand from one hour to two hours on WKNR.
On game days WKNR –will host a four-hour pre-game show, a source said, while WKRK follows with a two-hour post-game show.
See the Plain Dealer story here
