Big Changes in Raleigh Sports Talk Radio

from the WRAL TV 5 web site:(www.wral.com)

Raleigh, N.C. — Sports talk radio will soon have one parent voice on AM, FM and in Spanish across the Triangle.

In a complex series of transactions involving the sale of multiple properties and format changes disclosed last Monday afternoon, Capitol Broadcasting is acquiring WDNC 620 AM “The Bull” sports radio from Curtis Media. WDNC is based in Durham.

Capitol owns and operates 99.9 The Fan FM station in Raleigh. It is affiliated with ESPN Radio.

At the same time, Curtis Media is acquiring 850 The Buzz AM in Raleigh from McClatchey Broadcasting and plans to change the format from sports talk to music. Curtis Media also operates WPTF 680 AM in Raleigh and other stations across the state.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deals and other related transactions are subject to approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Approval is expected within three to five months, according to Capitol Broadcasting Vice President George Habel.

As a result of the transactions, several well-known local radio personalities will be moving across the dial.

David Glenn, currently at 850 The Buzz, will move to 99.9 The Fan and host a daily show from noon to 3 p.m.

Adam Gold and Joe Ovies of The Buzz will move to 620 AM and host a morning talk show.

Also as part of the deal, Capitol Broadcasting is selling North Carolina News Network to Curtis Media.

Capitol will broaden its station portfolio by acquiring WCLY 1550 AM in Raleigh and will change the format of that station to ESPN Deportes.

“The point for us is to add to the sports portfolio,” said Habel. “That began when we converted 99.9 to sports talk from country two years ago and we revamped the sports section of WRAL.com.

“These are the next steps – to add to our AM radio to our portfolio and to service the growing Latino market,” he added.

Existing contracts between WDNC and Duke University for football and men’s and women’s basketball will be honored, Habel said. He also said Durham Bulls baseball would return to WDNC after a two-year hiatus during which Bulls games were carried by The Fan. According to Habel, Bulls broadcasts will likely be divided between the two stations.

With the addition of Glenn, Gold and Ovies, Capitol adds three of the region’s best-known radio personalities.

“David Glenn is very popular and has a huge following, especially among ACC fans,” Habel said. “Adam and Joe are pretty much an institution.”

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