CUMULUS MEDIA announces that Memphis radio station WKIM-FM will launch as the all-new News Talk 98.9 “THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS”, the official flagship radio station for the University of Memphis Tigers. In a multi-year deal, with Memphis Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, Tiger Sports Properties, Cumulus Memphis will air every football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball came on THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS starting in August, though the station’s official launch day is America’s birthday, July 4 th .
Concurrently, the station will launch THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS website at: www.newstalk989.com. The new flagship agreement with the 100,000-watt station also includes the weekly one-hour football and men’s basketball coaches’ shows with Ryan Silverfield and Penny Hardaway, respectively.
THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS will provide the most live and local programming in the marketplace, with locally focused programming and coverage of issues important to Memphians. The new station will also include Dan Bongino’s new talk show as part of the on-air lineup. The high volume of Tigers content on the station makes the new spoken-word station a must-listen destination for Memphis sports fans.
Laird Veatch, Memphis Director of Athletics, said: “We are very much looking forward to our radio partnership with THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS. It is committed to providing a great outlet throughout the region for our fans to hear the action, and we are especially pleased Tiger Nation will be able to listen to women’s basketball games as we head into Katrina Merriweather’s first season as head coach. Cumulus will be a great ambassador of our Tiger brand and bring great local support for our events and overall community presence.”
Morgan Bohannon, Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Memphis, commented: “At Cumulus, we believe strongly that ‘what’s good for Memphis is good for us,’ and that commitment to our community drives all that we do. One of our most important priorities and responsibilities as a local broadcaster is to help make Memphis a better place. Becoming the flagship radio partner of Memphis Tiger Athletics, an entity that is so beloved by our city and its residents, is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Bohannon added: “Cumulus Memphis has the largest live, local and homegrown team in the radio industry – all of whom are incredibly excited about becoming the radio home of the Memphis Tigers. We are thrilled to put the full power of four 100,000-watt stations behind the partnership. KIX-106, 98.1 The Max, 103.5 WRBO and the all-new News Talk 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS will work in concert to raise the level of awareness and celebrate all that is Memphis Tiger Athletics.
Rebranding 98.9 The Bridge and changing the format of the station is just one more step to showcase Tiger Athletics and all that it means to Memphis. We are excited and eager to begin a new and long-lasting partnership with the University of Memphis, Learfield IMG College and Tiger Sports Properties.”
Todd Kucinski, General Manager, Tiger Sports Properties, noted: “There’s a different energy heading into this upcoming year’s athletic seasons. We’re pleased to complement that renewed in-person gameday excitement with THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS, as the station will bring complete football and men’s and women’s basketball action and much more to fans.”
The multi-year agreement with Cumulus was overseen by Learfield IMG College and its locally-based Tiger Sports Properties team as part of the university’s comprehensive athletics rights relationship.
