WFAN, the First & Most Listened to Sports Radio Station, Celebrates 25 years on the Air | Bob's Blitz

WFAN, the First & Most Listened to Sports Radio Station, Celebrates 25 years on the Air

WFAN, the First & Most Listened to Sports Radio Station Celebrates 25 years on the Air.

On July 1, 1987, the radio landscape changed forever and history was made as WFAN-AM signed on-air in New York City, providing Tri-state area sports fans with the first and only outlet to hear and talk about sports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The station has been broadcasting play-by-play, opinions from hosts and listeners, interviews with the biggest sports stars and breaking news ever since Suzyn Waldman’s memorable sports update nearly 25 years ago.

Since then, the station has gone on to become the gold standard in sports radio, with many stations across the country looking to duplicate the undeniable success of the nation’s biggest and most popular sports station. The station is anchored by marquee personalities such as Mike Francesa and Boomer & Carton, whose must listen to programs consistently rank No. 1 with Men 25-54 in the top radio market. WFAN is heard by over 1.5 million people each week, making it the most listened to sports radio station in America.

Mark Chernoff, V/P Sports Programming CBS Radio, V/P Programming CBS Radio New York, WFAN Operations Manager, said: “We are proud to be a part of the fabric of New York sports. WFAN has appreciative and engaged listeners who are the backbone of the station. Our audience, along with our sportstalk personalities have allowed WFAN to achieve such groundbreaking success and helped the station become an institution in the Big Apple. It is no coincidence that the station is nicknamed ‘The Fan,’ acting as a mouthpiece for die-hard sports enthusiasts.”

WFAN has established itself as the premiere outlet for New York sports:

•Is the flagship home of four area professional sports franchises (New York Mets, New York Giants, New Jersey Devils and New Jersey Nets)

•Provides 20/20 sports updates at the top of the hour, 20 minutes past the hour and 20 minutes before the hour, setting what is now an industry standard

•Has won three prestigious Marconi Awards from the National Association of Broadcasters over the years for Major Market Station of the Year (1996), News/Talk/Sports Station of the Year (1996) and Sports Station of the Year (2010)

•Mike Francesa’s afternoon show is simulcast on YES Network, while Boomer & Carton’s morning program is simulcast on MSG Network

•Broadcasts in HD at both 660 AM and 92.3 FM HD-3, as well as WJFK-FM HD-3 in Washington, D.C., WLLD-FM HD-3 in Tampa and WOCL-FM HD-3 in Orlando

In honor of 25 momentous years on the air, WFAN will celebrate all summer long. Special programming and highlights will include: Subway Series ticket giveaways; live broadcasts from New York sports events and locations including Belmont Race Track, Yankees and Mets games, Joe Torre’s Safe at Home Golf Tournament, the Prudential Center for the NBA Draft and from the Brooklyn Cyclones MCU Park in Brooklyn; on-air reunions and appearances from former hosts and anchors; as well as WFAN and Francesa’s annual end of summer listener appreciation party and broadcast from Bar A in Lake Como, N.J. In addition, Francesa will host “Breakfast With A Champion” featuring Yankees Manager Joe Girardi on Tuesday, June 26. *This event always sells out in seconds. Except this year. And last.

Furthermore, the station is asking its loyal fans to vote on the top 25 New York sports personalities of the past 25 years, for a chance to win $500, along with a key which could start the grand prize, a brand new Kia from Global Auto Mall. Voting is currently underway here.

Finally, WFAN is having listeners put their money where their mouth is and see how they fare at being a sports radio host. In July, the station will hold auditions for its annual “Fantasy Phenom” contest at locations throughout the tri-state area, where single entrants, and this year, teams, can try out to become a host on the station.

Release via CBS.

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