The Maine Press Release re: moving of the games to WABI and WAEI
Black Bear Sports Network Moves to 97.1 FM and 910 AM
Switch is Simultaneous with October 17 Maine Hockey Broadcast
The Black Bears will be heard on 97.1 FM and 910 AM.
Sept. 22, 2008
ORONO, Maine (Sept. 22, 2008) - The University of Maine's Black Bear Sports Properties and Blueberry Broadcasting announced today that it will be moving the Black Bear Sports Network to WAEI 97.1 FM and WABI 910 AM in Bangor. Both radio stations just recently switched formats to the WEEI Sports Radio Network. This move - concurrent with the first UM men's hockey game on October 17 - provides for Maine football to continue to be broadcast on WVOM 103.9 FM for the remainder of this season. WVOM-FM is owned by Blueberry Broadcasting, sister station to WAEI 97.1 FM and WABI 910 AM.
The switch, which will allow listeners dual AM/FM coverage of UM game action, also provides a solid fit demographically and enables an alignment with New England's sports leader in the WEEI Sports Network. Additionally, this year marks a significant milestone for Black Bear Sports Properties as the radio network celebrates the addition of 10 affiliates in a one-year span. WBCQ 94.7 FM in Houlton is the most recent dedicated affiliate added, bringing the network to a total of 10 radio stations throughout the state of Maine.
"This move was the next logical step in our effort to provide Black Bear sports fans with the best radio coverage possible," said Maine Director of Athletics Blake James. "I am thrilled that we have expanded the network to 10 affiliates and will continue our efforts to provide coverage of Maine athletics throughout the state. I want to thank our friends at Black Bear Sports Properties and Learfield Sports for their continued support of this initiative. The amount of progress we have made in radio and television coverage in the last year is remarkable, and I want to commend all involved including WABI, Blueberry Broadcasting (WEEI Sports Network) and WPXT-TV (Portland CW affiliate)."
"We take pride in being the Black Bear Sports Network's flagship affiliate in Bangor and merging the WEEI Sports Network, the nation's leading sports talk radio station, is a natural extension for Black Bear fans," said Blueberry Broadcasting Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Bruce Biette.
In addition to moving all Maine hockey and basketball broadcasts to WAEI 97.1 FM and WABI 910 AM in Bangor, Black Bear Sports Properties has obtained a new television partner in Portland (WPXT-TV). WPXT-TV is Portland's CW affiliate and has agreed to air all University of Maine Black Bear broadcasts that are produce and aired by WABI-TV 5 in Bangor this athletic season.
Black Bear Sports Properties, the multimedia rights holder for the University of Maine, is a property of Learfield Sports. In addition to Maine, Learfield Sports manages the rights to nearly 50 collegiate institutions and associations, and manages the corporate partner program for the Big Ten Conference and Western Athletic Conference. Additionally, the Dallas-based company manages the marketing partnerships for the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide. It also has become the new title partner for the Directors' Cup - to be named the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup beginning in November.
Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City, Mo.-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which made its initial foray into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as the radio rights holder for the University of Missouri, a client still today. Additionally, Team Services, LLC, a Learfield Sports company, specializes in venue naming rights, marketing research and sales consultation. For more about the company and its complete portfolio, visit
www.learfieldsports.com. -- 30 -
