March 31, 200422 yr 03/30/2004 12:22 PM ET Braves, Clear Channel ink new radio deal Five-year agreement begins in 2005 Tickets Scoreboard Fantasy The Atlanta Braves and Clear Channel Radio have signed a five-year agreement making Clear Channel the new, exclusive radio partner of the team beginning with the 2005 Major League Baseball season. The announcement was made today by Braves Chairman and President Terry McGuirk and John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. In Atlanta, the games will air on 640AM, WGST radio and on 96.1FM, WKLS (96 Rock). "This deal brings a huge strategic partner to our franchise and, just as importantly, will allow our fans to touch the Braves on a wider level throughout the Braves Radio Network," said McGuirk. "We look forward to our new partnership with Clear Channel and the many levels of benefits it brings." "The Atlanta Braves is one of the very few sports teams with national cache," said Hogan. "Their enormous popularity and long-time success make them truly a national brand that requires access to a unique collection of local, regional and national broadcast and marketing assets to fully serve their fans. We believe the relationship between the Braves and Clear Channel creates unprecedented opportunities for all involved." The agreement calls for Clear Channel to broadcast all Braves regular season and playoff games, as well as select pre-season games. The addition of an FM flagship will give fans the opportunity to listen to Braves radiocasts in stereo. The agreement with Clear Channel includes many facets of promotional and marketing support for a variety of Braves initiatives, including television broadcasts on TBS and Turner South. Under the deal, the Braves will have access to Clear Channel Radio's complete local, regional and national footprint, complemented by the promotional resources of Clear Channel Outdoor and Clear Channel Entertainment. The Atlanta Braves, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is Major League Baseball's winningest franchise since 1991. Since then, Braves teams have earned a record 12 consecutive division championships, five National League pennants and a World Series title. Based in Atlanta since 1966, the Braves franchise is the longest continuously operating franchise in Major League Baseball. Atlanta Braves games are carried nationally on TBS and regionally on Turner South. Clear Channel Radio is a leading radio company focused on serving local communities across the U.S. with more than 110 million listeners choosing Clear Channel Radio programming each week. The company's operations include radio broadcasting, syndication and independent media representation. Clear Channel Radio is a division of Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (NYSE:CCU), a leading global media and entertainment company.
March 31, 200422 yr Author Baseball's mass exodus from 50kw class a clear channels to weaker stations with networks continues. WGST-AM did have the Braves in the early 90's, but it's signal is not too great. This is a big loss for WSB-AM. Could be great for the Marlins because now they can expand their network into areas where the Braves new flagship can no longer reach and where they cannot affiliate.
March 31, 200422 yr Damn, I can actually get WSB up here in North Carolina and I would listen to Braves-Fish games when they weren't on TV. Oh well.
March 31, 200422 yr Author Damn, I can actually get WSB up here in North Carolina and I would listen to Braves-Fish games when they weren't on TV. Oh well. The Braves Radio Network will expand. If Clear Channel has a local AM station in your area...you'll be hearing the Choppin' Quad. Here is a list of the WSB/Braves network right now. http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/a.../affiliates.jsp Many of those stations will stay for WGST's tenure.
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