Miami Dolphins Moving From Audacy To iHeartMedia

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Report: Miami Dolphins Moving From Audacy To iHeartMedia.

Miami’s iHeartMedia cluster is said to be making a play to wrestle away the broadcast rights of the Miami Dolphins from Audacy before the start of the 2023 NFL season.

www.insideradio.com

Note this is for the 2023 season.

Miami’s iHeartMedia cluster is said to be making a play to wrestle away the broadcast rights of the Miami Dolphins from Audacy before the start of the 2023 NFL season. According to the Miami Herald, staff at Audacy sports WQAM (560) are being told that the Dolphins plan to seek another market signal with the conclusion of the current contract that ends after this season.

The 4-3 Dolphins have called WQAM home since 2016, which also served as the flagship radio station from 1997-2004 and for the 2007-2009 NFL seasons.

Market speculation has the team returning to iHeartMedia, which held rights to game-day broadcasts prior to WQAM’s most recent deal. Under iHeartMedia’s most recent partnership with the franchise, games were carried on “Fox Sports 940” WINZ with an FM simulcast on classic rock “Big 105.9 WBGG. According to the Herald, the Dolphins and iHeartMedia are eyeing a five-year deal that would begin with the 2023 season.

 

[strangelove]

If they do move I hope the audio from the stadium sounds better than before the move to Audacy. The play by play had all the sonic quality of a 1996 web stream and sounded even worse on FM. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some archaic dial-up Comrex or Hotline system they were using.
When the games moved to 99.9 the audio quality improved immediately.

 

[chrocket87]

Perhaps this could entice Audacy to put WQAM on 104.3?

 

[TheBigA]

Here's one more NFL team that iHeart has taken from a sports station, and will now broadcast on a music station.

Look around the country, and you'll see a lot of recent examples in Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Washington DC.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Here's one more NFL team that iHeart has taken from a sports station, and will now broadcast on a music station.

Look around the country, and you'll see a lot of recent examples in Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Washington DC.

In the case of Charlotte didn't someone bring up the fact it wasn't just on-air, but a total package with lots of promotion for the team including a strong multimedia presence which makes a very attractive deal.

 

[TheBigA]

In the case of Charlotte didn't someone bring up the fact it wasn't just on-air, but a total package with lots of promotion for the team including a strong multimedia presence which makes a very attractive deal.

That's what I've noticed in several markets. iHeart is doing this as part of their digital content package.

 

[mets18]

Chicago probably next Bears radio broadcasts will leave WBBM after season; ESPN 1000, WCHI vying to land them

 

[TheBigA]

Chicago probably next Bears radio broadcasts will leave WBBM after season; ESPN 1000, WCHI vying to land them

I'd put my money on WCHI. iHeart simply offers a better deal than Good Karma, who lost the Packers in Milwaukee.

Packers Radio Network transitions to new flagship station, iHeartMedia's The Game 97.3 WRNW, and welcomes new affiliates

New affiliates, including a return to the Racine market, added ahead of 2022 season

www.packers.com

 

[MarkW]

Me too.

Classic Rock / Rock and NFL football complement one another very nicely.

 

[davideduardo]

Me too.

Classic Rock / Rock and NFL football complement one another very nicely.

As a former AOR PD said to me some years back, "rock and football are both head-banging experiences... one in the ears, the other with a helmet on your head."

 

[TheBigA]

As a former AOR PD said to me some years back, "rock and football are both head-banging experiences... one in the ears, the other with a helmet on your head."

One makes a lot of money, the other not so much.

 

[MarkW]

iHM lost out on the Bears in Chicago, which surprised me.

 

[itsTheRolyPoly]

iHM lost out on the Bears in Chicago, which surprised me.

Well, here's the thing...

Good Karma Brands owns an ESPN Radio station in pretty much every market it is in (N.Y.C., L.A., Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, WPB, Madison, and the small market of Beaver Dam) plus is a flagship for the Knicks, Rangers, Angels, Lakers, Rams, White Sox, Bears (soon on WMVP), and Browns on those ESPN stations.

It makes sense. GKB knows sports.

 

[TheBigA]

It makes sense. GKB knows sports.

It depends on what the team is looking for. iHeart usually offers a digital package as part of its deal. GK doesn't usually do digital.