Radio and TV coverage of Bronco sports announced
Aug. 9, 2001
KALAMAZOO -- The WMU Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced its initial radio and television lineup for the upcoming seasons in football, hockey, and men's and women's basketball.
The Bronco Radio Network (complete listing below) has expanded to 13 stations, with new affiliates WTKG AM 1230 Grand Rapids and WQBH AM 1400 Detroit. WTKG will carry Bronco football and men's basketball while longtime Grand Rapids affiliate WFUR AM 1570 will carry the hockey schedule. The presence of WQBH marks the first time the network has reached the Detroit metropolitan area.
The remaining football lineup consists of WFAT 96.5 FM Kalamazoo, which returns for its sixth year as the Broncos' flagship station. Owned by the Midwest Radio Group, WFAT is one of the area's leading FM stations.
"We're really excited about our affiliation with Western Michigan University and what they bring to the community. We will be with the Broncos every step of the way this season," said WFAT Program Director Rob Rose.
Other affiliates include WZUU 92.3 FM Allegan-Kalamazoo; WWKN 104.9 FM serving Battle Creek, Marshall and Jackson; WDOW 92.1 FM covering Dowagiac, Niles and South Bend; Hastings sister stations WBCH 100.1 FM and AM 1220 and WTVB AM 1590 Coldwater.
WQXC 100.9 FM Allegan-Kalamazoo continues its association as the flagship station for Bronco hockey and women's basketball. WNWN 98.5 FM, which serves Coldwater, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo and WDOW are also part of the hockey network.
"Bronco teams in recent years have skyrocketed and we look forward to our continued partnership with WMU," said Tom Flynn WQXC/WZUU general manager.
Fans not in the listening area can tune in to Bronco games via Yahoo! Sports, available on the Bronco Web site at <wmubroncos.com>. Robin Hook, voice of the Broncos, and color commentator Monty Porter will describe the action on football Saturdays.
In addition to game day coverage, Bronco football will be featured on weekly radio and television programs. "The Bronco Monday Morning Quarterback" will be carried live on The Sports Station AM 1660 WQSN, Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to noon from the Old Burdick's Bar & Grill in Kalamazoo. Hook will host the program with WQSN Program Director Ryan Maguire and WMU Head Coach Gary Darnell serving as co-hosts.
"We are thrilled to be joining forces with WMU for the upcoming football season," said Maguire. "We hope to give Bronco fans a week-to-week insight on the football team that they can't find anywhere else."
Other radio programs include "Bronco Football Review," to be heard on WZUU and WTKG Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m., broadcasting from Damon's The Place for Ribs at 3124 South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo. Hook and Darnell will review the prior week's action and look ahead to upcoming games. "Bronco Sports Update" will also air Monday through Friday on WKZO AM 590 (5:15 p.m.) and on WQSN (5:50 p.m.).
On the television side, the "Broncos' Coaches' Show" continues its run on WOTV-TV Channel 41, Battle Creek, with host John McClelland. The show is slotted for Sundays at 11:35 p.m. with a replay on Mondays at 11:30 p.m. on WXSP Grand Rapids, "The Station with Game."
WMU football will appear on national television three times this season, beginning with the Sept. 8 contest (noon start) at Virginia Tech, to be carried by ESPN2. The Sept. 15 game at Michigan (noon start) is an ESPN+ production to be aired by WXMI-TV Fox 17 Grand Rapids. WMU's Nov. 6 game at Toledo (8 p.m. start) is part of ESPN's national Tuesday Night package. Additional television dates could surface when the Mid-American Conference announces its Game of the Week package in the coming weeks.
"We're excited about the expanded coverage in the Grand Rapids market and the addition of Metro Detroit," said Hook, assistant athletic director of broadcast sponsorship. "We are also pleased to continue our long-time affiliation with WFAT and the other stations that make up our network. It's an exciting time to follow the Broncos."
Bronco Radio Network
Football
WFAT 96.5 FM -- Kalamazoo-Portage (flagship station)
WZUU 92.3 FM -- Allegan-Kalamazoo
WWKN 104.9 FM -- Battle Creek-Jackson-Marshall
WTVB AM 1590 -- Coldwater
WQBH AM 1400 -- Detroit
WDOW 92.1 FM -- Dowagiac-Niles-South Bend
WTKG AM 1230 -- Grand Rapids
WBCH 100.1 FM -- Hastings
WBCH AM 1220 -- Hastings
Hockey
WQXC 100.9 FM -- Kalamazoo-Otsego (flagship station)
WNWN 98.5 FM -- Battle Creek-Coldwater-Kalamazoo
WDOW 92.1 FM -- Dowagiac-Niles-South Bend
WFUR AM 1570 -- Grand Rapids
Men's Basketball
WFAT 96.5 FM -- Kalamazoo-Portage (flagship station)
WZUU 92.3 FM -- Allegan-Kalamazoo
WRCC AM 1400 -- Battle Creek-Marshall
WTVB AM 1590 -- Coldwater
WDOW 92.1 FM -- Dowagiac-Niles-South Bend
WTKG AM 1230 -- Grand Rapids
WBCH 100.1 FM -- Hastings
WBCH AM 1220 -- Hastings
Women's Basketball
WQXC 100.9 FM -- Kalamazoo-Otsego (flagship station)
For more information, visit the Broncos on the Web at <www.wmubroncos.com>.
Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, 616 387-4138, daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu