Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network
The Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network is an American radio network consisting of 37 radio stations which carry coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals, a professional football team in the NFL. WCKY/Cincinnati (1530 AM), WEBN/Cincinnati (102.7 FM), and WLW/Cincinnati (700 AM) serve as the network's 3 flagship stations; WLW also simulcasts over a low-power FM translator. The network also includes 39 affiliates in the U.S. states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia: 27 AM stations, 18 of which extend their signals with one or more low-power FM translators; and 12 full-power FM stations. Dan Hoard is the current play-by-play announcer, while Dave Lapham serves as color commentator.[1][2][3] In addition to traditional over-the-air AM and FM broadcasts, the Bengals are available on SiriusXM satellite radio, and online with NFL Audio Pass.[4][5]
 | |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Headquarters | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Broadcast area | Ohio Kentucky Indiana (limited) West Virginia (limited) |
| Owner | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Affiliation(s) | NFL |
| Affiliates | 42 (including 3 flagships) |
Official website | Bengals Radio Network |
History
Following the 1996 Bengals season, the team ended its radio partnership with Jacor Broadcasting. Owner of longtime network flagship WLW, Jacor had also been responsible for overseeing a network of 35 stations for the team. Citing a desire to "control content... outside the parameters of gameday broadcasts", the Bengals opted for a new three-year agreement with Chancellor Media. Cincinnati sports talk WKYN and country station WUBE-FM took over as flagship stations for a new network also run by Chancellor. Soon, however, both Chancellor and Jacor would be acquired by Clear Channel, and in 1999, the team itself signed a six-year contract with the radio giant. The team renewed this agreement with Clear Channel in 2005; Cincinnati stations WSAI (which was WCKY (1360 AM) prior to 2005; WSAI's programming and co-flagship rights were transferred to WCKY (1530 AM) in July 2006) and WOFX-FM continued to share flagship duties for the Bengals Radio Network, which by this time included 23 stations in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.[6][7] Former network flagship WLW again aired Bengals coverage when it did not conflict with game broadcasts over the Cincinnati Reds Radio Network, a practice which continues to the present day.
Rock station WEBN became the network's new FM flagship in 2008, a change resulting from Clear Channel's sale of WOFX-FM to Cumulus Media (the U. S. Department of Justice had required the sale of WOFX-FM and WNNF to approve a leveraged buyout of Clear Channel itself). The team subsequently renewed its agreement with Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia) again in 2011 and 2014.[8][9]
Station list
| Callsign | Frequency | Band | City | State | Network status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLW | 700 | AM | Cincinnati | Ohio | Flagship |
| W233BG | 94.5 | FM | Cincinnati | Ohio | n/a (WLW simulcast) |
| WCKY | 1530 | AM | Cincinnati | Ohio | Flagship |
| WEBN | 102.7 | FM | Cincinnati | Ohio | Flagship |
| WCMI | 1340 | AM | Ashland | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| W227CI | 93.3 | FM | Ashland | Kentucky | n/a (WCMI simulcast) |
| WATH | 970 | AM | Athens | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W246CE | 97.1 | FM | Athens | Ohio | n/a (WATH simulcast) |
| WRBI | 103.9 | FM | Batesville | Indiana | Affiliate |
| WCSM-FM | 96.7 | FM | Celina | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WBEX | 1490 | AM | Chillicothe | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W224BR | 92.7 | FM | Chillicothe | Ohio | n/a (WBEX simulcast) |
| WXZX | 105.7 | FM | Columbus | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WCYN-FM | 102.3 | FM | Cynthiana | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| WTUE | 104.7 | FM | Dayton | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WBVI | 96.7 | FM | Findlay | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WPAY-FM | 98.3 | FM | Garrison | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| WSRW | 1590 | AM | Hillsboro | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W268CC | 101.5 | FM | Hillsboro | Ohio | n/a (WSRW simulcast) |
| WRVC | 930 | AM | Huntington | West Virginia | Affiliate |
| W231BS | 94.1 | FM | Huntington | West Virginia | n/a (WRVC simulcast) |
| WLOH | 1320 | AM | Lancaster | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W283BO | 104.3 | FM | Lancaster | Ohio | n/a (WLOH simulcast) |
| WBVX | 92.1 | FM | Lexington | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| WIMA | 1150 | AM | Lima | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WLGN | 1510 | AM | Logan | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W257EQ | 99.3 | FM | Logan | Ohio | n/a (WLOH simulcast) |
| W277CX | 103.3 | FM | Logan | Ohio | n/a (WLGN simulcast) |
| WKRD | 790 | AM | Louisville | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| WWXL | 1450 | AM | Manchester | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| WMOA | 1490 | AM | Marietta | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W267CQ | 101.3 | FM | Marietta | Ohio | n/a (WMOA simulcast) |
| WMRN | 1490 | AM | Marion | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WQTT | 1270 | AM | Marysville | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W244DV | 96.7 | FM | Marysville | Ohio | n/a (WQTT simulcast) |
| WTIG | 990 | AM | Massillon | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WMPO | 1390 | AM | Middleport | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W279CE | 103.7 | FM | Middleport | Ohio | n/a (WMPO simulcast) |
| WMVO | 1300 | AM | Mount Vernon | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W265DJ | 100.9 | FM | Mount Vernon | Ohio | n/a (WMVO simulcast) |
| WMON | 1340 | AM | Montgomery | West Virginia | Affiliate |
| WCLT | 1430 | AM | Newark | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W254CT | 98.7 | FM | Newark | Ohio | n/a (WCLT simulcast) |
