Cavaliers AudioVerse
The Cavaliers AudioVerse is an American radio network composed of 19 radio stations which carry English-language coverage of the Cleveland Cavaliers, a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Cleveland sister stations WTAM (1100 AM) and WMMS (100.7 FM) serve as the network's two flagships; WTAM also relays its signal over a low-power FM translator. The network also includes seventeen affiliates in the U.S. state of Ohio: twelve AM stations, nine of which supplement their signals with low-power FM translators and one with an HD Radio subchannel; and six full-power FM stations.
 | |
| Type | Radio network |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Headquarters | Cleveland, Ohio |
Broadcast area | Ohio |
| Owner | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Affiliation(s) | NBA |
| Affiliates | 19 (including 2 flagships) |
Official website | www |
Tim Alcorn is the current play-by-play announcer, while Jim Chones serves as color analyst.[1][2] In addition to traditional over-the-air AM and FM broadcasts, network programming airs on SiriusXM satellite radio; and streams online via SiriusXM Internet Radio, TuneIn Premium, and NBA League Pass Audio.[3]
History
In 2008, longtime flagship WTAM signed a five-year contract extension with the Cavaliers through the 2013–14 season; in 2011, a Cavs spokesman stated there were "multiple years" remaining on the team's contract with WTAM, without specifying an end date. In 2014, WTAM owner iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel) announced a new "multi-year" contract with the team; this new arrangement also established simulcasts on WTAM sister station WMMS.[4][5] Additional affiliates were added in the Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati markets, coinciding with LeBron James' heavily publicized return to the team.[6][7]
John Michael took over as the team's lead play-by-play announcer starting in the 2011–12 season following the retirement of longtime radio voice Joe Tait.[8] After the death of lead TV play-by-play announcer Fred McLeod prior to the start of the 2019–20 season, Michael was reassigned to that position, with Tim Alcorn—lead sports announcer and station manager at Cavaliers radio affiliate WEOL in Elyria—being hired as Michael's successor.[1][2]
The radio network was rebranded as the "Cavaliers AudioVerse" beginning with the 2022–23 season.[9]
Announcers
| Play-by-play | Commentary | Pregame/Postgame |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Alcorn | Jim Chones | Mike Snyder, Brad Sellers |
Station list
| Callsign | Frequency | Band | City | State | Network status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTAM | 1100 | AM | Cleveland | Ohio | Flagship |
| WMMS | 100.7 | FM | Cleveland | Ohio | Flagship |
| W295DE | 106.9 | FM | Cleveland | Ohio | WTAM relay |
| WAKR | 1590 | AM | Akron | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W228EL | 93.5 | FM | Akron | Ohio | WAKR relay |
| WZOO-FM | 102.5 | FM | Ashtabula | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WHBC | 1480 | AM | Canton | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WCSM | 1350 | AM | Celina | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W262DC | 100.3 | FM | Celina | Ohio | WCSM relay |
| WCSM-FM | 96.7 | FM | Celina | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WJYD | 107.1 | FM | Circleville–Columbus | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WJER | 1450 | AM | Dover–New Phila. | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W265DL | 100.9 | FM | Dover–New Phila. | Ohio | WJER relay |
| WEOL | 930 | AM | Elyria–Lorain | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W262DM | 100.3 | FM | Elyria–Lorain | Ohio | WEOL relay |
| WFOB | 1430 | AM | Fostoria | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W289CP | 105.7 | FM | Fostoria | Ohio | WFOB relay |
| WCHD-HD3* | 99.9-3 | FM | Kettering | Ohio | WIZE relay |
| WRGM | 1440 | AM | Mansfield | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W294CK | 106.7 | FM | Mansfield | Ohio | WRGM relay |
| WMOA | 1490 | AM | Marietta | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W267CQ | 101.3 | FM | Marietta | Ohio | WMOA relay |
| WJAW-FM | 100.9 | FM | McConnelsville | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WLKR-FM | 95.3 | FM | Norwalk | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WABQ | 1460 | AM | Painesville | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W234DO | 94.7 | FM | Painesville | Ohio | WABQ relay |
| WLEC | 1450 | AM | Sandusky | Ohio | Affiliate |
| W228EN | 93.5 | FM | Sandusky | Ohio | WLEC relay |
| WIZE | 1340 | AM | Springfield | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WQKT | 104.5 | FM | Wooster | Ohio | Affiliate |
| WNIO | 1390 | AM | Youngstown | Ohio | Affiliate |
- Asterisk (*) indicates HD Radio broadcast.
- Blue background indicates low-power FM translator.
Network map
- Network stations in Ohio.
Flagship stations
Affiliates (not including translators)
References
- Fedor, Chris (September 23, 2019). "Cleveland Cavaliers, Fox Sports Ohio tab John Michael as play-by-play announcer; Tim Alcorn named team's radio broadcaster". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- Schudel, Jeff (September 23, 2019). "Tim Alcorn from WEOL in Lorain named Cavs new radio play-by-play announcer". The News-Herald. Painesville, Ohio. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
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- Press release (December 5, 2013). "SiriusXM and NBA to Launch Exclusive 24/7 NBA Channel on Dec. 9 with David Stern, Adam Silver, NBA All-Stars, Legends and Owners". Investor.SiriusXM.com. SiriusXM. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- "Radio Broadcast Info". NBA.com/Cavaliers. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. 2014. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- "TuneIn Partners with National Basketball Association to Broadcast Live Audio of NBA Games to Fans Worldwide". Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- "Cleveland Cavaliers Games To Be Simulcast On WMMS, WTAM". AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. October 8, 2014. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- "WTAM, Cavaliers Ink New Deal". AllAccess.com. All Access Media Group. May 12, 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- Kleps, Kevin (September 28, 2014). "Full court press: How local media is preparing for a Cavs season like no other". Crain's Cleveland Business. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
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- Dyer, Mike (September 3, 2014). "Ticket info announced for LeBron's Cavs game in Cincinnati". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- "iHeart Media Cincinnati Joins Cavaliers Radio Network". NBA.com/Cavaliers (Press release). NBA Media Ventures, LLC. November 10, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
- Reed, Tom (December 24, 2011). "Cleveland Cavaliers' new radio voice made right decision to leave law career, judging from results". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- "WJYD 107.1 FM Joins Cleveland Cavaliers AudioVerse as Columbus Affiliate for 2022-23 Season" (Press release). Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Cavaliers. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.