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 fill 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] Connor McKnight succeeded Masur as pre-game host and fill-in play-by-play announcer.

Station list

Flagships

Callsign Frequency Band Location Language Additional notes
WMVP 1000 AM Chicago English
WTBC-FM-HD2 100.3-2 FM HD Radio simulcast of WMVP
WRTO 1200 AM Spanish

Affiliates

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
WSLM 1220 AM Salem

Iowa

Callsign Frequency Location
KCPS 1150 AM Burlington
KQWC 95.7 FM Webster City

References

  1. ^ List of affiliates on the White Sox's site.
  2. ^ White Sox broadcasters' page on the White Sox site.
  3. ^ Merkin, Scott (April 2, 2020). "White Sox announcer Ed Farmer, 70, dies". MLB.com. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  4. ^ Merkin, Scott (March 3, 2020). "Notes: Cease at his 'best'; Grandal update". MLB.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Rosenthal, Phil (June 30, 2020). "Andy Masur: New Chicago White Sox radio voice - Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  6. ^ "Cumulus Media files for bankruptcy protection". Reuters. November 30, 2017.
  7. ^ Feder, Robert (February 14, 2018). "Play ball! WGN Radio picks up White Sox". Robert Feder blog. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "Chicago White Sox Move to ESPN 1000".
  9. ^ Feder, Robert (December 4, 2020). "Cubs TV announcer Len Kasper named radio voice of White Sox on ESPN 1000". Retrieved December 7, 2020.
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