TAMPA, JULY 1, 2015 – The University of South Florida and WWBA 820 AM have reached an agreement for the Bay Area signal to serve as the flagship station for the USF/IMG Radio Network, USF Director of Athletics Mark Harlan announced today.
The News Talk Florida station has a 50,000-watt signal with coverage of the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota/Bradenton markets and daytime reach north to the Florida panhandle and south to Naples. The station will carry all USF Football and men’s basketball games and coaches shows, twice weekly Bulls Reports and the majority of USF women’s basketball games. Under the terms of the multi-year contract, 820 AM will carry all women’s basketball night games while sister station WHBO 1040 AM will carry the day games. USF baseball will also be broadcast on the 1040 AM signal with post-season season availability of the 820 AM signal.
“We are excited for the opportunity to increase the signal strength and accessibility of our radio network in the Bay Area and statewide,” Harlan said. “We hope to provide the opportunity for more Bulls fans to tune in to what we anticipate will be a very exciting time for USF Athletics, and look forward to a productive relationship with 820 AM and its sister station 1040 AM.”
The move to 820 AM will provide USF with an improved signal in the Sarasota/Bradenton market, stronger night time signal coverage in the Bay Area and one of the strongest daytime signals in Florida, greatly expanding the USF flagship station’s state-wide reach during daylight hours. That signal expansion includes such markets as Tallahassee, Panama City, Ocala, Lakeland and Naples. That coverage is in addition to the USF/IMG Radio Network’s state-wide affiliates carrying USF Football, which will be announced at a later date.
(usf) USF Tabs WWBA 820 AM to Serve as Flagship Station: NEWS: USF and WWBA 820 AM have reached an agreement f… http://t.co/Fz4R4DoXRB
— USF Bulls (@usfsports) July 1, 2015
“Expanding on its prior relationship with USF Athletics in the Orlando market, Genesis is very pleased to include its showcase Bay Area radio station AM 820 News, WWBA,” Genesis Broadcasting President and CEO Bruce Maduri said. “This station’s footprint, with its vast coverage of the west coast of Florida, will provide Bulls’ fans unprecedented coverage across the state. With its partnership, Genesis offers a modern media company approach connecting USF Athletics to passionate sports audiences across the channels of radio, digital, video and social through its Sports Talk Florida brands. It’s a very exciting time to be part of the USF Athletics organization.”
USF also announced the return of the primary voices for USF Athletics on the radio network, led by the Voice of the Bulls Jim Louk who returns for his 19th season handling play-by-play duties for USF football. Jim Lighthall will return for his ninth season handling play-by-play duties for men’s basketball, while Mike Lefko returns for his third season handling play-by-play duties for women’s basketball and baseball.
USF will also welcome the return of the entire Bull’s football radio team for the 2015 season, including former All-American and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mark Robinson in his longtime analyst role and former USF and NFL linebacker Kawika Mitchell in his second season handling sideline reporter duties. Justin Pawlowski will once again join Lighthall on the Bull’s pregame and postgame shows, while Louk and Robinson will continue to host the USF Football Coaches Show weekly during the season.
USF opens its 2015 fall camp on Aug. 6 and the Bulls will open their 19th season of football on Saturday, Sept. 5 in a 7:00 p.m. kick vs. Florida A&M at Raymond James Stadium.
