CBS Radio Makes It Official – All-Sports FM Stations in DC and Boston

CBS Radio has come out and made it official on its worst kept secrets about flipping two of legacy FM stations to all-sports. It means WBCN, one of the first FM rock stations in the country and WJFK-FM, one of the first FM news/talk stations are either flipping formats or going away completely. The company is also making the move with other stations under its umbrella in major markets. Here’s the press release from CBS Radio.

CBS RADIO STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND LAUNCHES FM SPORTS STATIONS IN BOSTON AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

Company’s Leading All-Sports Stations Show More Than 20% Increase In Audience Share Year To Date; Advertisers Capitalizing On Opportunity To Reach Captive Upscale Male Audience

Boston’s “98.5 The Sports Hub” and “106.7 The Fan” in Washington, D.C. Join CBS RADIO’s Growing Roster of Sports Properties Including Market Leaders WFAN in New York, “The Score” In Chicago, WIP in Philadelphia, and “The Ticket” in Detroit

As the nation’s enthusiastic appetite for sports continues to grow at a feverous pitch, CBS RADIO announced today it is launching all-sports formatted stations in Washington, D.C. and Boston on Monday, July 20 and Thursday, August 13, respectively.

Boston’s 98.5 The Sports Hub and 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. will feature deep rosters of live, local talent; detailed sports reports, discussion and commentary; play-by-play coverage, and a variety of on-site events to capture the spirit of game day excitement. Both stations will be available on-air, online and via numerous mobile smartphones devices, including the iPhone and Blackberry.

“There’s no better way to reach large numbers of male listeners than through exclusive sports programming,” said Dan Mason, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS RADIO. “We’re seeing impressive ratings growth at a number of our stations and clients continue to make big investments in sports marketing. Captive audiences, association with revered names in sports, and the ability to speak directly to the consumer in-game, on-site, online and on-the-go 24/7 are sponsorship benefits exclusive to radio advertisers producing incredible return on investment.”

Vice President of Programming Chris Oliviero added, “Sports is a decidedly local business appealing first and foremost to fans of the professional and college teams in the cities where they live. Knowing that passion exists has allowed us to create one of a kind properties that excel in being the go to destination to rant, rave, debate, argue, agree or disagree about every aspect of the day’s headlines.”

Designed with the most passionate sports fan in mind, The Sports Hub and 106.7 The Fan will launch with exclusive content partnerships with CBSSports.com, one of the leading sports destinations on the Internet with an average of more than 12 million unique visitors a month. The station’s websites, powered by CBSSports.com, combine the best assets of the renowned national brand with a uniquely local approach. Original commentary from distinguished columnists and local beat reporters; blogs from station personalities; premium video highlights available on-demand; in-depth community participation; fantasy football, baseball, basketball, and hockey leagues; polls; real-time scores; breaking news alerts; and high school coverage are among the many features of the sites.

Advertisers will have an array of opportunities to brand themselves on the website using text, audio, and video, along with the capability to target consumers down to a specific zip code.

Additionally, play-by-play coverage will feature prominently on both stations. Bostonians can tune in for game day presentation of the three time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and the NHL’s Boston Bruins. And when the Washington Wizards take to the court under the direction of new head coach Flip Saunders, 106.7 The Fan will be live from tip-off to the final buzzer.

CBS RADIO owns and operates all-sports stations in 12 markets, including eight of the Top 15 markets:

New York (WFAN-AM)
Chicago (WSCR-AM)
Dallas (KRLD-FM)
Houston (KILT-AM)
Philadelphia (WIP-AM)
Washington, D.C. (WJFK-FM)
Boston (WBZ-FM*)
Detroit (WXYT-AM/FM)
Tampa (WQYK-AM)
Baltimore (WJZ-FM/WJZ-AM)
Charlotte (WFNZ-AM/WFNA-AM)
Sacramento (KHTK-AM)

*pending call letter change

With sports radio stations in New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, DC among others, CBS Radio has a big block where it can obtain sports properties and use CBSSports.com to bring corporate synergy.