WPKX moving to Hartford

[radiolives]

I think ESPN would want to own the station themselves. And I think they would just run all their national shows. Also possible getting the rights for some sports.

In Connecticut, that means UConn, the Yankees and the Red Sox, with UConn basketball being the big ticket. (Yes, there's Giants and Patriots football, but the vast majority of NFL fans are at home or in bars watching the games, not listening to the radio.) How much longer do the UConn and Red Sox deals with WTIC have to run? And would either want to switch from a 50,000-watt AM blowtorch with statewide coverage to an FM that only puts a big-time signal into central Connecticut?

As to ESPN owning the station, didn't ABC (parent of ESPN) spin off its radio operations to Citadel a while back? With Citadel having zero presence in the Hartford market, I'd think popping in here as a one-station owner, with no cluster to sell to local advertisers, is an ultra-longshot.

I don't think WTIC 1080 would ever want to let go of UCONN Men's and Women's Basketball plus UCONN Football or even the Red Sox. Only way I could see them losing Red Sox if Entercom came into Hartford and started a WEEI Sports affilate like they have in RI. Also I think CBS would love to put a FM sports station in CT but they don't want to take a risk and blow up one of their 3 strong FM music stations.