Chicago White Sox Radio Network
The Chicago White Sox Radio Network is an American radio network airing baseball games from the Chicago White Sox. The English-language flagship is WMVP in Chicago, with Spanish language coverage airing on WRTO (1200). The English language network consists of 19 stations[1] For the 2019 season, the play-by-play announcers were Ed Farmer and Jason Benetti (who joins the broadcast team for national broadcasts and for White Sox's games where Ken Harrelson and Chuck Swirsky fills-in for him); the color commentator was Darrin Jackson.[2] Farmer died on April 1, 2020 after a long-term battle with polycystic kidney disease.[3] Pre-game host Andy Masur substituted for Farmer during 2020's truncated spring training, and was named as Farmer's successor on June 30, 2020, a role that would be temporary due to the team's radio rights expiring at the end of the season.[4][5]
WSCR's contract with the White Sox expired after the 2015 season. WLS (890) was to be the new White Sox flagship station from the 2016 through the 2021 seasons; however, WLS owner Cumulus Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2017 and entered into a restructuring agreement with certain of its lenders to reduce more than $1 billion in debt.[6] The Bankruptcy Court allowed Cumulus and WLS to end its contract with the White Sox. WGN became the new flagship station of the Chicago White Sox on February 14, 2018.[7] WGN's contract expired after the 2020 season, with WMVP, an ESPN Radio-owned station operated by Good Karma Brands, taking over beginning with the 2021 season, WMVP had previously carried the White Sox for 11 seasons between 1995 and 2005.[8] Shortly thereafter, Len Kasper, formerly the television voice for the Chicago Cubs, was hired as the radio play-by-play announcer for the White Sox.[9]
Station list
Illinois
Callsign | Frequency | Location |
---|---|---|
WBIG | 1280 AM | Aurora |
WCEZ | 93.9 FM | Carthage |
WLBK | 1360 AM | DeKalb |
WAIK | 1590 AM | Galesburg |
WCMY | 1430 AM | Ottawa |
WZOE | 1490 AM | Princeton |
WRHL | 1060 AM | Rochelle |
WSDR | 1240 AM | Sterling |
WSPL | 1250 AM | Streator |
WVIL | 101.3 FM | Virginia (Jacksonville area) |
Indiana
Callsign | Frequency | Location |
---|---|---|
WMRI | 860 AM | Marion |
WMRS | 107.7 FM | Monticello |
WSJD | 100.5 FM | Princeton |
WRIN | 1420 AM 104.5 FM | Rensselaer (daytime only on AM) |
WLQI | 97.7 FM | Rensselaer |
WRDI | 95.7 FM | South Bend |
Iowa
Callsign | Frequency | Location |
---|---|---|
KCPS | 1150 AM | Burlington |
References
- List of affiliates on the White Sox's site.
- White Sox broadcasters' page on the White Sox site.
- Merkin, Scott (April 2, 2020). "White Sox announcer Ed Farmer, 70, dies". MLB.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- Merkin, Scott (3 March 2020). "Notes: Cease at his 'best'; Grandal update". MLB.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- Rosenthal, Phil (30 June 2020). "Andy Masur: New Chicago White Sox radio voice - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cumulus-media-bankruptcy/cumulus-media-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-idUSKBN1DU08U
- Feder, Robert (14 February 2018). "Play ball! WGN Radio picks up White Sox". Robert Feder blog. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- https://radioinsight.com/headlines/201249/chicago-white-sox-move-to-espn-1000/
- Feder, Robert (4 December 2020). "Cubs TV announcer Len Kasper named radio voice of White Sox on ESPN 1000". Retrieved 7 December 2020.