Packers switching Milwaukee radio stations for first time in nearly a century, from WTMJ to 97.3 The Game
Packers changing radio stations in southeastern Wisconsin, but programming will remain the same.
www.greenbaypressgazette.com
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Packers moving to 97.3 The Game
- Thread starter MarquisP4
- Start date
I’m pretty sad that Good Karma would let that happen. Just toss all that history out the window and for that matter Packers fans in areas where WTMJ is the only station they could hear the games on.
On the other hand, I’m happy for iHeartMilwaukee. The Game’s staff, Jeff Tyler and the GM Colleen Valkoun are very passionate about their Sports and they just hit the bigtime with this.
On the other hand, I’m happy for iHeartMilwaukee. The Game’s staff, Jeff Tyler and the GM Colleen Valkoun are very passionate about their Sports and they just hit the bigtime with this.
Sounds to me like the Packers wanted to be on FM, and for whatever reason, Good Karma didn’t want to move the flagship status over to WKTI.
This is arguably more embarrassing than WTMJ losing the Badgers because they didn’t get the paperwork done in time.
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TMJ technically has 2 FM signals. The translator on 103.3 (although it’s only a translator) It’s also simulcast on WKTI HD2.
One thing they did have a problem with over the years was conflicts, particularly preseason. Usually the Packers had priority on WTMJ. Brewers would go to another AM in the market until eventually they decided to put the Brewers on 94.5 while the Packers would run on WTMJ.
iHeart (It’s even mentioned in the press release) has been agressively trying to get a major team for 97.3 since they launched the format in 2018. I believe they initially tried for the Brewers, but the Brewers stayed with WTMJ.
Packers started producing the broadcasts on their own in 2018. It used to be done heavily by WTMJ. They would often run WKTI’s audio on the network feeds when games were not on. If an affiliate station accidentally left a game feed on, they would be simulcasting WKTI.
Should also point out 2018 was the same year Good Karma bought WTMJ and WKTI and the same year iHeart launched The Game. iHeart must have thought their chances were better. Those stations are not the empire they once were under co-ownership with TMJ4.
Good Karma is good at ESPN programming (ESPN has been tapping them to run their major market O&Os lately) but they are still not the big deep pockets company that iHeart, Scripps and Audacy are.
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So, I'm guessing this boiled down to money and iHeart was willing to pay more for the Milwaukee broadcast rights than GKB? If it's a full-market FM signal that the Packers wanted, seems like GKB could have added a simulcast on WKTI / 94.5.
It's a shame that the Packers partnership with WTMJ is coming to a close. When I still lived in Chicago, I enjoyed listening to Packers games on WTMJ, especially when they were playing the Bears (the Bears radio PBP team is awful). Yes, I realize that the small amount of out-of-market listening is basically irrelevant to station owners, even more so now that folks can just listen online. But as a radio geek, it was nice being able to listen to Packers games on WTMJ anywhere from Chicago to the UP.
Good on iHeart for remaining aggressive though. I do like that they're taking chances and still trying new things with their stations, like adding the Cubs play-by-play to WTSO this year.
It's a shame that the Packers partnership with WTMJ is coming to a close. When I still lived in Chicago, I enjoyed listening to Packers games on WTMJ, especially when they were playing the Bears (the Bears radio PBP team is awful). Yes, I realize that the small amount of out-of-market listening is basically irrelevant to station owners, even more so now that folks can just listen online. But as a radio geek, it was nice being able to listen to Packers games on WTMJ anywhere from Chicago to the UP.
Good on iHeart for remaining aggressive though. I do like that they're taking chances and still trying new things with their stations, like adding the Cubs play-by-play to WTSO this year.
Just stumbled upon this thread, so I'm obviously late to the party. I had heard some months ago that iHeart had snapped up the Packers from GKB. I can't say that I'm surprised and it certainly makes good business sense. At least for iHeart.
On a personal note, however, I'm comfortable in saying that lor a lot of northern Illinois Packer fans, this is not a happy development. There are a lot of us here in the northern tier of Illinois counties. In McHenry county where I live, the WTMJ signal was good day and night when it was 5kw fulltime from the site in the western suburbs. At 50kw day/10kw night, the day signal is still good, but the night signal is pretty awful. That's due to the tighter directional pattern of the signal required for 10kw at night. As for 97.3, that signal is present here, weak, but not listenable due to being squeezed by much stronger signals on 97.1 (WDRV Chicago) and 97.5 (WZOK Rockford). During daytime WCLO (1230 Janesville) and WTSO (1070) also have weak, but listenable signals here. But both disappear at night.
There are a handful of Wisconsin FM signals that make it down to here in listenable form. IHeart would do well to signing up one or more of those for its coming version of the Packers network.
On a personal note, however, I'm comfortable in saying that lor a lot of northern Illinois Packer fans, this is not a happy development. There are a lot of us here in the northern tier of Illinois counties. In McHenry county where I live, the WTMJ signal was good day and night when it was 5kw fulltime from the site in the western suburbs. At 50kw day/10kw night, the day signal is still good, but the night signal is pretty awful. That's due to the tighter directional pattern of the signal required for 10kw at night. As for 97.3, that signal is present here, weak, but not listenable due to being squeezed by much stronger signals on 97.1 (WDRV Chicago) and 97.5 (WZOK Rockford). During daytime WCLO (1230 Janesville) and WTSO (1070) also have weak, but listenable signals here. But both disappear at night.
There are a handful of Wisconsin FM signals that make it down to here in listenable form. IHeart would do well to signing up one or more of those for its coming version of the Packers network.
Ever since 2018, they've been syndicating their own games. WRNW is no exception. They are an affiliate and are the defacto Flagship. Since WRNW has a network of affiliates carrying their local programming across the state, including on other Packers affiliates, it must have seemed like a good deal for the team to have more coverage.
As for southern coverage, they actually just added WRJN (Which has coverage in parts of Lake and McHenry Counties during the day) to their affiliate list about a month ago.
As for southern coverage, they actually just added WRJN (Which has coverage in parts of Lake and McHenry Counties during the day) to their affiliate list about a month ago.
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Thanks for the update. WRJN's day signal where I am (Crrystal Lake, IL) is only marginally better than WCLO and WTSO. It also disappears at night. The best Milwaukee AM signal here at night, ironically, is WAUK. Still not very good, but WAUK sends its 400 watts in my direction, while I'm in the southwestern null for WTMJ. WTMJ does send a small nighttime lobe directly south. It's not much, but the result is WTMJ is noticeably better in Lake County east of here.
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