Michigan Sports Network


The Michigan Sports Network is an American radio network consisting of 46 radio stations which carry coverage of Michigan Wolverines football and men's basketball. WWJ/Detroit serves as the network's flagship station. The network also includes 44 affiliates in the U.S. states of Michigan and Ohio: 27 AM stations, 4 of which extend their signals with low-power FM translators; and 17 full-power FM stations.

Announcers

Football

Former Michigan offensive tackles Jim Brandstatter and Dan Dierdorf cover football; Brandstatter serves as play-by-play announcer, while veteran NFL broadcaster and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Dierdorf serves as color analyst. Prior to 2014, Brandstatter had served as color analyst for 34 seasons - first with Michigan announcer Bob Ufer, and later alongside Frank Beckmann.

Basketball

Detroit radio and TV personality Matt Shepard currently serves as play-by-play announcer for men's basketball, joined by color analyst Terry Mills, a former Michigan power forward and NBA league veteran.

History

Michigan's relationship with IMG College dates back to March 2001 when the school signed a five-year deal with Host Communications, Inc., a sports marketing firm based in Lexington, Kentucky; the deal was predicated to generate $7.5 million in advertising revenue from Michigan football and men's basketball radio broadcasts through 2005-06. In 2007, IMG College purchased Host Communications; in August 2008, IMG announced a new 12-year media rights deal with Michigan reportedly worth $86 million, including gameday radio broadcasts.
WJR/Detroit had served as the network flagship station for Michigan football since 1976 and men's basketball since 1997. In October 2005, WJR announced a new deal to broadcast rival Michigan State football and men's basketball, while simultaneously dropping its long partnership with Michigan. The news came as a surprise to the Michigan athletic department, including director Bill Martin, who claimed the school had acted "in good faith" throughout months of negotiations with the station. Michigan soon signed a new five-year deal with CBS Radio and CHUM Limited, owners of WOMC/Detroit and CKLW/Windsor, respectively. In August 2011, new Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon announced a five-year contract extension with CBS Radio, with the majority of network flagship coverage shifting to WOMC AM sister station WWJ.

Station list

Network map(s)