After 26 years together UConn sports and WTIC radio are ending their relationship.
WTIC’s new owners, Entercom, were unable to reach terms with UConn for the continued broadcast rights to the school’s football and basketball games. Late Friday it was announced ESPN Radio will now broadcast UConn’s games, but it is difficult to see how this deal would result in a Connecticut coverage map comparable to the one offered by WTIC-AM/FM.
The break-up is becoming ugly. The Journal Inquirer’s Matt Buckler filed a story heard ’round the state that quoted Entercom’s owner claiming that UConn, among other things, “felt the conservative programming that WTIC airs is at odds with the best interest of the university.”
The Hearst’s Jeff Jacobs puts it in perspective and also weighs in on the futures of the Voices of the Huskies:
“The deal with UConn expires as the end of the basketball season. I have made it clear Joe D’Ambrosio and Bob Joyce should be retained as play-by-play announcers. There has been speculation Joe D may be out. In the past couple of days, however, officials from iHeart, IMG and UConn have insisted there is no a decision. D’Ambrosio has a contract at WTIC that is believed to run out in June. Joyce does not have a contract at WTIC. New announcers would be employed by iHeart.”