| WIOI | 1010 | AM | New Boston | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W294CN | 106.7 | FM | New Boston | Ohio | n/a (WIOI simulcast) |
| WKYH | 600 | AM | Paintsville | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| WPTW | 1570 | AM | Piqua | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W251BC | 98.1 | FM | Piqua | Ohio | n/a (WPTW simulcast) |
| WMOV | 1360 | AM | Ravenswood | West Virginia | Affiliate |
| W228DJ | 93.5 | FM | Ravenswood | West Virginia | n/a (WMOV simulcast) |
| W294AF | 106.7 | FM | Ripley | West Virginia | n/a (WMOV simulcast) |
| WTLO | 1480 | AM | Somerset | Kentucky | Affiliate |
| W249DF | 97.7 | FM | Somerset | Kentucky | n/a (WTLO simulcast) |
| W275CT | 102.9 | FM | Somerset | Ohio | n/a (WLOH simulcast) |
| WJYP | 1300 | AM | St. Albans | West Virginia | Affiliate |
| WKID | 95.9 | FM | Vevay | Indiana | Affiliate |
| WAMW-FM | 107.9 | FM | Washington | Indiana | Affiliate |
| WCHO-FM | 105.5 | FM | Washington Court House | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WHIZ | 1240 | AM | Zanesville | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W272EE | 102.3 | FM | Zanesville | Ohio | n/a (WHIZ simulcast) |
Gray background indicates low-power translator
Network maps
Map of network stations in Kentucky |
Network stations in Indiana |
Network stations in West Virginia |
References
- Kiesewetter, John (November 19, 2014). "Bengals extend radio deal for 5 more years". Cincinnati.com. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
The Bengals and iHeartMedia Cincinnati announced today they have extended the agreement to broadcast the team's games on radio through the 2019 NFL season. ... ESPN 1530 and 102.7 WEBN will serve as the broadcast flagship stations for all Bengals games. 700 WLW will also carry all games for which there is no conflict with Cincinnati Reds baseball broadcasts.
- "Dan Hoard Named Cincinnati Bengals' Radio Voice". AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on May 8, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
The NFL's Cincinnati Bengals have named Dan Hoard as their new radio play-by-play voice, replacing Brad Johansen, who has called the games for the last 11 years.
- "Dave Lapham Says the Ravens Will Face a Much Different Bengals Team This Weekend". Baltimore.CBSLocal.com. CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. October 22, 2014. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Dave Lapham is a former NFL Offensive Lineman who is now a play by play commentator for the Bengals Radio Network.
- "Dave Lapham Says the Ravens Will Face a Much Different Bengals Team This Weekend". Baltimore.CBSLocal.com. CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. October 22, 2014. Archived from the original on October 27, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- Marcum, Jason (August 28, 2014). "Colts vs Bengals: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Replay, Weather and more". SB Nation - CincyJungle.com. Vox Media, Inc. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015.
Coverage on the Bengals Radio Network, led by a 'triple cast' on Cincinnati flagship stations...
- "Alan Cutler Back as Game Day Host on Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network". AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Alan Cutler is rejoining the Cincinnati Bengals radio network as studio host
- Baca, Alan (December 19, 2014). "Ready for the Bengals: Sandy & Scott". 1043TheFan.com. Lincoln Financial Media Company of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
Dave Lapham of the Bengals Radio Network came on to talk about the Monday Night Showdown in Cincinnati...
- "Alan Cutler Back as Game Day Host on Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network". AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- Press release (September 3, 2014). "SiriusXM Announces Programming for 2014 NFL Season". Investor.SiriusXM.com. SiriusXM. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
Throughout the season every NFL game is available on all Sirius radios, and on XM radios with either a Premier or All Access package.
- "Listen to NFL Games Live". AudioPass.NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
Plans & Pricing... Season Plus: Listen to every NFL Game live - including Playoffs and Super Bowl XLIX.
- Paeth, Greg; Jones, Todd (December 26, 1996). "Bengals give Jacor the boot". The Cincinnati Post. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
One of Chancellor's first tasks will be assemble a Bengals Radio Network similar to the 35-station network that Jacor created for the team. That network included stations in Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland in Ohio, as well as stations in Lexington, Ky., and Huntington, W. Va.
- Goheen, Kevin (December 14, 2005). "Bengals Re-Up". The Cincinnati Post. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
The Bengals and Clear Channel Cincinnati announced Tuesday that they have renewed and extended their agreement for the rights to the team's radio broadcasts. Clear Channel has broadcast Bengals games for the past six seasons. WSAI-AM (1360) and WOFX-FM (92.5) will continue to serve as the flagship stations for the Bengals radio network. ... The Bengals radio network includes 23 stations in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
- "Cincinnati Bengals Ink Three-Year Deal to Stick With Clear Channel". AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. May 10, 2011. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
Cincinnati Bengals football will remain on the Clear Channel/Cincinnati stations under a new three-year deal. The games will air on Sports WCKY-A (ESPN 1530) and Rock WEBN, and will also air on Talk WLW-A when there is no conflict with Cincinnati Reds baseball.
- Kiesewetter, John (September 4, 2008). "Tune in to WEBN this season to get Bengals". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. p. C12 - Sports.
Clear Channel needed a new FM affiliate because the U.S. Justice Department ordered the company in February to sell WOFX-FM and WNNF-FM (Radio 94.1) for the company to be acquired by a private equity investor.