CBS RADIO Tampa Bay announced today it will debut an all-sports radio station in August, marking the first time the market will feature the format on FM. Listeners will be able to hear SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan on-air at 98.7 FM and 1010 AM, online at www.987thefan.com, and via a variety of mobile applications. The station will provide Tampa Bay’s ardent sports fan base with locally programmed content including in-depth news, scores, headlines, and full coverage of area professional and college teams.
“Never before has there been a station for Tampa Bay’s passionate sports fans with such reach and ties to the community as SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan,” said Ben Hill, Senior Vice President/Market Manager, CBS RADIO Tampa Bay. “Locally based on-air personalities, and a programming team with years of experience in Tampa will help shape the station as a place listeners can trust for the most honest, engaging and interactive sports talk.”
CBS RADIO has more than 15 sports stations among its portfolio and is the leading broadcaster of the format on FM. The division of CBS is home to top-rated stations in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit, among others, including the nation’s first all-sports station WFAN-AM.
In a related announcement, Mike Pepper will serve as the program director of SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan. Pepper, who is responsible for developing the on-air lineup and voice of the station, has been with the company for close to two decades, six of those years as the assistant PD of 1010 Sports (WQYK-AM). Assisting Pepper is longtime local sports producer, Jerry Petuck.
Said Pepper, “Being this closely involved in a radio first for Tampa listeners has been one of the most exciting opportunities in my career. Our sports landscape has changed dramatically over the last 10 years highlighted by a Super Bowl Championship for the Buccaneers, a Stanley Cup for the Lightning, and an American League title for the Rays, as well as the rise of USF football. The timing couldn’t be better for the launch of SPORTSRADIO 98.7 The Fan.”
Hosts and reporters will be announced at a later date. Applications are still being accepted as the line-up is being finalized.
Additional opportunities to interact with the station will be available at www.987thefan.com where fans can check out the most up to date sports news, read blogs from station personalities, watch sports videos, hear audio clips, and review scores, polls, team schedules, and message boards.
CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States is a division of CBS Corporation. CBS RADIO operates 127 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation's top 50 markets.
