As Buckeye Nation concentrates on this weekend’s big football game with the Michigan Wolverines, the Ohio State Radio Network’s Cleveland affiliate is crowing about the future.
Good Karma sports WKNR/850 “ESPN 850 WKNR” has announced a renewal of the station’s contract to carry Buckeyes football and basketball in the Cleveland market. The new deal lasts through the year 2012.
Quoting a WKNR release:
“Given the enthusiasm that exists in Cleveland and the surrounding area for Ohio State football and basketball, I cannot imagine a better fit for the Ohio State Radio Network than WKNR Radio,” said Ohio State Athletics Director Gene Smith. “WKNR is a sports giant in Northeast Ohio with superlative sports programming throughout the day. All of us at Ohio State are thrilled to have WKNR as part of the network.”
“As the Ohio State Buckeyes continue their winning traditions on the field and on the court, we are pleased to offer Northeast Ohio Buckeye fans Ohio State Radio network and local programming to our fans and partners,” (WKNR general manager) Keith Williams said.
With all three Cleveland-based professional teams locked into long-term or continuing deals with Clear Channel, the OSU contract is WKNR’s biggest play-by-play plum. Good Karma boss Craig Karmazin knows full well that he couldn’t afford to lose it.
As far as we know, all Buckeyes football games air on the big 850 signal, including, of course, this weekend’s All Important Game With That Team From Up North.
We seem to recall that an OSU basketball game or three landed on sister station WWGK/1540 “AM 1540, KNR2” last season due to conflicts on the 850 side…but most of those games also air on 850…
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