Detroit Lions Radio Network

The Detroit Lions Radio Network is a radio network in Michigan and Toledo, Ohio that broadcasts all of the NFL's Detroit Lions games and related programming.[1] All preseason, regular season, and postseason games are aired live throughout the network. WJR (760 AM) in Detroit is its flagship station.[2] As a maximum power clear-channel station, WJR can be heard carrying Lions games from hundreds of miles away on clear nights. The announcers are WJBK (Fox 2) sports director Dan Miller with play-by-play and former Lions offensive tackle Lomas Brown with color commentary.[3][4] Network coverage begins two hours before game time and ends one hour after the game's conclusion. Games are also aired on Sirius XM Radio and online with a subscription to NFL Game Pass.

Affiliate stations
Map of radio affiliates.
CityCallsignFrequency
AdrianW243AD96.5 FM
AlmaWFYC1280 AM
Alpena/Rogers CityWRGZ96.7 FM
Ann ArborWTKA1050 AM
Big RapidsWBRN1460 AM
W299BE107.7 FM
Cadillac/HarriettaWKAD93.7 FM
Cass CityWIDL92.1 FM
CheboyganWCHY95.3 FM
DetroitWJR760 AM
EscanabaWYKX104.7 FM
FlintWTRX1330 AM
Glen Arbor/ManisteeWGFN98.1 FM
Grand HavenWGHN1370 AM
W235CM94.9 FM
Grand RapidsWLAV96.9 FM
WJRW1340 AM
W291DJ106.1 FM
GraylingWQON100.3 FM
HancockWGLI98.7 FM
HillsdaleWCSR1340 AM
WCSR-FM92.1 FM
W258DE99.5 FM
HollandWHTC1450 AM
W259CO99.7 FM
HoughtonWCCY1400 AM
W257CZ99.3 FM
Iron MountainWIMK93.1 FM
IronwoodWJMS590 AM
JacksonW270CJ101.9 FM
KalamazooWKZO590 AM
W295CL106.9 FM
LansingWJIM1240 AM
Manistique/GulliverWCMM102.5 FM
Marquette/IshpemingWUPT100.3 FM
MuskegonWLCS98.3 FM
Newberry/Sault Ste. MarieWNBY-FM93.9 FM
OntonagonWUPY101.1 FM
OscodaWWTH100.7 FM
PetoskeyWMBN1340 AM
Port HuronWPHM1380 AM
Saginaw/Midland/Bay CityWKQZ93.3 FM
SanduskyWTGV-FM97.7 FM
South HavenWCSY103.7 FM
St. Joseph/Benton HarborWSJM1400 AM
WSJM-FM94.9 FM
W291DK106.1 FM
SturgisWBET-FM99.3 FM
Toledo, OhioWTOD106.5 FM
Traverse CityWLDR-FM101.9 FM
WhitehallWBBL1490 AM

[1]

History
Main article: List of Detroit Lions broadcasters
  • Dan Miller has been the radio play-by-play voice of the Lions since 2005.[1] Miller succeeded Mark Champion, who had called play-by-play for the team from 1989-2004.[5]
  • Van Patrick called play-by-play from 1950 until his death in 1974.[6]
  • Other past announcers for Lions radio include Frank Beckmann and Bob Reynolds.
  • Jim Brandstatter was the Lions' radio color commentator from 1987–2017.[7][3]
  • Tony Ortiz provided Lions sideline reports from 2001 until 2016.[2] He produced Lions games broadcasts from 1991-1994.[8]
  • WXYT-AM was the sole flagship station of the network from 1998-2004.
  • In 2005, the Lions' flagship became an FM station for the first time in their history, when a long term agreement was signed with WKRK (now WXYT-FM).
  • Detroit's WWJ was the team's flagship station prior to 1998, and continued to simulcast WXYT-AM's broadcasts prior to the team's move to WKRK. Prior to 1989, WJR had served as the Lions' radio flagship.
  • Former names of the network include "The WXYT 1270 Detroit Lions Radio Network", "The WKRK Detroit Lions Radio Network", and "The Live 97.1 Detroit Lions Radio Network" (WKRK-FM is WXYT-FM's former callsign, and Live 97.1 is one of its former brandings).
  • WXYT-FM was the Lions' flagship from 2004–2015.
  • On November 20, 2015, it was announced that the Detroit Lions would move to WJR beginning in the 2016 NFL season, ending the team's 20-year relationship with CBS Radio. Officials stated that CBS had dropped the team over demands that it censor on-air content that was critical of the team. In particular, the Lions specifically demanded that flagship station WXYT-FM fire popular on-air personality Mike Valenti as a condition of any extension to its broadcast rights since Valenti has had a history of making remarks critical of the Lions and their poor performance. WXYT-FM refused to do so, and he remains at the station.[2][4]

See also

References
  1. Detroit Lions Official Site: Detroit Lions Radio Network Affiliates
  2. "CBS Detroit: Lions censorship demands caused split". The Detroit News. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  3. Detroit Lions radio: Jim Brandstatter out, Lomas Brown in on WJR-AM ''Detroit Free Press, July 10, 2018
  4. "Want to listen to the Lions in 2016? Tune in to WJR-AM". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  5. Detroit Pistons Official Site - Announcers
  6. "Van Patrick On The Air". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  7. RE: Jim Brandstatter NFL.com, July 10, 2018
  8. WWJ Radio - Our Staff
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