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Rays Find New Home On Airwaves

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 13, 2009

Updated: 01/13/2009 05:43 pm

ST. PETERSBURG – The Tampa Bay Rays have expanded the reach of their radio broadcasts for the 2009 season and beyond.

The team announced today that 620 AM WDAE will serve as its new flagship station, replacing fellow Clear Channel Communications station 1250 AM WHNZ. The prime draw of moving to WDAE is the station's much stronger signal, which will allow play-by-play announcers Dave Wills and Andy Freed to be heard over a wider area locally.

In a press release issued by the team, Rays senior vice president Mark Fernandez described the multi-year agreement as "another major milestone in the evolution of the Rays."

In addition to gaining a more powerful signal, the Rays will also add to their coverage for the upcoming season. They plan to broadcast 17 spring training games in 2009 (up from 11 last year), and Rays manager Joe Maddon will have an hourly show on WDAE during the season.

The move makes WDAE the local AM radio flagship for the Rays, Buccaneers and Lightning. In the event of a scheduling conflict among all three teams, contracts call for the Bucs to remain on WDAE, with the Lightning moving to 970 AM WFLA and the Rays back on WHNZ, according to WDAE programming director Mike Killabrew.

Should the Rays and Lightning have a conflict – on April 11, for instance, when the Rays have a night game against the Orioles and the Lightning will play their regular-season finale against the Thrashers at the same time – hockey would take precedence on WDAE and the Rays would be heard on WHNZ or WFLA.

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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