July 7, 2008

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame athletics department has partnered with the WSBT Radio Group for the next six years (2008-09 through 2013-14), making WSBT the radio home of Notre Dame football, men’s basketball, and hockey in the South Bend market.

WSBT Radio Group will be the designated exclusive local radio partner for Notre Dame football network broadcasts, with those games carried on NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM as well as on Sunny 101.5 FM. Irish football games are originated by the ISP Notre Dame Radio Network, a national listings of stations around the country.

NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM also will be the exclusive local affiliate for Irish men’s basketball games originated by the Notre Dame Sports Properties Notre Dame Basketball Radio Network – with those games carried on NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM.

Notre Dame hockey broadcasts will be originated by and carried on Cat Country 99.9 FM.

“We’re excited to partner with the WSBT Radio Group in relation to Notre Dame athletics,” says Missy Conboy, Notre Dame interim athletics director. “The WSBT Radio Group stations hold great positions and have a strong tradition in the market, particularly when it comes to covering sports. That makes this relationship a natural.”

In addition, WSBT Radio Group will carry the Notre Dame Football Friday Live Show on Cat country 99.9 FM, the Notre Dame Football Postgame Show home and away on Sunny 101.5 FM – and the Notre Dame Football and Men’s Basketball Coaches Shows on NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM (on weeknights during the season). All four of those shows are produced by NDSP.

NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM also will originate the annual Blue-Gold spring football game.

In addition to airing the game broadcasts, NewsTalk 960 WSBT-AM also will carry the Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Coaches Show weekly (through NDSP).

Men’s basketball and hockey game broadcasts and other shows are streamed live on Notre Dame’s official athletics web site at www.UND.com.

The agreement also includes extensive Notre Dame athletics promotion aired on a combination of the WSBT Radio Group stations.

Don Criqui is the play-by-play voice of Notre Dame football, with Allen Pinkett providing color commentary. Jack Nolan and former Irish All-American LaPhonso Ellis describe the action on the NDSP men’s basketball broadcasts. Mike Lockert handles the play-by-play role for hockey broadcasts.

— ND —